We are looking for a doctoral candidate in our team at Inria Bordeaux (France), as part of the EXPLORA European Doctoral Network which will start in February 2026.
In a nutshell, the main goal of the project on our side is to design computer graphics techniques in live virtual experiments on material, shape and dynamics perception, involving touch, head and eye trackers.
We are both interested in understanding which exploration strategies bring about relevant visual cues, and whether we can predict how perception would be altered by real-time interventions.
The detailed project, called "Embodied exploration of virtual scenes", is available here:
https://manao.inria.fr/files/2025/10/Explora_PhD.pdf
The earliest starting date for doctoral candidates is February 1st, 2026.
Here is how you apply:
1. Read through the EXPLORA projects and identify the one(s) that interest you most
2. Make sure you are meeting both eligibility criteria:
-You must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment. If you have successfully defended your doctoral thesis already but have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree you are also not eligible.
-You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the envisioned date of recruitment (earliest date possible: Feb 01, 2026). 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 taken into account.
3. Make sure you meet qualifications listed for your project, e.g. experience with psychophysics, fMRI, DNNs, motion tracking, programming etc.
4. Send a CV and 1 page motivation letter to the PI(s) listed as contact person for 'your' project
-The PI(s) will provide you with information about the local application and selections process