Personal accounts (photonics specialised training course)

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
Photonics is an innovative technology that is increasingly present in the medical field. My training at Enssat aroused my interest in the use of lasers in medicine and my double degree in Montpellier allowed me to learn more about the interaction of light with biological tissue for therapeutic purposes. I got my first job as an engineer in the company where I did my internship. In this company, I am working on a photobiomodulation device for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer disease.
I have always wanted to work in a profession that would allow me to put my knowledge and skills at the service of others. The job of photonics engineer, specialised in the field of health, allows me to achieve this goal every day.

What Enssat gave me
Theoretical and experimental expertise in photonics, learning to work in a team, and the autonomy that is essential for my job. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
I will participate in measurement campaigns in the Namibian desert to study the composition of particles in the atmosphere and try to understand their role in the drastic warming that this region of the world is currently experiencing. This data will feed into future IPCC reports. The opportunity to travel, to work with people from all over the world and to participate in research in a field with major stakes, are the main motivations that pushed me to choose this thesis work.
I am passionate about developing fieldwork skills and gaining knowledge in a field that is completely new to me. This job allows me to leave my comfort zone and learn something new every day.

What Enssat gave me
The school's training is well adapted to students coming from IUT. I think that during these three years I have acquired all the scientific, technical and human skills and knowledge necessary, not only for an engineering job, but also for a thesis. More than an engineering training specialised in one field, the teaching is good enough and recognised enough to allow working in very multidisciplinary fields. In my case, the climate and atmospheric sciences. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
After graduating in photonics engineering, I turned to astronomy and joined the CNRS ARTEMIS laboratory at the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in Nice. I am a research engineer in photonics experimentation for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) space mission, which aims to detect gravitational waves emitted by the most violent events in the Universe. My job is to characterise the detectors of the ground-based prototype that will validate the operation of the LISA instrument.
What I like about my job is being able to interact with researchers who are experts in their field and with passionate PhD students in an international environment. I also like experimental research, because there are always new things to learn and understand.

What Enssat gave me
I remember the attentiveness of the teachers during my schooling as well as the very family atmosphere of the student community, especially with the Enssat'chante choir club and the EnssaTV short film club. I was able to realise my dream of going to Japan, and I am proud and grateful for that. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
After school, I joined the start-up Woodoo, which designs and manufactures low carbon materials. As a photonics engineer, I first took part in improving the quality of the display of light signals through a new innovative material made from natural wood. Then, one thing leading to another, I became CSR manager (Corporate Social Responsibility). My job is to support the management and the various divisions of the company in defining, implementing and monitoring the sustainable development strategy. I have therefore left the purely technical field, but the scientific skills I acquired at Enssat enable me to understand the operational side of the company, a major advantage which made a difference on a daily basis.
What I like about my job is its cross-disciplinary and all-encompassing aspect. It forces us to (re)think about the company, its mission and society as a whole. But above all, CSR gives meaning back by relying on facts.

What Enssat gave me
What I remember most from my apprenticeship at Enssat is the ability to see problems through the technical prism of an engineer. Learning to be an engineer includes analysis-synthesis skills, a high degree of rigour and multidisciplinary skills. This enables me to tackle very varied situations, with technical and management problems that are often inseparable, and to provide solutions at all levels (operations, management, leadership, etc.). »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
Today, I am a doctoral student at the XLIM research laboratory in Limoges in collaboration with the company CILAS, an expert in the field of lasers. My work consists of simulating, producing and improving a fibre laser that can deliver very high power continuously. It is a challenging project because we are trying to produce powers never before obtained in France with this type of laser! The applications mainly concern the defence and space sectors. Such a laser would, for example, be capable of piercing malicious drones at a distance to stop them or destroying small space debris in orbit around the Earth.
Research is like a series of nested brainteasers that we want to unhinge. By searching scientific journals, simulating equations and conducting experiments, we find ideas and sometimes solutions to achieve our goal. I like the multidisciplinary nature of the jobs in photonics and, more generally, in research. Learning and discoveries are permanent during the thesis and throughout our careers. There is no risk of getting bored!


What Enssat gave me
Enssat enabled me to develop theoretical and experimental know-how, particularly during the numerous practical assignments spread over the three years. Moreover, the courses allow a good understanding of the physical phenomena and a good basis in the various fields of applications of photonics. The various projects allow students to learn to adapt to different teams and situations, which is essential in the working world. Finally, beyond the relationships and friendships created, it is also a professional network that has been built during these years at Enssat. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
My thesis is being carried out within the Stellantis Group (formerly PSA) in partnership with IMT Atlantique. It consists of studying solutions for adapting diffractive optics and synthetic holography techniques to the wishes and strong constraints of the automotive industry.
The thesis is a rich adventure! Especially as part of a CIFRE thesis, I am in a company and therefore have a front row seat to see the interactions between research and industry. The fact that I am working on a subject that I am passionate about, in this case holography, and that I am providing answers to industrial questions in order to find tomorrow's solutions is really exciting!

What Enssat gave me
The education provided at Enssat gave me the necessary knowledge to be able to start a professional life with all the necessary baggage. The involvement of the teachers in the photonics speciality particularly helped me to persevere in my studies and to succeed later on. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
I am an R&D engineer at Oxxius. I work on systems that allow several laser sources to be combined in a single beam. These systems are used in particular in microscopy. They enable medical imaging systems to be improved in order to detect certain cancers earlier. Working on the development of these systems is exciting because the configurations are multiple and the developments are permanent.

What Enssat gave me
The multidisciplinary teaching I received at Enssat enabled me to acquire a solid foundation for developing new innovative laser systems. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
I started my career in a company where I was working on the development of an optical system for future autonomous cars. I then had the opportunity to change jobs. Today, I have a permanent contract with a company that designs and manufactures fibre optic lasers and amplifiers for various fields, including defence and aerospace. I develop lasers specially designed to be embedded in satellites or space missions.
In the company, I am an industrialization engineer, which means that I work between R&D development and production. I don't have a routine, the projects I work on are rather short term so I change projects often. This allows me to learn a lot about the profession of photonics engineer. That's what I like about my job. And above all, I work in a dynamic and close-knit team. We all listen to each other and, in case of difficulties, I know that I can count on my colleagues and vice versa. I think team spirit is essential in the business world.

What Enssat gave me
In the context of my professional activity, I realise that the training followed at Enssat is of high quality both from a theoretical and practical point of view. It is also an education that teaches autonomy, which is an important asset for the engineering profession. »

Why this job? And what I like about my job today...
I obtained a thesis in cotutelle between the University of Stockholm and the Femto-st Institute in Besançon. My subject concerns the study of long-distance two-photon interference systems. It is mainly experimental work of high precision. My work can be used in quantum cryptography systems.

What Enssat gave me
Enssat gave me a multidisciplinary approach to optics which is necessary, whatever the field chosen on leaving school. »