The Nouvelle-Aquitaine Doctoral Students’ Day showcased the vitality of regional research and the talent of its young scientists. In this context, Milène Parquet, a former PhD student at the CRIBL laboratory in Limoges, stood out by winning the Public’s Special Prize.

A day dedicated to young researchers

Held at the Hôtel de Région in Bordeaux, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Doctoral Students’ Day brought together more than a hundred PhD candidates from universities across the region. The programme included poster presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities with representatives from the socio-economic world. Organized by the Regional Council, the event aims to highlight the skills of young researchers and to provide them with a privileged forum for meetings with companies, start-ups, and research institutions. Throughout the day, participants discovered the diversity of research themes covered — from health and materials science to the environment, humanities, and digital technologies.

A platform to promote doctoral research

At the heart of the event, each doctoral student presented their work in the form of a concise poster designed to make complex research topics accessible to a broad audience. This format encourages scientific outreach, direct dialogue, and the ability of early-career researchers to explain the potential societal impact of their work — a key skill in today’s professional landscape. The day also featured a roundtable on career opportunities and workshops devoted to science communication and knowledge dissemination, extending reflection beyond academic presentation alone.

The Public’s Special Prize for Milène Parquet

During the award ceremony, the Public’s Special Prize — based on participants’ votes — was presented to Milène Parquet, a former doctoral student at the CRIBL laboratory (Control of B Cell Immune Response and Lymphoproliferations) of the University of Limoges. This recognition highlights both the scientific excellence of her work and her ability to communicate it clearly, accessibly, and engagingly to a non-specialist audience. Already active in science outreach — notably through her participation in the “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” competition — Milène successfully built on that experience to craft a compelling narrative around her research.
Supervised by Sophie Péron-Chemin, Milène studied abnormalities in B-cell receptor gene rearrangements, at the crossroads of hematology and immuno-oncology.

CRIBL’s commitment to science communication

Milène Parquet’s success also exemplifies the CRIBL laboratory’s dedication to promoting scientific culture and public engagement. This joint research unit, affiliated with the CNRS and Inserm at the University of Limoges, regularly takes part in outreach events such as the European Researchers’ Night and the CNRS “Visites Insolites”. The lab also encourages its PhD students to participate in competitions, thematic days, and public engagement initiatives. This dynamic creates an environment ideally suited to researchers like Milène, who combine high-level expertise in immunology with a strong commitment to dialogue between science and society.

Recognition that opens new doors

The Public’s Special Prize sends a strong signal for the professional integration of young PhDs, highlighting sought-after transferable skills such as communication, pedagogy, and the ability to interact effectively with various stakeholders. For Milène Parquet, this distinction caps an ambitious doctoral journey and confirms the value of her commitment to science communication and health research outreach. More broadly, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Doctoral Students’ Day continues to establish itself as a key event for showcasing the diversity of research conducted in the region and for strengthening ties between laboratories, institutions, and the economic world.

Read the article on Le Populaire du Centre by clicking here.

photo ©Sabine Lebrun