Their names are Isaya, Yakubu, Mufti, Kevin, Feryantama, Rashad, Ariel, Luigi, Mohammed Abdrrahim, Nazial, Pinky, Siqing and Ali. They come from Tanzania, Ghana, Indonesia, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Colombia, Italy, Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China. There are 13 of them in the first cohort of PhD students recruited for the SEED (Societal, Energy, Environmental, industrial and Digital transitions) doctoral program. A lucky number that inspires wonderful research prospects. The new SEED program predicted a highly international network - and we have kept our promise!
The figures speak for themselves, and attest to a highly competitive recruitment process. Selected from 241 applications, the 13 prize-winners impressed their evaluators with the quality and excellence of their academic careers, which may only begin, but are already full of promise.
Integrated into IMT Atlantique's research laboratories
Since the end of 2024, they have integrated their research teams on the Brest and Nantes campuses and are already busy pushing back the frontiers of transitions. Between state of the art and bibliographical research, their subjects are meticulously analyzed in order to identify the disruptions to be undertaken. Their thesis objectives are becoming clearer, their methodologies more refined. Very soon, they will be heading for new destinations for international or cross-sector mobility, enriching their academic approach in stimulating interdisciplinary settings.
It was at the first reunion event that the SEED class had the opportunity to meet and forge links, quickly making the distance between the two campuses a thing of the past. Thanks to training courses dedicated to ethics (research impact and ethical methods, led by Odile Bellenguez, researcher in the Automatic, Productive and Computer Science department and Tinashe Mutsvangwa, head of the Data Science department), to bibliographic research, open science (led by Nathalie Fontaine, in charge of Scientific Information at the Research and Innovation Department), as well as the issue of bias in research (explored by Mario Sudholt, coordinator of the SEED program), these 13 laureates are not only equipped to conduct responsible research, but have also taken advantage of this opportunity to forge a spirit of promotion specific to this doctoral network.
First testimonials from promising young researchers
The SEED promotion is set to grow. In June 2025, 5 new graduates will join the network. A further 22 will join the third and final cohort in the second half of 2025.
From now on, we invite you to discover these first 13 laureates: who they are, what they do and how they contribute to today's societal challenges, through their inspiring portraits.
by Pierre-Hervé VAILLANT
