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PPU-Research & Technology - Spencer Shorte's Program

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The PPU-Research & Technology - Spencer Shorte's Program gives access to a stimulating technological environment to carry out PhD student’s research project. This includes opportunities to conduct technological and methodological co-developments on high-end equipment under the supervision/in partnership with technology platforms or service and research units (UTechS). In addition, students of the PPU-Research & Technology Program will receive specific courses on soft skills, as Oral Presentation,Journal Club, Workshop on Ethics, French Lessons.
  • #Technologies
  • #PPU
  • #Doctorat
PPU-R&T
Doctorante avec microscope

Aim

This program will foster scientific projects involving the development of a new technology or methodology to answer a biological question with impact on human health. PhD students will work on collaborative projects between a laboratory and a technology platform or technology service unit and will spend a significant amount of their time in the partner technology platform or technology service unit. Selected students will receive a high-level and multidisciplinary training both in biology and technology for life sciences. 

Technology plays a crucial and ever-increasing role in scientific discoveries in the life sciences. Significant advances are often coupled to breakthroughs in technology. To permit a large number of research groups to benefit from the most advanced equipment and expertise, the Institut Pasteur has invested heavily into a its technological platforms. By spending a large fraction of their projects in a technology platform, the students in this program will benefit from training on advanced equipment by highly experienced personnel, with a project that poses significant challenges both on the scientific and technological level.

Spencer Shorte

Spencer Shorte

Spencer Shorte was a scientist at the Institut Pasteur whose dedication and contribution played a pivotal role in the creation of the PPU Research & Technology Doctoral Program. His vision and commitment to research left a lasting mark on our scientific community. By dedicating this program to him, we hope that future generations of students will be inspired by his humanistic approach to science and technology innovation.

PhD Program

Selected students will be co-supervised by a scientist and a technology expert. They will have access to a stimulating scientific and technological environment and will develop their skills both in life sciences research and in technology development. Students will have the opportunity to prepare for a career in academia as well as alternative ones (industry, technology platforms, large research infrastructures, ...). 

Students will be part of the International Doctoral Program (PPU) of the Institut Pasteur. 

For information about PPU student-specific training, activities, benefits

Scientific Project Eligibility and Thesis Co-Direction

Only scientific projects bridging fundamental or applied research to innovation in technology are eligible to apply to the PPU-R&T. The thesis project should involve a novel technological development or advances in a technique that is instrumental for advancing scientific knowledge in the framework of the thesis. These projects must be co-directed by a thesis supervisor working in a research IP laboratory and a thesis supervisor working in an IP technology platform or UTechS. In the description of their R&T project, co-directing supervisors must clearly describe their co-supervision plan and define who is the “leading supervisor” making decisions on how to advance work in the thesis. This can be either the laboratory or platform member if both have an HDR, and will be automatically the supervisor with HDR if only one of them has an HDR. Co-directors must both be based on the IP Paris campus.

Projects can be submitted by PIs from the campus on the PPU platform

Candidate students can apply

Selection Process

PPU presentation

The internal selection committee (gender balance respected) composed of renowned scientists and managers of innovation in science will select a maximum of 4 projects per call based on the following criteria:

  • scientific project eligibility
  • co-director supervisor eligibility
  • IP scientific priorities in frame with the IP strategic plan.

Mid-September to end of October: PhD candidates apply for selected projects listed on the dedicated platform.

Out of the 4 projects/candidates, 1 to 2 will be funded based on the strategic final evaluation table and decision by the IP Scientific Director. The selected candidates are taken in charge by the PPU administrative annual process to join IP to start their thesis in October of the same year.

Program Directors

Michael NILGES, Vice President of Technology , Institut Pasteur

Raquel HURTADO ORTIZ, Head of the National Biobank of Microorganisms, Institut Pasteur

Cecilia PATITUCCI, Dean of the Pasteur-Paris University International Doctoral Program – PPU, Institut Pasteur

Monica SALA, Vice President for Education, Institut Pasteur