Uni.lu Wants to Recruit You!

Did you ever think of going back to academia? Or maybe thinking that having a PhD could help you get a better job in your industry? Or maybe did you just simply miss campus life? 

Philippe Jourdan joined Uni.lu a few month ago as an HR specialist in the Recruitment team. Having a marketing background and a number of researcher positions to fill at Uni.lu, Philippe immediately asked himself if it would make sense to target “existing clients” i.e. alumni. “We are training students so why do we not then recruit them as researchers?” he wondered. 

Indeed, Uni.lu alumni seem like a great fit for researcher roles at the University. “They already embody the University DNA: multilingualism, interdisciplinarity, and a global mindset,” says Philippe. “They understand the academic ecosystem and often hold the right balance of research rigor and curiosity.”

The most obvious candidate to take on a PhD or a postdoc position in Philippe’s view would be someone with a Master’s in medicine, science, tech, finance, law, or economics. “We value multilingualism - English plus either French or German or Luxembourgish, and a passion for interdisciplinary research.”

Careers in academia could be interesting for many of our alumni who have been working in industry and would like to give research a try. “Doing a PhD and staying in academia offers deep intellectual freedom, long-term societal impact, and the chance to work on complex problems with global experts,” adds Philippe. “It provides a stimulating, autonomous, and international environment focused on advancing knowledge and educating future generations. It’s ideal for those driven by curiosity, purpose, and long-term impact."

Philippe Jourdan

"At Uni.lu this is fundamental and applied research, you have the power to choose!" Philippe continues. "Concerning applied research, this is the possibility to engage directly with ministries and EU institutions: a bridge between research and real-world policy.”

A PhD is also definitely a plus when looking for a job in industry. “A PhD signals deep expertise, autonomy, and analytical power,” shares Philippe. All highly valued all sectors, academic or corporates ones!”

Dr Samira Chaychi

And what do our PhD alumni think? “I decided to pursue my PhD at the University of Luxembourg because of its excellent reputation in computer science and the enriching, multicultural academic environment I experienced during my Master in Information and Computer Science (MICS),” says Dr. Samira Chaychi.

“The supportive supervision and comprehensive PhD programme significantly contributed to both my professional and personal growth," she continues. Moreover, living in Luxembourg provided me with a high quality of life, making my doctoral journey not only academically rewarding but also personally fulfilling.”

So what are you waiting for? Philippe has already posted an initial batch of Phd and postdoc positions in the Careers section, with more to come in the future.