Target topics for PhD proposals:
- Reliability and reliabilism in the context of scientific AI-based methods
- AI-based scientific methods and explanatory understanding
- How AI reshapes scientific discovery
The call is made in the framework of the ENACT AI Cluster, AI doctoral scholarships 2025 (see https://cluster-ia-enact.ai/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Campagne-theses-ENACT10_3-2025-EN.pdf for details)
The process involves two stages.
- Preselection stage. Candidates are preselected by the supervisors of the institutions (like Archives Poincaré) involved in the ENACT program. Pre-applications should agree with the target topic descriptions deposited by the supervisors (deadline: April 13, see below).
- Application stage. Preselected candidates apply to the ENACT program with the support of the potential supervisors (deadline: April 27)
More details about the three targeted PhD topics may be found here by following the links below (select the English version on each page):
- Reliability and reliabilism in the context of scientific AI-based methods: https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?site=lorraine&matricule_prop=63477
- AI-based scientific methods and explanatory understanding: https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?site=lorraine&matricule_prop=63495
- How AI reshapes scientific discovery: https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?site=lorraine&matricule_prop=63448
For these three target PhD topics, the doctoral student will be co-supervised by Cyrille Imbert (Archives Poincaré, Nancy, France) and Claus Beisbart (Institute of Philosophy, University of Bern, Switzerland). (S)he will benefit from these two research environments with the aim of obtaining a PhD from both universities. The two cities are 4.5 hours apart by train. Co-supervision will be made in English, so a good command of English is mandatory.
For this preselection stage, candidates must send the below documents to before April 13 at the latest (early bird applications are welcome, given the constrained timeline). Please mention "ENACT. Philosophy of AI, application" as the email object. We apologize for the very short delays due to the late publication of the call. The applications will be reviewed, and interviews with short-listed candidates will be conducted between April 14 and 18.
- Candidate's CV
- Candidate's cover letter/letter of motivation
- Candidate's Bachelor's and Master's transcripts/certificates, with grades.
- Letter(s) of recommendation (at most two)*
- Official certificate or evidence of English Proficiency
- A research proposal (that agrees with the target PhD subject) describing the specific questions you plan to tackle and including a concrete work plan or first sketch. Maximum length: 1000 words (plus references)
- Writing sample (max. 20 pages, e.g., term paper, essay, part of a Master's thesis, dissertation chapter, etc.)
*Candidates may send the recommendation letters themselves, or the people recommending the candidates may send the letter to Cyrille Imbert directly. In this latter case, the email's subject should be "ENACT. PhD Application. Letter. Name, First Name of the applicant".
Doctoral contracts will start between September and December 2025.
Information about the final application stage may be found in the abovementioned ENACT document. Candidates will be accompanied by supervisors for this final application stage.
Contract description. These are standard doctoral contracts for France. The conditions are described here:https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/le-financement-doctoral-46472