Theses and post-doctoral study at CNES
Once a year CNES awards about a hundred research grants in the domain of engineering sciences (orbital and space transport systems), and those sciences which make use of space equipment (sciences of the cosmos, Earth, and microgravity) to young French and foreign scientists who have an interest in space :
- thesis contracts with a view to preparing a university doctoral thesis in a research laboratory in France.
- post-doctoral contracts allocated for research work at CNES or in a laboratory in France.
Conditions for candidature
- For thesis contracts, university candidates or graduates of a Grande Ecole or engineering school must hold a Master 2 degree awarded by a university, or a suitable degree enabling them to enrol for their thesis at the relevant doctoral school.
- For post-doctoral contracts, candidates should hold a doctorate or equivalent by the start of the contract. Applications from researchers who have already benefited from a thesis contract co-sponsored by CNES will not be considered.
Types of contract and remuneration
- For thesis contracts: The duration of these contracts is one year, renewable twice. Gross monthly remuneration for doctoral students is 1919 € (Janv 1st 2011).
- For post-doctoral contracts: The duration of the contract is one year, renewable once. Gross monthly remuneration is 2258,06 € (Janv 1st 2010).
Conditions for placing contracts
- Thesis contracts must be co-sponsored by a partner (public body, manufacturer, regional body, etc.) by means of a co-sponsorship type of agreement (see the model example below).
Post doctoral contracts may possibly be co-financed. - The placing of co-sponsored contracts is dependent on the prior signing of a co-financing agreement with the partner and host laboratory.
- Contracts start, at the latest, in the December of the year in progress.
Topics 2012 available in January 2012
The topics pre selected for 2012 will be available on our web site in Jan 1st 2012.
Only the applicants for a post-doctoral grant will be invited for an interview in April/May 2012 (to be confirmed).
Juries selection will meet in May 2012.
Dissemination of results on our web site will be done after the grant committee at the end of May 2012.
