We are pleased to introduce this year’s participants in the UCL-PSL Doctoral Research Internship

8 October 2024

Four UCL doctoral students have been selected for research stays in France.

In May 2024, UCL Global Engagement accepted applications from UCL doctoral students of all disciplines for funding towards short-term research stays at Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL). This year, the programme is supported by a tripartite agreement between PSL, UCL and the French Embassy in the UK, signed in February 2024. The following three successful participants will be conducting their research stays this Autumn.

Please click the arrow below to explore their profiles and stories.

Marjan Marjanović (The Bartlett, UCL Faculty of the Built Environment)

UCL Faculty: The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment
Programme of Study: Planning Studies
PSL Host Institution: École Normale Supérieure

Marjan is currently in the process of writing up his dissertation, which focuses on the governance of circular economy transitions in shrinking cities and regions. In the upcoming academic term, he will be joining the Department of Geography & Territories at the École Normale Supérieure, where he will collaborate with Professor Emmanuèle C. Cunningham Sabot, a renowned expert on urban shrinkage and shrinking cities. During his residency, Marjan will engage in a period of intense scholarly reflection and collaboration, aimed at reinterpreting the findings of his research and exploring innovative perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of governing circular economy transitions in declining urban contexts. His visit will also involve transforming these insights into high-impact academic publications, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development and policymaking.

Thomas Holden-Dye (UCL Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences)

UCL Faculty: Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Programme of Study: Quantum Technologies
PSL Host Institution: Collége de France

So far in his PhD, Tom has been studying models of quantum computation - specifically, brickwork quantum circuits - from a physics perspective. He has recently been developing a new algorithm that will help to understand the speed at which signals travel through these circuits. In Paris, he will be working with the Theory of Non-Equilibrium Quantum Matter group led by Marco Schiró at Collège de France, and together they will look to apply this new algorithm to problems of fundamental interest.

James Tooth (UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences )

UCL Faculty: Engineering Sciences
Programme of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy
PSL Host Institution: École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris

During his time in Paris, Jamie will collaborate with Prof Shenle Pan and Prof Eric Ballot at the Institut interdisciplinaire de l'innovation (i3). His work involves conducting interviews with key stakeholders from industry, policy, and academia at both French and European levels, then developing a technical solution based on these perspectives. Shenle’s group has expertise in smart city logistics, which will offer an interesting application context for Digital Twins. Jamie is also keen to engage with other professional institutions to broaden the scope of his work. By gaining an international perspective beyond the UK, he aims to contribute to improving and aligning UK, French and European approaches to adopting Digital Twins.

Additionally, one UCL student has been selected to participate on a 2024 High-Level Research Stay (SSHN), a prestigious programme for short-term research stays at CNRS laboratories in France, funded by the French Embassy in the UK.

Juliana Gomez Quintero (UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences)

UCL Faculty: Engineering Sciences
Programme of Study: Security and Crime Science
Host Lab: LAMSADE, Dauphine Université Paris

During her visit to LAMSADE at Dauphine Université Paris, Juliana will validate and discuss her completed MCDA study on the cocaine trade while exploring its broader applications in crime science. This collaboration will also allow her to investigate how decision analysis and optimisation techniques can be integrated into UCL's crime science teaching and research, further enhancing this academic partnership.

The next application cycle for the UCL-PSL doctoral research internship will open in Spring 2025. Keep an eye out for more information.

We are pleased to introduce this year’s participants in the UCL-PSL Doctoral Research Internship

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