Framework of the AAP - Doctoral contracts for the Ocean Institute

The Ocean Sciences Institute (OCEAN) is one of 18 institutes created by Aix-Marseille Université, to continue structuring the site in terms of research - training - innovation, in particular by strengthening links between training and research. Drawing on a network of internationally renowned laboratories and partners, OCEAN aims to:

1. encourage the emergence of new themes with the aim of understanding the past and present state of our oceans for a sustainable future,
2. support knowledge of the oceans and informed governance processes, innovate for a circular blue economy and climate neutrality,
3. contribute to the fight against pollution from source to sea,
4. restore ocean biodiversity against a backdrop of adverse climatic and anthropogenic pressures,
5. create new interdisciplinary synergies.

OCEAN's PhD program is fully in line with this ambition, supporting PhD students from a wide range of disciplines, training them through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and creating a common culture conducive to the development of new research themes and innovative technologies. This year, OCEAN is launching a call for proposals for doctoral contracts, with ½ contracts co-funded by partner organizations identified by OCEAN management, or by the research programs of project leaders. All these contracts must meet high quality standards and involve inter-laboratory collaboration. Collaboration with the socio-economic world and/or Internationally is strongly encouraged.

This year, co-financing may be provided by the IRD, IFREMER, the Southern Region and the project leaders' own research programs. Priority research topics should be based on the 4 OCEAN challenges(see Appendix 1) and be in line with the priorities of the co-financing organizations:

• IFREMER: Marine robotics and artificial intelligence
• IRD: Intersection between OCEAN challenges and major IRD issues in partnership with southern countries, for example in relation to climate change, coastal evolution, biodiversity or ocean governance.
• Other programs: OCEAN challenges
• Sud-PACA region: Intersection between OCEAN challenges and the strategic priorities of the Sud-PACA region

Please note that the OCEAN Research Committee will arbitrate the allocation of doctoral contract requests (IRD, IFREMER, Programs). However, applications selected by the Research Committee for co-funding by the South Region will then follow the usual evaluation procedure, in accordance with the schedule defined for doctoral contracts.

Procedure for the call for proposals

This call for proposals takes place in three stages:

1) Call for thesis proposals open to research teams within the scope of OCEAN.

Declaration of intention to submit a proposal: January 4, 2022 - Extended until January 10, 2022 12:00 PM

Submission of project proposal: January 31, 2022

Evaluation by external experts.

The OCEAN doctoral contract selection committee makes a pre-selection of thesis projects(February 25, 2022).

2) Publication of calls for applications from graduates (or future graduates) of a Master's degree (or equivalent).

Thesis project leaders rank all candidates using the evaluation criteria agreed by OCEAN and make a pre-selection of the 3 best candidates, and submit the applications to the Institute by June 3, 2022 at 12:00 at the latest.

Please note that the OCEAN Research Committee will arbitrate the allocation of doctoral contract applications (IRD, IFREMER, Programs). However, the applications selected by the Research Committee for co-financing by the Southern Region will then follow the usual evaluation procedure, in accordance with the timetable defined for doctoral contracts.

3) Hearing of shortlisted candidates by the OCEAN Research Committee, mid-June 2021 (date to be confirmed). Publication of results by the end of June.

Start of PhD at the end of September/beginning of October 2022.

In line with the attractiveness policy of the A*Midex Foundation, of which OCEAN is a part, calls for applications will be published in France and Internationally.