M2 Biologie Agrosciences Plant Sciences

  • Places available
    35
  • Language(s) of instruction
    English
    French
  • Enrolment type
    Formation initiale
    Formation continue
  • Type of teaching
    En présentiel
  • Start of programme (indicative date)
Présentation
Objectives

The Research track is taught entirely in English and aims to train students, through research, to acquire solid expertise in plant sciences and in the mechanisms used by plants to adapt to abiotic and biotic stresses. Graduates continue their studies under doctoral contracts, mainly in public laboratories, but also in private companies. The programme is divided into two parts: courses (September-December), consisting of teaching units and laboratory immersion, and training (January-June), consisting of a six-month internship in a public research laboratory.

The aim of the IQPV professionnal subtrack's programme is to enable students to acquire a solid scientific foundation in fields related to plant production. This knowledge base will enable them to implement a rigorous scientific approach combined with appropriate experimental methods in the context of real-world issues. It will draw on generic knowledge and transfer it to an agricultural/agronomic context in order to improve plant production in a changing environment and under conditions of sustainable agriculture.

Skills
  • Describe and use basic concepts in genomics and plant improvement (common core curriculum), plant signalling, plant physiology and metabolism, plant cell biology, interactions between plants and micro-organisms, plant epigenetics and epigenomics (research path), multiperforming agricultural practices, crop protection, marketing, authorisation for plant protection products (professional path); and, combining these concepts, to build a scientific approach to plant science.

  • Overall organisation

    The Research sub-track is organised into 8 teaching units:

    - 5 fundamental knowledge teaching units (semester 1, 16 ECTS): Plant genomics and breeding, Plant response to their complex environment, Plant epigenetics, Plant cell biology, Metagenomics

    -4 teaching units on research projects (semester 1, 14 ECTS): Laboratory rotations, Omics approaches to plant metabolism, Research project, International congress.

    A 6-month internship is carried out in a research laboratory (30 ECTS, from January to June).

    The IQPV sub-track programme is organised into 7 teaching units:

    -3 scientific teaching units (semester 1, 15 ECTS):  Genomics and plant breeding, Plant health, Agricultural practices and climate change;

    -4 entrepreneurial teaching units (semester 1, 15 ECTS): Market research and marketing, Tools for business development, Approval of plant protection products, Strategic and regulatory monitoring

    A 6-month end-of-study internship is carried out in a company (30 ECTS, from March to September).

    Career prospects

    Research path: Students from this path usually pursue a PhD. There are several types of doctoral contracts available, through the doctoral schools or through the Saclay Plant Sciences Graduate School of Research (EUR SPS). After doctoral studies, there are opportunities for working at doctoral level in public or private research. At the end of the M2 course, permanent contracts (CDI) at M2 level are rare; most jobs are in the form of fixed-term contracts. At the end of the M2, long-term employment opportunities are rare; most employment opportunities are for short-term contracts. Full information is provided by course leaders at the beginning of the year on competitive exams of the doctoral schools and how to prepare for them as well as on the employment former students have found. For more information, students can also turn to the Doctoral School (ED) for Plant Sciences (ED567), which is involved in this curriculum. Depending on their host team, students may also be enrolled in the Agriculture, Food, Biology, Environment, Health ED (ABIES, ED581) or in the Structure and Dynamics of Living Systems ED (SDSV, ED577) doctoral schools.

    Professional path: This study path leads to Master-level management professions (Bac+5) in the private sector, in the areas of crop protection, innovative agriculture and seeds. Targeted professions are as follows: agronomic development, marketing/communication, regulation, intelligence & monitoring. The teaching team maintains a database of alumni, which today contains more than 300 people working in all fields of the plant industry. A Career Day is held at the beginning of the year to give newcomers the chance to meet former students and discuss available careers in the area and the proportion of people who find employment after graduating from the course.

     

    Course Prerequisites

    Candidates for the training programme must have completed a Master's degree in biology with a solid foundation in plant biology and physiology, genetics and genomics, plant-microorganism interaction biology, and statistics.

    Rythme de la formation
    Le stage de 6 mois du sous-parcours Recherche au sein d’une équipe de recherche se déroule de janvier à juin. Le stage de 6 mois du sous-parcours professionnel IQPV en entreprise se déroule de mars à septembre. The six-month internship of the Research sub-track within a research team runs from January to June. The six-month internship of the IQPV sub-track within a company runs from March to September.
    Internships and supervised projects

    Research sub-track : The knowledge acquired in the Research sub-track is put into practice during the compulsory six-month internship, which is a fundamental step towards each student's professional integration. Students enrolled in M2 must complete a six-month internship, worth 30 ECTS credits. This research internship is carried out in a laboratory associated with the programme. The internship is assessed by means of a written report and an oral presentation to the teaching team. A wide range of internships are available to students in the Île-de-France region, but it is also possible to complete an internship elsewhere in France or abroad.

    IQPV Sub-track: A 6-month end-of-studies internship, to be carried out mandatorily in a private company in the field of plant/seed production/protection.

    Transfer paths

    NON

    Méthodes mobilisées
    Les enseignements du sous-parcours Recherche sont dispensés sous forme de conférences et de travaux dirigés prodigués par des chercheurs et des enseignants chercheurs. Les étudiants et les étudiantes auront en charge des travaux de rédaction de projet de recherche et de présentation orales d’articles à réaliser seul ou en groupe. La formation met l’accent sur l’apprentissage par la pratique et les étudiants et étudiantes seront intégrés aux travaux d’une équipe de recherche lors de deux sessions de « lab rotation ». Classes  of the Master research Plant Sciences are taught in the form of lectures and tutorials given by researchers and research professors. Students will be responsible for writing research projects and giving oral presentations on articles, either individually or in groups. The programme emphasises learning by doing, and students will be integrated into the work of a research team during two ‘lab rotation’ sessions. A noter que cette formation M2 IQPV présente l’exclusivité d’avoir une convention de partenariat avec l’ANSES de Maison-Alfort, depuis 2024, et ainsi d’être la seule formation à pouvoir bénéficier d’enseignements d’experts ANSES en homologation de solutions innovantes de protection des plantes, assurant à nos étudiants une bonne insertion professionnelle dans ce domaine d’activité en perpétuel essor. It should be noted that this M2 IQPV program has the unique distinction of having a partnership agreement with ANSES in Maison-Alfort, since 2024, making it the only program to benefit from teaching by ANSES experts in the approval of innovative plant protection solutions, ensuring our students excellent career prospects in this constantly growing field.
    Accompagnement personnalisé
    Les étudiants et étudiants du sous-parcours Recherche sont suivis tout au long de l'année par l'équipe pédagogique. Lors du stage du second semestre, les étudiants et étudiantes sont personnellement suivis par un tuteur ou une tutrice de stage. Le suivi se poursuit également à l'issue du master 2 et jusqu'à l'obtention d'un financement de thèse ou d'une première offre d'emploi. Students enrolled in the Master Research Plant Sciences programme are monitored throughout the year by the teaching team. During the second semester internship, students are personally supervised by an internship tutor. This supervision continues after the Master's degree and until the student obtains funding for a PhD or a first job offer. Dans le cadre du sous parcours M2 IQPV , la préparation à l’insertion professionnelle est assurée principalement grâce à une Unité d’Enseignement “Outils Tremplin vers l’Entreprise de 25h comprenant: \- Des ateliers d’aide à la réflexion au projet professionnel (et bilan pro et perso), à la préparation des CVs, lettre de motivation et entretien de recrutement (jeux de rôle et atelier sur tests RH d’aptitudes pro et perso), \- Aide à la construction du réseau professionnel (base de données des alumni M2ProIQPV, présentations des grands acteurs privés des domaines d’activités visés-production et protection des plantes et semences, réseaux professionnels en ligne et cabinets de recrutements spécialisés dans les domaines visés), \- Atelier innovation et entrepreneuriat assuré par des professionnels privés des secteurs ciblés. Sont également organisés au cours du M2ProIQPV: \- 1 Forum des métiers-rencontres avec professionnels secteurs privés début octobre, \- 4 visites de différents types d’entreprises (Instituts techniques, TPE, PME et grands groupes) organisées, \- Participation de nos étudiants et étudiantes à 3 colloques scientifiques des domaines d’intérêt, \- Participation aux soutenances de stage de fin d’études des étudiants et étudiantes de la promotion N-1 (fin septembre) \- De nombreux intervenants d’entreprises privées dans les enseignements (40% de nos enseignements). \- Une page LinkedIn réservée aux alumni M2ProIQPV et pour diffusion des offres d’emplois du réseau IQPV (avant diffusion plus large), échanges avec les anciens, breaking news sur les entreprises des domaines d’intérêt ainsi qu’une relation privilégiée avec plusieurs cabinets de recrutement spécialisés (premium des offres).
    Additional information

    The Saclay Plant Sciences network (SPS, www.saclayplantsciences.fr) offers scholarships for students enrolled in the teaching programmes in its scope, including the “Plant Sciences” programe of the Integrative Biology and Physiology master’s degree (M1 and/or M2).

    Successful candidates will receive:

    - in M1: 8,000 euros
    - in M2 or DA: 6,000 euros (which will be added to the internship stipends)

    This scholarship does not include payment of registration fees.

    To learn more and apply:

    https://www6.inrae.fr/saclay-plant-sciences_eng/News/SPS-News/SPS-Scholarships-for-master-students

    Application deadline: June 20, 2022

    Post-graduate profile

    Graduates of this course will be profiled as experts in plant sciences with the ability to apply their skills with scientific rigour, either for scientific research projects in a public or private laboratory (research path), or as junior management employees working for a company on a topic related to crop production in agriculture/agronomy.

    Location
    ORSAY
    GIF SUR YVETTE
    VERSAILLES
    Collaboration(s)
    Laboratories

    Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin
    Institut des Sciences des Plantes de Paris-Saclay
    Génétique Quantitative et Evolution - Le Moulon
    Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell - DRF/JOLIOT
    BIOlogie GEstion des Risques en agriculture.

    Programme

    The schedule will be posted shortly.

    Modalités de candidatures
    Application period
    From 15/02/2026 to 10/06/2026
    Admission criteria
    Dossier
    Interview
    Compulsory supporting documents
    • Copy diplomas.

    • Copy of identity document.

    • Motivation letter.

    • All transcripts of the years / semesters validated since the high school diploma at the date of application.

    • Curriculum Vitae.

    Additional supporting documents
    • Letter of recommendation from a trainee.

    • Certificate of English level.

    • Certificate of French (compulsory for non-French speakers).

    • VAP file (obligatory for all persons requesting a valuation of the assets to enter the diploma).

    • The application procedure, which depends on your nationality and your situation is explained here : https://urlz.fr/i3Lo.

    • Supporting documents :
      - Residence permit stating the country of residence of the first country
      - Or receipt of request stating the country of first asylum
      - Or document from the UNHCR granting refugee status
      - Or receipt of refugee status request delivered in France
      - Or residence permit stating the refugee status delivered in France
      - Or document stating subsidiary protection in France or abroad
      - Or document stating temporary protection in France or abroad.

    Contact(s)