Teachers and trainers:

Léa Griton (SU), Laia Casamiquela (CNAP), Jordan Philidet (CNRS), with the participation of Alisson Bockelée, prevention advisor at Observatoire de Paris-PSL and Marie-Laure Drobert, workplace psychologist, under contract with Observatoire de Paris.
Format: 15h (2.5 days)

Target audience:

ED127 or other doctoral schools whose aim is to pursue an academic career, particularly in France - although the international context will be part of the course. This course is particularly aimed at 2nd and 3rd year PhD students.

Programme :

The course is divided into 3 types of activities:

• lectures: led by one of the teachers, they may include short zoom presentations by guest researchers (e.g. former CNRS jury member, recent ERC laureate)/HR team/psychologist) to mix general facts and personal experience. Lectures include tips, tools, links to online resources and templates, video tutorials, to build a toolbox for future applicants.
• discussions and debates: based on a few slides or a Wooclap quiz, a discussion session on a given topic. All discussion sessions will end with a summary given by a pair of student volunteers (following the example of the summary at the end of the “Time World” conferences).
• Individual and small-group writing: small groups of students focus on a given exercise, ending with an oral presentation. Each session will be accompanied by a printed handout providing tips and resources to help students.

Conference 1: The profession of permanent researcher and the organization of the academic world

presentation of the three types of permanent research positions in astrophysics (in 2024), with supporting official texts. Differences between engineers and researchers (15 min)
presentation of the missions of permanent researchers and their distribution. Research, organization of research, responsibilities, fund-raising, evaluation, supervision, teaching, outreach (other?) (15 min)
advantages and difficulties of the job (15 min)
“Break: study of a recent article on the world of research (20 minutes)
organization of research: Ministry, CNRS, CNU, CNAP, universities, space agencies (20 minutes)
Presentation of key points by a volunteer (5 minutes)

Conference/debate 1: The challenges of postdoctoral contracts

The differences between a PhD and a postdoc
How a postdoc should serve your career project: demonstrating your scientific autonomy and broadening your skills
Research and nothing but research: how to become an expert
Being at 200% with no guarantee of “success” (in the competition for permanent positions), competition, uncertainty: the psychological challenges of the postdoc years (in collaboration with Alisson Bockelée and Marie-Laure Drobert).
Postdocs already funded or fellowships up for grabs?
To go abroad or not?
This rather short talk is to be followed by a discussion.

Conference 2: The landscape of project-based research (led by SRCV, Observatoire de Paris)

competition for postdoctoral fellowships/funding
Presentation of several possibilities for funding (submitted by the postdoc, not by a permanent staff member): MSCF, ESA fellowships, ESO, JPL...
brief presentation of timetables, resources on the Internet and in institutions to find help
standard dossier: key questions, working packages, Gantt chart, etc.

Conference/debate 2: what it takes to get a permanent position?

As a conclusion to the course, I propose to return in this session to the various points covered in the course, and to give some advice/tips for permanent competitions (in France). What are the expectations of selection committees? How to stay positive? How can I see competition in a positive light? How can we see that competition can also serve research? How can we prepare for competitive examinations? How can I find help? How can I trust myself?