The second session, "The 'commission' and managing the expectations of the funding structure: a bias or a lever for scientific research?" will be held via videoconference on Monday, March 15, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
One of the specific features of a partnership thesis is the existence of an initial, a priori explicit "commission" for research, issued by a company, association, or public administration. This immediately introduces a third party between the doctoral student and the thesis supervisor: a third-party organization that has its own interests and logic, and which sometimes lacks understanding of the world of research and its challenges.
This second session will explore the influence of this "third actor," the sponsor, on the thesis process, addressing the following questions in particular: Are there forms of influence that can be anticipated in the management of the thesis that are specific to a type of funding structure (local authority, design office, large company, R&D department, etc.)? How can the expectations of each of the stakeholders (doctoral student, partner organization, laboratory) with regard to the research be defined in advance of the thesis? How can these expectations be managed over time, particularly when changes occur within the third-party organization (strategic reorientation, turnover of managers, departure of the supervisor, etc.)? What should be done when the doctoral student and the research are directly involved in the economic and political issues of the funding structure? What are the differences between the thesis manuscript, which must be written in an academic style and format, and the various "deliverables" expected by the company? How can these two aspects of research promotion be reconciled? Where does the doctoral student's contribution to the structure come into play?
While these questions inevitably arise in the context of partnership theses, they may not be specific to this type of funding. In fact, the majority of theses receiving doctoral grants are based on empirical surveys that require "opening up" fields and, therefore, often involve discussions with people whose agreement is a prerequisite for access to data. In this type of situation, which is very common, the doctoral student may find themselves in a position similar to that of their counterparts funded by partnership schemes, forcing them to deal with the expectations of their interlocutors. This session will also be an opportunity to share these experiences, beyond the formal thesis funding schemes.
Speakers: Mathilde Marchand, Sofia Guevara