Doctoral School of Human Movement Sciences (ED463)
Drawing on the relevant educational and research institutions, Doctoral School 463 “Human Movement Sciences” (SMH) has, since 2004, brought together the research capabilities of the universities of the Greater South (Aix-Marseille University, University of Montpellier, Nice Sofia Antipolis) in the field of human movement and its neurological, physiological, mechanical, behavioral, cognitive, and societal determinants. Thus,DS brings together, at the interregional level, research teams that are complementary in terms of discipline. The thematic proximity and geographic scope ensure thatDS holds a strong position on the national stage. The decision to place interdisciplinarity at the heart of a thematic project—the study of human movement—also helps position France as a leading institution in this field, both in Europe and internationally (Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan, etc.).
The SMH Doctoral School welcomes doctoral students from universities in France and abroad.DS is highly attractive, as in recent years, 56% of enrolled doctoral students held master’s degrees from institutions other than the co-accredited universities, 15% of doctoral students were foreign nationals, and 11% of theses were completed under joint supervision with foreign universities (with the doctoral degree awarded by two universities, one of which was foreign).
DS has nearly 150 researchers and faculty members, including 90 with HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) status, distributed across some 15 research units (10 of which are affiliated with major research organizations such as the CNRS, INSERM, INRA, and IFSTTAR).
It ensures excellent career prospects in research-related fields. The latest four-year study shows that the vast majority of doctoral students go on to work in research: 74% hold permanent positions in academia or the private sector, and 26% continue their careers as postdocs. Only 2% do not pursue a career in research, often for reasons related to personal choices.
The main functions of theDS :
- it implements a doctoral student recruitment policy based on publicly disclosed criteria of scientific excellence
- It ensures the optimal development of doctoral students’ academic training by monitoring the quality and commitment of their supervision and by encouraging publication in leading scientific journals
- it ensures compliance with the thesis guidelines
- It organizes training for doctoral students to prepare them as early as possible for a successful transition into the workforce
- It organizes academic exchanges among doctoral students
- It is implementing a policy of scientific openness toward other countries.
