The research departments and Doctoral College

In Grenoble, 3,600 professor (full or associate)-researchers work in more than 70 laboratories, structured through 6 research departments, 13 "laboratories of excellence" (Labex) and benefitting from "equipment of excellence" (Equipex). Almost half of our 3,000 PhD students are international students. With such assets, Grenoble is one of the most research-intensive ecosystems in France.

The research departments

These 6 research departments support and develop excellence in research within all disciplinary fields – both in basic and applied research – and foster pluridisciplinary and collaboration between the teams of the various departments.

They collaborate to tackle ambitious transversal projects. Most research structures are shared with national research institutions such as CNRS, CEA, Inserm, Inria, and INRAE.

Missions of research departments

  • Contribute to the design and implementation of research strategy.
  • Distribute financial and human resources, in particular through incentive calls for projects.
  • Design proposals for recruitment of open positions for professor-researchers (alongside the education components) and researchers.
  • Forecast the needs of laboratories in administrative and technical staff.
  • Take part in the setting up of recruitment commissions for professor-researchers.
  • Submit preliminary decisions about the mobility professors-researchers and invited professors, in collaboration with education components.
  • Raise funds.
  • Communicate on the research potential of Université Grenoble Alpes as a whole, and develop collaborations with industrial, political, cultural and economic partners.

Our 6 research departments

  • Chemistry, Biology, Health (CBS)
    Bio-motivated chemical systems / Integrative structural and cellular biology / Cancer and chronic diseases / Translational neurosciences / Technology and health.
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  • Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences (MSTIC)
    MathAlp: from basic research to applications / Cyberphysical systems / Data science / Perception, interactions, uses.
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  • Particles Physics, Astrophysics, Geosciences, Environment and Ecology (PAGE)
    The universe: origin, composition, evolution / Earth and anthropization: climate, ecosystems, risks and resources.
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  • Physics, Engineering, Material Science (PEM)
    Materials, structures and systems / Condensed and complex matter / Mechanics, processes and transfers / Micro-electronics, micro-systems, electrical engineering / Nanosciences, nanotechnologies.
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  • Social Sciences (PSS)
    Economics, finance, organizations and societies.
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  • Humanities and Social Sciences (SHS)
    This research department studies the human being within its social, societal, cultural, intercultural and environmental contexts. It deals with issues related to language, cognition, creation, education, technologies in society. .
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Doctoral College

The Doctoral College is a transversal structure; responsible for the doctoral strategy, it organises doctoral studies in the 13 doctoral schools of UGA and implements the conditions for the awarding of the Doctorate and the Habilitation to Conduct Research (HDR). It promotes also the professional integration and monitoring systems for doctoral students.

Its missions:
  • Federate all doctoral schools: an unified administrative management enables simpler administrative procedures (enrolment, visa, etc.).
  • Harmonize scientific supervision.
  • Provide a more comprehensive and trans-disciplinary educational offer during the doctorate (foreign languages, professional integration, Labels, etc.).
  • Contribute to the international outreach of Université Grenoble Alpes doctorates.
  • Promote relations with businesses and international networks.
Published on  February 6, 2020
Updated on September 28, 2022