Dedicated to students interested in research and innovation, the event offered an overview of doctoral pathways and career perspectives linked to the space ecosystem through presentations, round tables and testimonials from PhD candidates, researchers and professionals. The event was coordinated and hosted by Emmanuel Zenou, Coordinator of the UNIVERSEH Alliance, with support from Clotilde Lafaille and Sterenn Le Calvez, as well as the valuable support of the local UNIVERSEH team.
The morning opened with a welcome address by Michael Toplis, President of the Toulouse Community of Universities and Institutions (Comue de Toulouse), who warmly welcomed the students and speakers attending the event. Christina Stange-Fayos, Vice-President for Europe and International Affairs of the Comue de Toulouse, also attended the event.
Throughout the morning, participants discovered the diversity of research topics connected to the space sector, spanning science and engineering as well as humanities and social sciences, medicine, geopolitics, history and management – fully reflecting the interdisciplinary ambition of the UNIVERSEH European University Alliance.
Exploring PhD Studies
The first part of the event focused on a central question: “What is a PhD?”. This introduction gave students the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of doctoral studies through an opening presentation by David Mimoun, Professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, who presented the overall structure of PhD programmes, including admission requirements, funding opportunities and key characteristics of doctoral research. He notably highlighted that “pursuing a PhD requires imagination, curiosity, initiative and autonomy”.
Isabelle Berry, Professor at the University of Toulouse and Hospital Practitioner at Toulouse University Hospital, then presented the specific features of doctoral pathways in the health sector for students interested in pursuing research in this field.
Insights from Current and Former PhD Students
Students also had the opportunity to attend two panel discussions moderated by Emmanuel Zenou, Coordinator of the UNIVERSEH Alliance. The first panel brought together current PhD candidates, while the second featured former doctoral candidates sharing their academic and professional experiences after completing their PhDs.
All speakers had conducted research related to the space sector across a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, health and medicine, history, sociology, management and entrepreneurship, highlighting the strongly interdisciplinary nature of today’s space ecosystem.
Panel participants included: Laure Boyer (MEDES), Lorenzo Chapel (Toulouse INP / Airbus Defence and Space), Aveline Cloitre (Toulouse School of Management – SIRIUS Chair), Julien Doche (ISAE-SUPAERO / CNES), Hélène Fourcade (Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès), Georges-Emmanuel Gleize (Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès), Coralie Lhabitant (CNES / TBS Education / Toulouse School of Management – SIRIUS Chair), Axelle Vanhaecke (Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès), and Thomas Rinuit-Veaux (CNES / Sorbonne Université).
Focus on career Paths After a PhD
To provide students with a broader perspective on doctoral studies and career opportunities after a PhD, the programme also included a presentation by Charlène Labourdette, International PhD Projects Officer, on employment trends and career outcomes for PhD graduates in the space sector.Drawing on recent survey data, the presentation highlighted the strong employability of doctoral graduates within Toulouse’s dynamic space ecosystem and provided valuable insights into the wide range of career paths available in academia, industry and public institutions.
With the Engagement of Our Partners and Stakeholders
The event also featured presentations from several key partners and stakeholders of the UNIVERSEH ecosystem, including the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), which introduced its PDOC+ programme supporting doctoral and postdoctoral research. Each year, CNES funds around 130 research positions, including approximately 100 PhD grants and 30 postdoctoral fellowships.
Céline Calleya, Head of Humanities and Social Sciences at CNES, presented research opportunities in social sciences and humanities related to the space sector. She notably described the PhD as “a tool for competitiveness and a gateway to international cooperation”.
Students also discovered the activities of the SIRIUS Chair, dedicated to research in law and management applied to the space sector, presented by Victor Dos Santos Paulino, co-director of the Chair.
The programme further included an inspiring talk by Jacques Arnould, historian of science, theologian and Ethics Expert at CNES. Holding PhDs in both theology and the history of science, he shared his unique interdisciplinary journey within the space sector and reflected on the broader human dimensions of space activities. Addressing students from a wide range of disciplines, he notably emphasised that “Space-related matters shed light on who we are as humans and inhabitants of Earth”, while also encouraging students to approach doctoral studies with “patience, but above all passion”.
The organising team would like to warmly thank all speakers, partners and students for their participation and engagement throughout the event. This first edition successfully highlighted the richness and diversity of interdisciplinary doctoral opportunities connected to the space sector.