Recognized researchers
In a nutshell, IFP’s scientific policy can be defined as identifying scientific hurdles and overcoming them through research work conducted in partnership with the very best academic laboratories and creating new industrial applications for this research over the long term.
Naturally, this ambition to support innovation must go hand in hand with the rigorous implementation of scientific quality, ranging from research teams to the choice of research themes. IFP’s Scientific Board plays a key role in this respect.
Highly-qualified staff and diverse scientific expertise
IFP’s R&D activities are supported by specialists from a broad range of different fields, ranging from earth sciences to engine combustion. The research teams include more than 350 PhD holders, of whom 52 are accredited to direct research according to french university standards.
The scientific and technical expertise is grouped together in 11 specific research divisions, responsible for the scientific quality of the work carried out, for university partnerships and for experimental resources.
>>> Research Divisions
PhD programs
PhD theses represent a rich source of new ideas and concepts for IFP. Around 60 new theses are started each year and some 180 doctoral students are supported by IFP at any one time. Generally speaking, they are given a three-year contract by IFP, which means they have the same rights as other employees. The majority of PhD students (70%) are located in IFP’s laboratories, the remainder being conducted in the laboratory of the university where the student is registered.
Following their thesis, IFP’s successful PhD students find employment in industry and in their own specific field of expertise. The 2008 survey looking at what happened to successful PhD students when they left showed that more than 90% of them had secured employment a year later and 95% had done so after two years. These figures demonstrate that IFP’s PhD programs are fully meeting their objectives in providing industry with highly qualified scientific specialists.
National accreditation to direct research (HDR)
About 50 of our engineers held HDR accreditations. At this point, however, many of our researchers have acquired the necessary experience and are taking the course to earn their HDR, so that number will rise in the future.
An in-house center of excellence
To further enhance the technical and scientific excellence of its researchers and effectively promote this image of excellence among its industrial, institutional and academic partners, in 2008 IFP set up a network of experts comprising two levels (Expert/Expert Director). There are currently six Expert Directors and 21 Experts.
>>> Expertise at IFP
Prizes and awards won by IFP researchers in 2008
LIONEL ALGIVE
Best Doctoral Paper at the Computational Methods in Water Resources conference (partnership with Ensam)
CAROLINE CHAUX
The Club des Enseignants et des Chercheurs en Électronique, Électrotechnique et Automatique Thesis Prize (partnership with University of Paris East)
JACQUES DEBYSER
2008 Jean Rostand Prize for the publication “Un nouveau regard sur la nature, temps, espace et matières au siècle des lumières” (“A new view of nature, time, space and materials in the Age of Enlightenment”)
PIERRE DURET
SIA (Société des ingénieurs de l’automobile – French automotive engineers society) award – Technical category: “Powertrains”
MARC FLEURY
Darcy Prize 2008, SCA (Society of Core Analysis) award for his work in the field of petrophysics and the development of characterization and interpretation tools
DENIS GUILLAUME
French Chemistry Society Catalysis Division Prize
ÉTIENNE LEBAS
National prize to support innovative technology start-up company – Ministry for Higher Education and Research
ANA PINHEIRO
EER (École Énergies et Recherches – Fréjus March 2008) best poster prize for “The influence of oxygen compounds present in biomass pyrolysis oils on hydrotreatment reactions”
Diesopti project teams
“Energy - Environment” prize of the ANR’s VTT-Predit program
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