In case of problem
Various problems can arise over the duration of a thesis. The Doctoral School has a great experience in managing these problems and can largely help to solve them. The important point is to let ED STIC aware very early, before the problem becomes too serious or too late to find a solution. Here are some common examples.
- Health problems: the ED STIC, if warned early, can manage to set up adapted working methods, modify the duration of the thesis, relax certain constraints, have the employment contract reviewed , and so on.
- Moments of depression: few PhD students never have such moments but sometimes the problem is likely to become recurrent. Here also, ED STIC can help to design correcting procedures or changes in working conditions, and so on.
- A sudden, or growing, disinterest in research or for the thesis subject: some drastic reorientations of the subject would not be made without the help of the ED. Also, the decision to stop or not the PhD can be assisted by experienced members outside your research team. ED STIC can also help to arrange a smooth PhD exit, or alternatively help to outline another approach to the topic or to a related topic.
- Conflicts with some partners of the thesis: the authority of the ED can help refocus the thesis topic on a reasonable direction, the ED can also help to change some partners, and so on.
- Conflicts with a supervisor: the ED is the best authority above all the interveners who can change the practices, analyze the roots of the problem, negotiate solutions, set up regular monitoring, propose better working habits, and so on.
- An unexpected loss of the PhD funding: solutions are not easy to find in this case (which may result, for example, from a CIFRE partner in financial difficulty). However the solidarity between the doctoral student, the research team, the laboratory and the Doctoral School can help to build a solution.
- A drift in duration of the thesis: can be due to the lack of data (which is delayed), can be due to a prototype that is based on imports that are not dominated, can be due to difficulties in finding a test bench, etc. These are often false problems that the ED can help to circumvent simply by bringing the idea that a redefinition of the objectives is possible ...
Many other problems can happen: never delay to ask the help of the ED.
In practice:
ED STIC has a lot of first possible interlocutors because, in these moments of fragility, a suitable interlocutor will be contacted earlier. Therefore (s)he will increase the chances of solving the problem satisfactorily. So you just have to choose who you prefer to talk to.
- The secretary of the ED is naturally the first interlocutor that doctoral students know. She has a great experience and can already provide some advice. She knows all the members of ED STIC and she can therefore easily mention a suitable interlocutor.
- Each member of your PhD follow-up committee is of course a good contact for the duration of the thesis.
- Each laboratory has a representative on the board of ED STIC. They are listed on this page. They have a great habit of mediating. (In addition, Inria has a Human Resources Officer and a PhD Representative)
- Also, do not hesitate to contact the student representatives of the ED STIC board listed on this same page.
- Similarly, the Association of PhD Students (AD STIC) is remarkably reliable. It is sometimes easier to get their help to reach a well-chosen contact.
- Finally the direction of ED STIC should not intimidate you. You can reach them directly, they are perfectly impartial.