1st Career Development Day

On June 14th 2024,  BTAP held its inaugural 1st Career Development Day at IUEM. This event was designed to provide essential career development opportunities and local young researchers. The event saw substantial interest and participation from the postdoctoral community and affiliated institutions, not only from the Technopôle but also from Brittany. 

The event was a resounding success, with 77 registered participatns: postdocs (66%), PhD students (17%), and permanent employees (17%). A diverse range of institutions was represented, reflecting the broad interest and collaboration within the local community. 

The workshop featured four sessions throughout the day, each focusing on key aspects of career development :

• Research Grants for Young Researchers: Discussed funding opportunities and resources to support early-career researchers in obtaining grants for their projects. This panel included an introduction to ISblue, UBO, and IUEM grants, as well as the l’Oréal-UNESO grant for Women in Sciences.

• Other Postdoctoral Opportunities: Provided insights into various postdoctoral opportunities available in France, Europe, and internationally. This included introductions to fellowships in Japan (JSPS and JAMSTEC) and Germany (Humboldt Fellowship), the IRD postdoc, opportunities through the PEPRs, COFUNDs, and EURAXESS, as well as the MSCA European Fellowship. It also offered some tips on grant writing.

• Research Permanent Positions: Offered guidance on transitioning from postdoctoral positions to permanent research roles, including insights into the application and selection process. This included discussions on the ERC Starting Grants, recruitment processes at IFREMER, IRD, CNRS (both from an applicant and a jury member), as well as for Maître de Conférences, and Chair Professor Junior.

• Opportunities Outside Academia: Explored career paths beyond academia, including industry, government, NGOs, and entrepreneurship. This included an introduction to the PUI BlueBox team, the France Energies Marines institute, and the feedback from a cooperative ARL company.