Articles published in leading scientific journals (Physical Review, Journal of Chemical Physics, Advanced Material etc.), presentations and posters, transfer of knowledge and popularization... The QUSTEC doctoral candidates share their work on quantum science and technology!
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QUSTEC – Quantum Science and Technologies at the European Campus
QUSTEC is a doctoral training programme set up by the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Eucor – The European Campus. 37 early stage researchers (ESR) benefit from outstanding training opportunities within the field of Quantum Science and Technology, in a highly international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral setting. Each doctoral project lasts 48 months and culminates in the award of a doctoral degree.
The doctoral research is carried out at the QUSTEC partner institutions:
- University of Basel, Switzerland (9 positions)
- Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany (5 positions)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany (8 positions)
- University of Strasbourg, France (10 positions)
- IBM Research – Zurich, Switzerland (4 positions)
- Walther-Meißner-Institut für Tieftemperaturforschung, Germany (1 position)
QUSTEC aims to address some of the grand challenges in Quantum Science today: The principles of quantum mechanics, which govern physics, chemistry, material science and computing at the atomic scale have already led to a wave of new technologies. In new applications, quantum technologies provide a massive leap that can be a decisive factor for many European industries and markets in the 21st century.
Project governance
The Steering Committee is the central steering body of QUSTEC. It can rely on extensive management experience, as all of its members have been involved in the coordination of large institutional networks, educational programmes and research institutes. It provides leadership in all practical matters, including identifying potential risks and dealing with them effectively, strategic decisions, overseeing the formation of other QUSTEC panels.
The Steering Committee is led by the Scientific Director of the programme, Guido Pupillo, University of Strasbourg.
Other members are:
- Bernd Finger, director of the EGTC Eucor – The European Campus and project coordinator,
- Dominik Zumbühl, University of Basel, as deputy scientific director,
- Tobias Schätz, University of Freiburg, and Shannon Whitlock, University of Strasbourg, training managers,
- Mario Ruben, KIT, risk manager,
- Gian Salis, IBM Research, industrial liaison manager.
The coordinator of the project is Eucor – The European Campus. The project coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management of the programme and its activities, the reporting to and the link with the Research Executive Agency. The QUSTEC project manager assists the coordinator and the Steering Committee in all programme’s management activities.
Funding and partners
The project “Quantum Science and Technologies at the European Campus” (QUSTEC) has been selected by the European Commission as an innovative international and interdisciplinary doctoral programme in quantum sciences and technologies. It is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) COFUND scheme for a five-year period with a total amount of 9.1 million euros. In addition to 4.2 million euros from the European Union, there is co-financing from the participating partner organisations as well as from Santander Universities, the world’s largest private sponsor of higher education according to a UNESCO study. QUSTEC has been launched with the support of the Franco-German University.
External Advisory Board
The External Advisory Board serves as the project’s quality control and progress measuring body. The EAB is composed of scientific experts in the field of quantum science and technologies as well as experts in the field of higher education and doctoral training:
- Tommaso Calarco, board member of the EU initiative Quantum Flagship and head of the Institute for Quantum Control, Forschungszentrum Jülich,
- Guido Burkard from the University of Konstanz,
- Giovanna Morigi, Saarland University,
- Philippe Grangier of the Institut d’Optique of Paris-Saclay University and CNRS,
- Jean-Marie Pincemin, director of the International Office of the University of Poitiers and member of the French NCP (National Contact Point) for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions,
- Holger Finken, head of the unit Research Fellowship Programmes of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD),
- Marjorie Berthomier, secretary general of the Franco-German University.
Other project bodies include the Individual Training Panels (ITP), each of which consists of the PhD supervisor, co-supervisor and mentor of an early stage researcher. The ITP oversees the individual training and research progress of the recruited ESR. The activities of each ITP are closely monitored by QUSTEC’s training managers.
The QUSTEC programme has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement number 847471.
The QUSTEC programme is supported by Santander Universities.