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A number of stipends for PhD students are financed totally by the Région Centre, by both INRAE and the Région Centre, or by the University of Tours. These stipends are validated each year by the Doctoral School "Health, Biological Sciences and Life Chemistry", section B "Infectiology and vaccinology, Immunology" . They relate to a 3-years research project being proposed by an ISP researcher and selected by the Doctoral School's Scientific Committee. The availability of a PhD project is generally announced by the Doctoral School in February/March to start in October. To apply, you should directly contact the designated thesis supervisor. The thesis supervisor will usually select three candidates to present their previous works and the proposed PhD project in front of jury delegates from the Doctoral School. The jury will then select the candidate for the PhD project.

For PhD projects that are funded by other research grants, the thesis supervisor may select the student candidate on his own; nevertheless the PhD student will be integrated in the curriculum of the Doctoral School "Health, Biological Sciences and Life Chemistry". The latter also applies to students with stipends from international academic exchange organisations. The student may start his/her thesis anytime in the year.

Students' life: PhD students are totally involved in the research and day-to-day activities of their hosting laboratory. Next to the design and the performing of experiments, the writing of thesis reports and scientific papers, they also take part in various other activities: contract deal, technical work groups, journal clubs, PhD day presentations, ISP seminar series, international congresses, etc. Students are also represented in the different administrative and scientific committees at INRAE Centre Val de Loire.

It is mandatory that the thesis is supervised by a principal investigator with an "HDR" degree, e.g. a postdoctoral research qualification. Today about 40 scientists are holding this degree in our JRU. All PhD students are enrolled in the Doctoral School "Health, biological sciences and life chemistry" that is associated to the Universities of Tours and Orléans.

A thesis committee consisting of minimum three scientists (ISP and/or external researchers) reviews and validates the student's research project and the technical approaches for its realisation. This committee meets once at the end of every year for the two first years of thesis.

Trainings are proposed by INRAE and the Doctoral School during the course of the thesis, to facilitate the integration of the students into the professional world at the end of their PhD.