In a strategic effort to sharpen its research focus and elevate institutional visibility, the LAU School of Engineering (SOE) has launched a national, interdisciplinary doctoral recruitment program in collaboration with several partner leading international universities.

The initiative is designed to support both aspiring Lebanese researchers and LAU faculty, offering a unique model that blends academic mobility with high-impact research.

Through this program, the SOE provides partial funding to its graduates and those of other Lebanese universities who are interested in pursuing PhDs at prestigious institutions abroad. Each student is co-supervised by LAU engineering faculty, ensuring that while the student earns a doctoral degree overseas, LAU professors remain directly involved in cutting-edge research in specialized fields that are still limited in Lebanon.

“Many PhD scholarships in Europe are only partially funded by host institutions, so this is where LAU steps in,” explained Dr. Jimmy Issa, chair of the industrial and mechanical engineering department.

“It’s a partnership-based process that deepens our research engagement and raises LAU’s profile internationally,” said Dean Michel Khoury. “We are helping talented graduates pursue their doctoral ambitions while ensuring that LAU faculty are active partners in world-class research.”

A key feature of the program is that an LAU faculty member serves as a co-advisor alongside the host institution’s supervisor(s), fostering meaningful academic engagement on both ends. Research topics are jointly defined to reflect the priorities of both institutions and promote sustained academic cooperation. “It’s a partnership-based process that deepens our research engagement and raises the university’s international profile,” Dr. Issa added.

The recruitment process is also handled jointly and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must hold an MS degree, or in some cases a BE degree, and are assessed based on the strength of their CVs, research interests, and motivation, which must align with the advertised topics.

Recently, the SOE signed an MOU with the French Embassy to enable PhD candidates to benefit from the SAFAR program, which provides partial funding to complement existing PhD support from LAU in cases where host institutions do not cover expenses.

Momentum is already building. “Our first student has already begun her PhD at ISAE-SUPAERO, with the remaining funding provided by the host institution,” said Associate Professor Pierre Rahme. He added that a second student is set to start at INSA de Rennes under similar terms, with both students being co-advised by him.

Meanwhile, two other students have secured additional funding through the French Embassy’s SAFAR grant. One will pursue a PhD at Sorbonne University, co-supervised by Professor Nissrine El Hassan of the SOE, and the other at École des Mines de Paristech, under the guidance of SOE Associate Professor Marc Haddad.

With more placements on the horizon, students and faculty are encouraged to explore the opportunity and reach out to their department chairs to learn how they can be a part of this growing program.

“This initiative is not just about funding doctoral studies,” Dean Khoury concluded. “It is a stepping-stone to launching our own PhD programs at LAU and establishing dual-degree doctoral tracks with world-class universities. In this way, we are paving the path for LAU to become a globally recognized research hub while ensuring Lebanon’s brightest minds remain connected to their home institution.”