Interview: Ronald Phlypo, Dean, Masters in Data Analysis: Linking Experiments and Theory, Phelma

What motivated you to set up this Masters program focused on scientific method and experimentation?

We feel that these are fundamental skills. And not only for scientists. Students planning careers in industrial R&D need them, too. Experimentation is vital to testing and development cycles. What we are seeing with our students’ culminating projects is that they apply experimental protocols in a rote fashion without demonstrating the necessary critical thinking skills. We want them to take ownership of the protocols they are using.

What is in the curriculum?

The first semester of the program focuses on formulating hypotheses for a research project and determining experimental protocols. In the second semester, students will implement measurement and data analysis methods and learn to write their conclusions. The curriculum prepares students for the second year of their Masters program, where they can choose between cognitive science and signal and image processing at Phelma, or nanomedicine and structural biology at Grenoble-Alpes University.

How many students are enrolled?

This is the first year of the program and we are in the middle of a pandemic. So, the number of students is much lower than it would normally be. Starting next year, we plan to leverage two strengths. The first is that this is the only program of its kind in France. Second, all classes are taught in English, which makes the program ideal for international students. Ultimately, we plan to accept 25 to 30 students per year.

Contact: ronald.phlypo@phelma.grenoble-inp.fr

Learn more: phelma.grenoble-inp.fr/fr/l-ecole/daleth-quest-ce-que-cest-%C2%AB-what-is-it-%C2%BB