• Sorbonne University Alliance
  • The Doctorate

2021 Doctorate Ceremony

On July 10th, the ceremony dedicated to the doctors of the David Klatzmann class (2019-2021) took place.

Organized for the first time in a hybrid format by Sorbonne University and its alliance partners*, the ceremony was dedicated to the doctoral candidates who defended their thesis between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2021. 

In the exceptional context we are currently experiencing, a virtual hybrid approach was necessary in response to the postponement of the event twice. The doctors connected online while the speakers, for the most part, were present in the auditorium.

The 1,725 doctoral candidates were sponsored by David Klatzmann, professor of immunology and one of the co-discoverers of HIV. 

As a prelude to this unique ceremony, the doctors appeared on a large mosaic screen. Jean Chambaz, President of Sorbonne University, the partners of the Alliance, the alumnae and alumni, the doctors of this class, members of the research community, and David Klatzmann celebrated the culmination of the excellent journeys this 2019-2021 cohort had been on. The commitment, talent, and tenacity of the young researchers during this challenging period were praised. 

The doctoral candidates, proud to graduate from Sorbonne University, were able to partake in a virtual hat toss, in front of their family and friends who were also invited to the ceremony. 

Congratulations to all the doctors of the David Klatzmann class for defending their thesis in these unprecedented conditions. 

Let's continue the adventure together: Doctoral alumni, join the Sorbonne University alumni network and its Doctoral Club!


* The National Museum of Natural History, the University of Technology of Compiègne and INSEAD

David Klatzmann, class sponsor

David Klatmzann obtained his doctorate in medicine in 1980 and his doctorate in science in 1986 at the then Pierre and Marie Curie University. In the early 1980s, he was one of the co-discoverers of HIV. From 1989, his work focused on gene therapy. In the 2000s, he became interested in regulatory T cells and their therapeutic uses. 

He heads the Immunology - Immunopathology - Immunotherapy unit (l3) at the Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. He is also in charge of the Immunopathophysiology team and the Biotherapies and Immunology Clinical Investigation Center (CIC-BTi). 

The ceremony in pictures