The PhD is a 3-year research-based training course offering opportunities both inside and outside the academic world (R&D, consultancy, etc.). The experimental, analytical, writing and/or modelling skills acquired during the thesis can be added values in a large number of professions. The LSCE welcomes more than 70 PhD students on a permanent basis, mainly from the two doctoral schools to which the LSCE belongs :
- « Sciences de l’environnement d’Ile de France » doctoral school (SEIF, ED 129, regional) for climate and environmental sciences
- « Mechanical and Energy Sciences, Materials and Geosciences » doctoral school (SMEMAG, ED 579, regional) for the geoscience section.
LSCE doctoral students receive research grants from a wide variety of sources:
- University doctoral contracts
- CEA CFR contracts (training-research contracts)
- CIFRE contracts with an industrial company
- CNRS contracts
- Research project contracts
The LSCE also participates in the training courses offered by the doctoral schools, depending on the subjects proposed.
Supervision of doctoral students at LSCE has been in place since the laboratory was set up in 1998. Each student signs a thesis charter at the start of their studies and their work is supervised by a thesis monitoring committee, as in all universities. In addition, the laboratory has set up an internal sponsorship system. Each student has a sponsor within the laboratory, from a team other than the one in which the thesis is being carried out. These mentors ensure the well-being of the student and the smooth running of the thesis.
The LSCE is documenting and following the future of its former doctoral students using for example regular surveys.