Niriaina ANDRIAMADY

General information

Can you introduce yourself quickly? (Name, First name, Speciality)

I am Niriaina ANDRIAMADY, a graduate of EIDD, class of 2016, specializing in Materials & Nanotechnologies.

What has been your career path since high school and how has your training at EIDD benefited you?

I did a year in MPSI CPGE and then a year in L2 Chemistry before entering EIDD with a specialization in Materials & Nanotechnologies. Thanks to the training at EIDD, I acquired knowledge in materials (synthesis, characterization, properties…) associated with a good general background (project management, business approach…). The professors also helped me to find my internships very quickly, which led me to my first job.

Mobility

What made you want to go on mobility during your studies? And in what context did you go on a mobility trip?

I am passionate about traveling and discovering new places and cultures, and I thought it would be really nice to have an experience abroad during my studies, preferably in the United States (Western USA).

I went on a mobility trip during my 2A internship.

How did you hear about this opportunity?

During an English class, our professor mentioned the possibility of doing an internship or a semester abroad thanks to the Université Paris Cité network and referred us to Mrs. Fayna Mammeri for information about 2A internships in materials abroad. Mrs. Fayna Mammeri knew a lab director in Colorado (United States), and so it was there that I was able, with another student, to do my 2A internship.

Can you tell us about this experience and what it brought you ?

It was a 2-3 month internship (2nd year) in a mechanical engineering research laboratory in Colorado, USA. The subject was the fabrication and characterization of carbon fiber anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to this first experience in a lab, I was really able to discover the R&D environment, start developing know-how and technical reasoning, get a glimpse of my future job, and practice my English both at work and outside. This internship was significant for the rest of my career as I am still working in this field and in this country!

Were the concepts you learned at EIDD useful for the success of your internship/semester/year?

Yes, it was useful to have some theoretical prerequisites, but I would say that most of it is learned during the internships. The internships clearly complement the courses.

How far in advance did you go to do the necessary paperwork?

1 year.

What was the average cost of your mobility (excluding financial aid)? Did you have access to financial aid? If yes, how did you hear about these aids?

Expensive, maybe a total of about $5,000 for the 2-3 months of internship (airfare + apartment + food).

Yes, it’s called “aid for international mobility”, it seems to me that everything is mentioned on the University’s website.

What advice would you give to a young EIDD student who wants to go on a mobility trip?

If you are tempted by an international adventure, go for it because it is possible! Talk to your teachers, they will direct you to the right people. However, be careful with your budget because grants are not enough and there will not necessarily be any remuneration on the spot (my internship was mostly financed by my savings, thanks to my student job as a receptionist).

A funny anecdote to share with us?

Choosing an unfurnished apartment during your mobility abroad: bad idea. You’ll end up walking along the great American roads carrying an inflatable mattress, a table and a camping chair from the store to the apartment. It’s a true story.

Professional integration

Did you have any difficulties finding your first job?

No, I came back to my 2nd year internship master, this time as an employee.

Can you describe a typical day at work ? If possible, can you give us your average weekly working hours?

As an R&D materials engineer specialized in batteries, my main weekly activities are: synthesis and processing of battery materials, evaluation of their performances (via electrochemical tests), optimization (changing parameters at the synthesis and processing level and seeing if this improves performances), then analysis / discussion of the results during meetings in particular.

My average weekly working time is 40 hours

What are the aspects you like the most in your job ? What do you like the least?

I like to experiment, to be free to try new compositions or innovative processes, and I find the lab and R&D environment much less boring than working in an office or in a big production plant. On the other hand, when the expected performances are not there, it is frustrating.

Is there a difference between the idea you had of the job and the image you have today?

Today, I see the applications and therefore the importance of materials engineering much better than when I was a student. In my field of batteries, for example, we need less expensive materials and processes to make electric cars affordable for everyone. In other fields, we need materials and processes that have less impact on the environment while providing the performance we need on a daily basis…

If you wish, can you give us an idea of your current salary?

$25,000 gross per year + benefits

What can you tell us about the parity in your company?

50/50 in my current small team

In your opinion, what qualities and skills are essential to the practice of your profession? A personality trait that you consider essential?

More than technical skills (which you learn mostly by doing), the desire to do things well is, I think, the most important in any profession.

Working abroad, English is very important to me. For the profession of materials engineer in general, if the job is in France, I would say that English is useful to be able to work on large projects with a European or global dimension, but not essential.

What advice would you give to a young EIDD student?

I totally validate the training at EIDD. Don’t be discouraged if the courses are difficult to understand because you learn your job in practice. Take advantage of this generalist training to see which applications interest you and which you would like to explore (energy, aerospace, electronics, automotive, construction, biomedical, etc.), take advantage of the accessible professors and the entire EIDD network to ask questions and guide you in your professional project, and choose your internships carefully because they will be decisive for your future.