The international DIM C-BRAINS PhD program is back. Up for grabs: 7 fully funded, 3-year doctoral contracts in the Île-de-France region, 3 of which will be hosted by the Institut du Cerveau. Application deadline: February 1, 2026.
The call for applications for the DIM C-BRAINS international PhD program is open to international students currently enrolled in a master’s degree program outside France who wish to pursue a PhD in the fields of neuroscience and cognitive science.
A regional initiative to train a new generation of scientists
On February 16, 2022, the Conseil régional d’Île-de-France approved the creation of 9 new Major Innovation and Research Domains (DIMs) to support scientific priorities of strategic importance for the region. Among them, DIM C-BRAINS - dedicated to neuroscience and cognition research - was selected for funding from 2022 to 2026. The project is led by a regional research partnership including Institut du Cerveau, the Fondation des Neurosciences de Paris, and CEA, with an ambition clearly established from the start: to build an internationally open, interdisciplinary, and highly attractive scientific community, while supporting research that addresses major human health challenges.
C-BRAINS champions a vision of the PhD as more than just a diploma — a launchpad for both scientific excellence and human development. The program offers future PhD students competitive funding, including a full salary over 3 years, bonuses, relocation support in Île-de-France, and a dedicated budget for training, equipment, and scientific travel.
Discover and understand
DIM C-BRAINS focuses on 3 priority research areas:
- Axe 1: Genomics, human cells, reprogramming, and neuro-organoids
- Axe 2: Quantitative approaches to exploring behavior and cognition
- Axe 3: Neural networks, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence
It also supports 2 major infrastructure initiatives, structured as regional platform networks:
- Major initiative: Organoids and human cell platforms
- Major initiative: Human and animal cognition in real, virtual, and immersive environments
The program has two core goals. First, to enable emerging scientists to launch their doctoral research in a structured, high-impact scientific ecosystem. Second, to strengthen regional collaboration by connecting labs, expertise, and talent from around the world, ultimately accelerating progress in understanding the human brain and neurological disease.
In 2026, DIM C-BRAINS will award 7 fully funded 3-year PhD contracts in the Île-de-France region, 3 of which will be provided and hosted by Institut du Cerveau.
This prestigious and competitive program offers an attractive salary over 3 years, bonuses, relocation assistance in Île-de-France, a budget for equipment, training, and research travel, and access to an expanded training curriculum.
Application deadline: February 1, 2026.
Key facts:
- Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2026
- 7 fully funded PhD contracts over 3 years in the Île-de-France region
- 3 contracts hosted by Institut du Cerveau
- Open to international master’s students enrolled outside France
- Thesis project, host laboratory, and PhD supervisor must be identified at the time of application.”
