Training Focus
Scientific Scope
The exposomerefers to the set of environmental and social factors whose individual 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 to 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)
- Contribute to skills development
- Further strengthen ties with countries in the Global South
The training initiative helps scientists understand 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 Priority Area
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 based on:
- 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—conducted within the framework of the ExposUM Institute, without replacing the training organized by the doctoral schools. As part of this initiative, doctoral students within a network will be tasked, during their third year, withorganizing—both scientifically and logistically—aone-dayevent(such as a seminar or conference), for which the Institute will provide a grant.
2. Junior Teams
The goal of the Junior Teams is to enable young researchers to form a small team of 3 to 5 people to work on a scientific project lasting 12 to 18 months, so that they can gain experience inproject managementand teamleadership, includingsupervisingone or more master’s students or students working on a thesis on the subject. The proposed team may consist of several junior researchers and several students who may be affiliated with another UMR.
Each selected applicant will receive an operating budget 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 or mission expenses, or operating costs and laboratory supplies (excluding equipment costing more than 3,000 euros).
The rationale for the supervision of each staff member involved (composition, time allocated) must be justified.Since the objective of this call for proposals is to give the project leader 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 on schedule.
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 dedicated to 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 multidisciplinary 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:
- Transforming 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.
Calendar – Class of 2026–2027
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:
