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DOCTORAL THESIS

Every year, Renault takes on 30 doctoral students from a range of disciplines, with a focus on science.

Developing a culture of innovation  

Renault leads an active policy of supporting doctoral students. The company sees this research assistance as an innovation driver.   

 

Every year, some 30 students obtain their doctoral thesis at Renault as part of a CIFRE program (industrial training through research). Students complete their three-year doctoral thesis working half the time at Renault sites in France and overseas and half the time at the laboratory of the partner university.

Program open to all Masters students  

These doctoral programs are open to French and international students holding a Masters degree or equivalent and seeking to obtain a Doctorate degree.

 

Most of the doctoral subjects concern scientific fields and as such are coordinated by Renault's Department of Research, Advanced Studies and Materials (DREAM). Researchers working in other disciplines (logistics, humanities, finance, economy, etc.) may also be taken on from time to time by Renault teams.

 

Some doctoral subjects proposed in 2008

 

  • Engines – “Diesel combustion noise”.
  • Vehicles – “Development of statistical methods for assessing road safety measures”.
  • Transport (social sciences) – “Congested urban systems in Europe, Iran and India: a comparison of actors’ strategies and service opportunity”.
  • Materials (economics) – “Assessment and modeling of the technical and economical performance of the recycling industry”.

Productive work methods 

Under the responsibility of their mentors, doctoral students pursue their work in the university laboratory and in a Renault department. Students benefit from the department's facilities and expertise. Throughout the program, Renault pays doctoral students a salary as part of a fixed-term contract.

 

Candidates are chosen in a number of ways. They can be put forward by their laboratory, or identified by Renault in response to a published offer or at specialized forums.

 

Whatever the process, all students are selected using the same recruitment process as for engineers and executives. Renault considers its doctoral students as potential employees in the future. The Group endeavors to offer them jobs in their field of expertise or in another professional area, depending on its needs and recruitment capacities.