PhD position in arts and culture and computer sciences

Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research university in France is seeking PhD candidates focusing on the use of intangible cultural heritage in creative tourism. The role involves conducting innovative research and requires a relevant master's degree. Candidates will be enrolled in the prestigious CHORAL programme, which offers international exposure and interdisciplinary training. The position is fully funded and aims to enhance career opportunities in cultural heritage research.

Prestations

Monthly gross salary of 2164€

Mobility allowance up to 4500€

Research allowance up to 5000€

Conference allowance up to 3500€

Qualifications

• Candidate must not possess a doctoral degree at the application deadline.
• Must have relevant master's degree to pursue a PhD in cultural heritage.
• English proficiency required for non-native speakers.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on the use of intangible cultural heritage in tourism.
• Develop tools to assess the contribution of ICH to tourism.
• Collaborate with international researchers in the CHORAL programme.

Connaissances

Research skills

Critical analysis

Proficiency in English

Formation

Master's Degree in Social Science, Arts, Architecture and Humanities

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour Department Centre des Etudes Doctorales Research Field Anthropology Arts Economics Sociology Computer science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country France Application Deadline 17 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe – COFUND Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101126643 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Use of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Creating Cultural Creative Touristic Destinations

Historically, tourism sector was based mainly on various tangible assets. In the recent years, the tangible elements of tourism are more and more combined with experiences, as elements of the touristic demand; as a consequence, tourists became part of the co-creation process in the touristic experience – “the creative turn of tourism”.

Cultural tourism made not exception from this trend; moreover, the new paradigm of “cultural tourism” seems to become the result of a synergy between cultural heritage and the specific experience of the tourist. Therefore, developing cultural creative touristic destinations needs a multidimensional and integrated approach and, finally, a comprehensive strategy of the policy-makers.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) represents a very generous source of creativity; therefore, it could become a defining element of differentiation, a tool used by the authorities as economic and social driver for the local development, and, also, an important provider of innovation, growth and a job generator.

Despite the fact that some attempts of culture-related indicators tried to assess and to harmonize culture’s contribution at national and international level, there is a lack of information about the possible contribution of ICH at the creative cultural tourism in terms of innovation, competitiveness or sustainability.

The present research proposal focuses on the contribution that ICH might have in the process of co-creation specific to creative tourism, as well as on developing new tools to monitor and to assess the contribution of ICH in the touristic destinations development.

This PhD position is part of the Cultural Heritage Outreach in RomAnce Languages (CHORAL) programme, a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska Curie programme co-funded by the European Union. This prestigious programme is linked to UNITA's Cultural Heritage Hub, an international research network within the Alliance, which structures its research ecosystem facing cultural related challenges.

CHORAL aims to train high-quality international researchers and to nurture the development of interdisciplinary, international and inter-sectoral research that addresses any aspect of cultural heritage. While rooted in cultural heritage, the programme spans a wide range of scientific domains, including architecture, anthropology, arts and culture, computer science, history, literature, linguistics, management, and more.

Selected candidates will be enrolled in PhD programmes under joint supervision, awarding a double degree and requiring international mobility.

This offer is part of the MSCA-COFUND CHORAL programme, which will finance 14 positions out of 20 positions offered.

On the deadline of the call, the candidate must be a doctoral candidate, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree, but in possession of a Master’s Degree enabling to do a PhD in Social Science, Arts, Architecture and Humanities applied to cultural heritage.

Any candidate in possession of the required diploma can apply regardless of the year of obtention of the diploma.

Specific Requirements

Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the date of the call deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

Applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to provide proof of proficiency in the language, as CHORAL’s working language is English.

Candidates must be in possession of valid identity card (for EU citizens) or a valid passport (for visa application, if selected).

The call is open to researchers of any nationality.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

CHORAL fellows will benefit from the following advantages:

• Monthly gross salary of 2164€/month (approximately). The salary gross amount may be subject to changes corresponding to taxes increases/decreases.
• The net salary amount may be subject to changes and corresponding personal tax position.
• Mobility: All the CHORAL doctoral candidates will be associated to 2 universities in the UNITA Alliance awarding the PhD co-diploma complemented by short stays with associated partners. The proposed combination of secondments and short stays promotes mobility and exposes CHORAL doctoral students to different research environment. Indeed, during the 36 months PhD programme, each doctoral candidate will have to spend at least 9 months outside their recruiting university, including at least 6 months in the co-supervising university. The other 3 months can also be spent in another entity increasing the international exposure of the doctoral candidates.
• Mobility allowance up to 4500€ over the 3-year period to partially cover travels, accommodation, etc. linked to secondments for the project duration.
• Conference allowance up to 3500€ over the 3-year period of the PhD, to cover expenses related to the travel for attendance or participation to conferences, workshops.
• Research allowance up to 5000€ over the 3-year period of the PhD to cover expenses related to research.
• Each doctoral candidate will have a Personalised Career Development Plan (PCDP), developed within the first 3 months of the fellowship, addressing research plan, publication strategy, and career development activities both with regards to scientific and non-scientific skills. CHORAL will help develop a clear, explicit and relevant professional pathway towards a successful career as research leaders. The PCDP will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis through meetings with the doctoral candidate.

Career opportunities: CHORAL aims at enhancing the career perspectives and employability of the doctoral candidates in line with the Europe Skills Agenda. CHORAL will help the completion of a PhD in top-level research universities within the worldwide acknowledged MSCA program, giving opportunities to rely on international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary network for future collaborations and opportunities, pushing the doctoral candidates to go beyond their boundaries.

The programme includes training with non-academic partners which will ensure the alignment between employers' needs outside academia and skills development. As a result, candidates will develop a realistic perspective on the requirements of jobs in such contexts and gain an important understanding of how scientific knowledge can be applied in non-academic environments. This will contribute to broaden their scientific perspective, increase their skills and innovation capacity as well as their attractiveness towards the private sector.

Eligibility criteria

At the close of the call, the candidate must be a doctoral candidate, i.e not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the deadline of the call, but in possession of a Master’s Degree enabling to do a PhD in Social Science, Arts, Architecture and Humanities applied to Cultural Heritage.

Any candidate in possession of the required diploma can apply regardless of the year of obtention of the diploma.

MSCA rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, et.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years preceding the date of the call deadline. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.

Applicants who are non-native speakers of English are required to provide proof of proficiency in the language, as CHORAL’s working language is English.

Possibility to apply to 3 PhD topics offered within the call for proposals.

Selection process

1. Eligibility Committee will check the Eligibility criteria.
2. A review panel with three external experts will evaluate the CV, personal statement, marks and reference letters. The best-ranked proposals for each PhD topics will be short-listed for interviews, and applicants will be informed of the output of this step by the PM, via the online platform.
3. The selected applicants will be invited to an online interview which will be evaluated by an interview panel. After all the interviews, a proposal ranking list for each PhD position will be issued, including a principal and a reserve list.

Selections will be made regardless of gender, nationality, religion, ethnicity and cultural background, but aiming for a good balance among the group.

Additional comments

Candidates cannot propose their own subjects nor write a proposal. PhD research topics have been proposed by habilited supervisors from the Doctoral Schools of UPPA and the implementing partners after a call launched towards the academic community of the programme. Candidates must choose among the subjects posted on the CHORAL interface.

Each applicant can apply for 3 subjects MAXIMUM.