AStroParis in short

Keywords

[(Astrophysics, space sciences, methodologies in HPC, HPDA, instrumentation, engineering, team working, international collaborations, project management
)]

Abstract

Advanced research in astrophysics and engineering space science comprise a diversity of works from the most theoretical to the most applied framework, and rely on outstanding scientific questions and ambitious projects. Altogether they aim at understanding the physical laws of the Universe, and the structure and evolution of its various components. Modern astrophysics is characterized by sophisticated and innovative high-tech instruments, by observations pushing the limits of detectability ever further, by creative analytical and numerical calculations, and by datasets of ever-increasing volume requiring increasingly complex processing.

The graduate program of Paris Sciences & Lettres for Space and Astrophysics is aimed at top graduates who previously completed a bachelor degree (i.e. a Licence in the European LMD system) in physics, mathematics, or engineering. The selected students there benefit from state-of-the-art courses within Master and PhD programs, as well as deep immersion in top-level PSL laboratories, through which they acquire a wide set of high-level skills and methodologies.

Ecosystem

The graduate program AStroParis relies on the strengths of PSL’s astrophysics laboratories at Observatoire de Paris or at ENS, of the Master of Sciences of the Universe and Spatial Technologies (SUTS), and of the Astronomical-Astrophysics Doctoral School of Île-de-France (AAIF).
– At the Master level, the year M1 is specific to PSL ; the existing training offer at the M2 and D levels is currently organized through a formalized partnership between four major universities (PSL, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne University and Université de Paris).
– The Doctoral School Astronomy and Astrophysics in Île-de-France (ED AAIF, also known as ED127) is primarily concerned. It is supported by Paris Sciences et Lettres, is co-accredited by Sorbonne University, Université de Paris and Université Paris-Saclay. The Doctoral School of Physics in Île-de-France (ED PIF, or ED 564) is also concerned to a secondary extent. It is also managed by PSL and co-accredited by the same institutions. The Unité de Formation et Enseignement (UFE) of Paris Observatory incorporates a Department of doctoral studies that coordinates the training of all students affiliated to each and every possible doctoral school

The Graduate School benefits both from the PSL environment and from these external synergies, in the context a long-existing and tight link between research and training. It promotes international collaborations, and aims at the best employability of graduate students trained through challenging research programs.

Research & education

Discoveries in astrophysics based on high-level theory, innovative concepts and performing methodological tools, are the vector of the best education through and for research.

At the Master’s level, students share the research culture of laboratories through long-duration projects, during weekly visits, full internships, or longer gap periods. The graduate program strengthens the link between scientific research and training, in order to promote methods and techniques of computing, numerical modelling, big data analysis, data science, artificial intelligence, innovative instrument engineering, complex system engineering of space-borne and ground-based projects. All competitive projects of astrophysics in PSL are used to irrigate all levels of training.