On June 8, 2026, the Nantes Institute for Advanced Study hosted the second edition of its doctoral training programme. Some training sessions provide tools. Others offer something different: time. Time to talk about one’s research, uncertainties, aspirations, and future prospects. During this morning session, around ten doctoral candidates and six fellows of the Institute came together for a series of discussions and exchanges. It was a welcome pause from the usual pace of doctoral work—a space where disciplines intersected and experiences resonated with one another.
Following the success of its inaugural edition in 2025, the Institute renewed its doctoral training programme this year, designing it as a unique opportunity for exchange between Institute fellows and doctoral researchers from the region.
Led by Mélanie Leclair, Head of Scientific Coordination, Administration and Communications at the Institute—and herself a PhD holder—the morning brought together around ten doctoral candidates in their first, second, or third year of study. Participants represented a wide range of disciplines, including labour law, sociology, chemistry, history, literature, biology, and oncology.
Joining them were Claudia Rosina Bara, Abril Campos, and Nicol Hernandez Puente, currently in residence as part of the Commons Chair, as well as Sophie Halart, Director of the Institute and former fellow (2022–2023), Roslyn Lee Hammers (fellow 2022–2023), and Sergio Coto-Rivel (fellow 2024–2025).
Through a series of discussions and interactive sessions, participants shared their research experiences, aspirations, and the challenges they encounter throughout the doctoral journey.
One of the most striking observations shared throughout the morning was the commonality of experiences among doctoral researchers, despite the diversity of their disciplines. Several participants noted how reassuring it was to realize that the same questions, doubts, and challenges can arise across very different fields of research.
The discussions also gave doctoral candidates the opportunity to discover a variety of professional trajectories and to reflect more broadly on life after the PhD. Many appreciated the supportive atmosphere of the conversations, as well as the chance to engage with people whose careers extend beyond the academic sphere.
For the fellows, the meeting was equally enriching. Several emphasized how the aspirations and commitment of the doctoral researchers inspire hope for future generations of scholars. All stressed the importance of creating more spaces for dialogue, both across disciplines and between generations.
As Claudia Rosina Bara aptly summarized: “We are more connected, more closely linked, and closer to one another than we think.”
This second edition confirms the value of creating spaces where research can be discussed in a different way—through the sharing of experiences, common questions, and the discovery of diverse career paths. Beyond disciplinary and generational boundaries, the exchanges served as a reminder that research is also a collective endeavour, enriched by encounters with others.
