Congratulations to the Latest Class of Graduates from Biosphera Graduate School
April 27 2023On April 14, 2023, Biosphera Graduate School held its third graduation ceremony for its newest 345 graduates, each of whom returned home with one of six Biosphera Master’s degrees. Biosphera Graduate School, jointly run by seven Paris-Saclay University institutions and coordinated by AgroParisTech, offers a research and education program dedicated to the interactions between living organisms and their environments. The objective is to address the major challenges facing the future of the biosphere and our society.
What is Biosphera Graduate School all about?
This new school, created in 2019 to coordinate research and education activities, combines a number of highly varied disciplines, including ecology, environmental science, the humanities, social sciences, food, agriculture, and economics—all of which share the same foundation: biology. The general philosophy of the school is synergy.
“Synergy operates at different levels: the Graduate School’s primary raison d’être is to build bridges and links between researchers and students throughout the entire Master’s program; synergy also exists with other universities and institutions involved in the program, and we maintain dialog with them at every level (Orsay Faculty of Science, University of Evry, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the CEA, CNRS, and INRAE). And since AgroParisTech moved to Palaiseau, our communications have been even more frequent and free-flowing,” explained Benoît Gabrielle, a professor at AgroParisTech, researcher at the EcoSys laboratory, and director of the program.
The link between researchers and students is clear to see, with several events organized throughout the year to encourage meetings and discussions between them (one-day research conferences, calls for projects in which students can apply as interns, etc.). Interdisciplinary and internationally oriented, the Graduate School addresses scientific challenges to tackle societal issues such as the ecological transition towards sustainable socioecological and food industry systems, food safety, the preservation of biodiversity, and the transformation of bioresources (recovery of biowaste, energy).
345
students graduating with one of the six Master’s degrees (2021-2022)
550
Master's students
280
Ph.D. students
2
doctoral schools (ABIES & SEVE)
30
research laboratories
100
research teams
8
research programs
A Graduate’s Experience
Axelle PiaudelI arrived at Paris-Saclay University in 2018 to start a bachelor’s degree in ecology, having already earned a two-year BTS degree in water management. I really enjoyed my bachelor’s, so I decided to continue on the Master’s program! Protecting the environment around us, encouraging biodiversity, and safeguarding water resources are my main sources of motivation. I know that we are all motivated by certain things and that’s why we’re here today. The things that make my Master's degree in BEE (Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution) stand out for me are that my teachers were mainly researchers and that each course was extremely specialized. I learned a lot both in the classroom and in the field, such as when we headed out to conduct environmental surveys (measuring water quality using probes, sampling tree trunks or the ground using an auger, etc.).
I should add that it was really good that my two-year Master’s program was a work/study program. It’s a great way of getting used to working, it allows you to make professional contacts, and it gives you a better idea of what you might find particularly interesting in your field. I am now working as a Research Officer in aquatic environments at Cerema (Center for Studies on Risks, the Environment, Mobility and Urban Planning) in Bordeaux.
Des thématiques pour étudier le vivant et son évolution
A variety of disciplines are required for the study of living organisms, their evolution (whether natural or in response to different forms of interference), and their capacities to adapt. As a leader in the area of life sciences, our institution’s substantial human resources and support structure made us the perfect choice to coordinate Biosphera Graduate School.
The Graduate School’s eight different research programs offer an ideal space for scientific and professional activities at the intersection of research, education, and innovation, allowing connections to be created between Master’s and Ph.D. levels:
- Sustainable circular bioeconomy
- Ecology & evolution
- Microorganisms: from genes to ecosystems
- Food science and human nutrition
- Animal sciences: from wild to domestic animals
- Environmental sciences: economics, resources, and impacts
- Plant sciences: from wild to cultivated plants
- Territories and societies: from natural environments to agroecosystems
Career prospects are very varied, with job positions available in the Research & Development sector or working for public bodies (local and regional governments).
A Few Examples of Career Prospects for Graduates with Master’s Degrees and/or Ph.D.’s
- R&D researcher
- R&D project manager in the private or academic sector (engineer/Ph.D. level)
- Researcher or professor
- Quality manager
- Expert consultant or analyst in a consulting firm, inter-professional organization, or national/international agency or organization
- Start-up founder, etc.