Training Focus
Scientific scope
The exposomerefers to the set of environmental and social factors whose specific effects, combined with individuals’ intrinsic characteristics, underlie the onset, progression, and severity of infectious and noncommunicable diseases in humans. In this sense, it is the environmental counterpart of the genome, with which it interacts throughout an individual’s lifetime.
Overview of the Training Division
The training program at the ExposUM Institute aims to:
- Breaking down barriers in education (interdisciplinarity)
- Help improve skills
- Strengthen ties with countries in the Global South
The training initiative supports scientists in understanding the complex challenges associated with the exposome. By emphasizing interdisciplinarity, it fosters knowledge sharing and encourages collaborative and innovative approaches to better address the links between the environment and health.
It provides support to researchers, not only to conduct research but also to network, promote, and develop innovative projects that incorporate diverse perspectives.
This approach promotes training that is both specialized and broad-based, preparing doctoral students and a new generation of scientists to tackle increasingly interdisciplinary challenges.
The Nexus program exemplifies this ambition by providing a structured framework for doctoral programs.
Activities carried out under the TRAINING pillar
1. Nexus Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Nexus arenetworks of 3 to 4 doctoral students from different disciplines(e.g.,Social Sciences – Mathematical Modeling – Biology) and affiliated with at least two different research units. They will be funded on the basis of:
- A joint research project developed by the principal investigator in collaboration with the participating thesis advisors, encompassing all disciplines, and aimed at studying one or more aspects of the exposome as defined above,
- An individual, discipline-specific thesis topicfor eachparticipatingdoctoral student.
Each dissertation will befunded from the outsetfor a period offour years. This additional year is justified by the implementation of specific training initiatives and the time allocated to interdisciplinary work. In particular, opportunities for collaboration between laboratories will be encouraged.
The doctoral programs at the ExposUM Institute will bestrengthened by the implementation of anadditionaljointeducational programfocused on methodology and skills development—particularly in interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity—led within the framework of the ExposUM Institute, without replacing the training offered by the doctoral schools. In this context, doctoral students in a network will be tasked, during their third year, withthe scientific and logisticalorganizationof aone-dayevent(e.g., seminar, conference), for which the Institute will provide a grant.
2. Junior Teams
The goal of the Junior Teams is to enable young researchers to assemble a small team of 3 to 5 people around a scientific project lasting 12 to 18 months, so that they can become familiar withproject managementand teamleadership, includingsupervisingone or more master’s or thesis students working on the topic. The proposed team may consist of several junior researchers and several students who may be assigned to another UMR.
Each selected applicant will receive an operating grant of up to 30,000 euros, which may primarily cover internship stipends for master’s students (~600 euros/month/student), as well as temporary research support positions (e.g., clinical research associate, engineer), fieldwork expenses, or operating costs and laboratory supplies (excluding equipment costing more than €3,000).
The rationale for the supervision of each staffmember involved (composition, time allocated) must be justified.Since the objective of this call is to give the applicant the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment as a supervisor and future leader, particular attention will be paid to the timeline of activities and the timeframe set for achieving results.
3. University Certificate in Environmental Health – Primary Care
In January 2026, the University of Montpellier launched the University Diploma (DU) in “Environmental Health Training for Primary Care, ” a specialized program focused on integrating environmental health into professional primary care practices.
This university program is primarily intended for health coordinators, as well as all professionals in the health, medical-social, socio-educational, educational, and management sectors who wish to develop interprofessional projects and initiatives in environmental health. It is also open to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree (L3) in these fields.
Objectives of the environmental health training program:
- Translate scientific knowledge about the links between the environment and health into concrete actions on the ground;
- Strengthen coordination among primary care providers;
- Promote the gradual integration of environmental health into professional practices;
- Support the implementation of regional projects tailored to local conditions.
This training program thus helps develop practical skills in prevention, health promotion, and environmental risk management.
Overview of the university degree:
🎥 Watch the introductory video by Professor Pascal Demoly, the program’s academic director.
For any information regarding the program, enrollment procedures, or coursework, please contact the University Office at the University of Montpellier.
Partners and Funding
This university degree is funded by
and produced in partnership with:
