The magazine for EPFL graduates

December 2014 n. 1

San Francisco Igor Perisic (MA’91) Vice-president of engineering at LinkedIn.

4 cities under the microscope Graduates abroad

A closer look at the math programme p. 21

Aymeric Sallin's network p. 10 Alumnist Sommaire Alumnist Intro “Radically modernising

As for our 18 branches, Vos idées vous appartiennent our alumni elections for representative positions have taken place in India, Hong Kong and Nous vous aidons à les protéger Singapore, and a new presi- network" dent has taken over manage- ment of the Montreal branch. These are Brevets the results of your energy and the liveli- Marques ness of the EPFL Alumni network. But, of course, we increasingly need your Designs help in leading local networks, investing Veille technologique your time and even coaching our young graduates in Switzerland and abroad. I am personally committed to helping you in your efforts, and making sure you can interact with the members of our Dear Alumni, management teams, who travel across Switzerland and the world to negotiate As you know, the École Polytechnique agreements with renowned universities Fédérale de Lausanne created a new and industrial research centres. department for alumni in 2014: The EPFL Alumni. It replaced the A3 association I would like to thank the large number of in order to provide more ambitious and volunteers from our alumni who are help- useful guidance for our global network ing us by devoting their time, talent and of more than 29,000 graduates, and to network contacts, and I hope you enjoy ensure the strength of this network befits reading the first edition of Alumnist. || the reputation our great institution enjoys worldwide. Through the launch of this new magazine and and the scheduled introduction of a range of new services in 2015, our EPFL Alumni team, headed by Annelies Garcia, has decided to radically modernise our network.

As announced at the disbandment of the association, an Alumni Council has been created and is made up of around 15 graduates, all winners of an Alumni Award. Its first meeting took place on September 18th, and gave way to many interesting and innovative ideas to professionalise the EPFL Alumni service. Whether through the multilingual de- velopment of our communication tools, the introduction of modern virtual tools or our career ser- Patrick Aebischer, vices for your professional and President of EPFL entrepreneurial development, we have decided to invest in services with precise targets.

P&TS SA / Av. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 4 / Case postale 2848 / 2001 Neuchâtel 2 3 Tél. + 41 - 032 - 7271427 / Fax + 41 - 032 - 7271424 / [email protected] / www.patentattorneys.ch Alumnist Editorial Alumnist Contents Contents

Editorial

Dear Alumni,

As you might have guessed from the new look, new format and enhanced content, the EPFL’s Alumni magazine has been revamped. It is also now pub- lished in both French and English to better integrate our increasingly large multilingual community across the world. As part of our reworked magazine, we are devoting more space to graduates’ testimonies. In each edi- tion, we will meet alumni working in the same com- 13 pany, for example, and learn about their roles and responsibilities. In each edition, we will also choose certain years or programmes and find out where EPFL graduates at Kudelski The expertise of EPFL graduates at the 21 those students are now. What are our Mathematics graduates doing today? Where do the graduates from service of Kudelski. the class of 1963 work? In this magazine, you can discover their stories and often remarkable journeys! A closer look at the Mathematics Department 10 What careers can a degree in Mathematics bring? We will be keeping you up to date with EPFL news Four graduates from this department, including Caroline with stories from the campus you might not have Ferguson, share their thoughts. known about. And, of course, we will keep you in- Aymeric Sallin’s network formed about the EPFL Alumni, with news, services, The CEO of NanoDimension, who graduated in 2000 with a degree and events which may interest you. Each edition in physics, talks about the people who make up his network. will also include a glimpse of the activities at our branches in Switzerland and abroad. Simply put, the magazine you have in your hands has been created in the image of the EPFL Alumni: full of innovation and more dynamic than ever!

If you would like to suggest a subject, share your story or showcase your programme or class, please contact us at [email protected]. || 24

Class of 1963: where are they now? Alumnist goes back in time to catch up with former students, discovering their memories and their different life journeys.

Annelies Garcia, Ilina Catana Alain Herzog, Thierry Parel, Sutter, Tobias head of EPFL Alumni 28

The Magistrale 2014 graduation day Dossier: A guide to a successful career abroad A total of 872 Master’s degrees were awarded at the graduation Four graduates living abroad give advice on enjoying the expat life. ceremony in October. 30

4 5 Alumnist News Alumnist News

Our Canadian network In a city near you…

Paris june 4 29,399 EPFL alumni were invited to a This is the current number of dinner-conference with Stéphane graduates from the EPFL. Only Nègre, CEO of Intel France. 57 students graduated in 1953, compared to 1,299 in 2013. Paris june 23 A second dinner-conference was organised with Henri Lachmann, former CEO of Schneider Electric.

london june 24 An informal dinner with Annelies Garcia, head of the EPFL Alumni, Shanghai who travelled from Switzerland to july 8 meet graduates based in London. Some 15 graduates met up for dinner at Shanghai Min, a renowned local restaurant.

The champion paris july 2 The Magistrale 2014 gradu- The annual Alumni evening ation day rewarded students at the Swiss embassy. with the best scores in their studies. Orhan Öçal, a young Zurich Communications Systems july 4 graduate, finished his course The “Schnitzeljagd", a treasure at the EPFL with an average hunt around Zurich, received (tied) score of 5.96 out of 6! great interest from EPFL gradu- He is currently continuing his ates. They took part in the studies at the University of urban adventure with friends Berkeley in California, where and family. he has started a PhD. Zurich september 24 Bangalore Orhan, what is the best memory The east Switzerland branch organised a visit for its july 8 you have of the EPFL? members to an exhibition entitled “Underground, the specta- A first! The Bangalore branch orhan öçal When I was accepted cle of the invisible" at the Zurich Museum of Design. assembled its graduates for into the research programme the first time ever. at the Audio-visual Com­ munications Laboratory, led by Professor Martin Vetterli. Singapore Boston I feel it is important to add july 18 july 11 & 12 to your studies by carrying Graduates met for Swiss-US Energy Innovation out research. the first time over Seminar, followed by the Montreal drinks and dinner. SwissEnergy Brunch attended When were things the most august 25 by Doris Leuthard, Swiss difficult? The Canadian branch of the EPFL Federal Councillor. All the stressful times, Wally Gobetz Wally Alumni invited graduates to and there were a lot of them! Angrignon Park in Montreal for Payerne (vd) But student solidarity is a barbecue. august 30 & 31 very strong and helps you The members of the eastern get through the difficult Switzerland branch attended moments. the AIR14 air show in Payerne. What was your favourite place during your studies? At the cafeteria to take a Jean-François Payen, break, and by the lake where (MT’91), Markus Reubi, director of the Swiss there is an extraordinary view Business Hub Canada of the mountains! The area and his wife, Felicity. is so beautiful, especially (from right to left). the vineyards in the Lavaux region. When I wasn’t in class, I enjoyed going to cultural and musical events. La Gueulaz (vs) New York september 11 october 24 The members of the Vaud/Valais EPFL graduates attended the first event gathering the alumni branch visited the hydroelectric of major Swiss universities in the prestigious Hotel Plaza dam on the Emosson reservoir. Athénée in New York.

6 7 Alumnist Council First meeting of

advertising the Alumni Council

La Faculté des sciences et La Faculté informatique et communica- La Faculté de l’environnement naturel, The Alumni Council met for the first time on September techniques de l’ingénieur met tions met actuellement au concours les architectural et construit met actuelle- actuellement au concours le poste postes suivants: ment au concours le poste suivant: 18, 2014 to represent graduates and give an external suivant: opinion to the school's administration. We asked Faculty Positions in Faculty Position Faculty Position in Interview by: Jacques Bauer (PH'18), a witness and a Computer Science in Construction Alexandre Bisenz member of the meeting, a few questions. Biomaterials (AR’93) Contact: Prof. Harm-Anton Klok Contact: Prof. Willy Zwaenepoel and Architecture [email protected] [email protected] Contact: Prof. Marilyne Andersen [email protected] What can EPFL graduates expect from De plus amples informations sont De plus amples informations sont this Council? De plus amples informations sont The Council plays an important role for disponibles sous: disponibles sous: disponibles sous: http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- all graduates, as it enables their voices to 113440-fr.html 113108-fr.html 113701-fr.html be heard by the presidency of the EPFL. The former association did not promote this as prominently. The Council repre- sents graduates, defending their interests in their future relations with the EPFL.

What issues were discussed? La Faculté des sciences et techniques La Faculté des sciences et techniques La Faculté des sciences et techniques We think that EPFL Alumni should de l’ingénieur met actuellement au de l’ingénieur met actuellement au de l’ingénieur met actuellement au provide its graduates with profes- concours le poste suivant: concours le poste suivant: concours le poste suivant: sional assistance, which is to say guidance Faculty Position in Faculty Position in Faculty Position throughout their career. We will see to it that more services Alumni Award are offered in this field. EPFL Electrical Engineering Materials Electron in Mechanical laureates who Alumni must also keep gradu- where there Contact: Prof. Pierre Vandergheynst Microscopy Engineering ates informed of the EPFL’s [email protected] Contact: Prof. Harm-Anton Klok Contact: Prof. William Curtin activities, so as to create a [email protected] [email protected] Jacques Baur PH’81 real community built around

Alain Herzog the University. De plus amples informations sont De plus amples informations sont De plus amples informations sont Aymeric Sallin disponibles sous: disponibles sous: disponibles sous: PH’00 http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- he Alumni Council was Did the Council make any 113167-fr.html 113170-fr.html 113165-fr.html Philippe From left to right: founded this past sum- Petitpierre concrete decisions? Jacque Baur (PH'81), mer and met for the first GR’75 One of the Alumni Council’s Marie-Thérèse Ivorra T time on September 18. Its role main tasks is to provide the (MT'91), Aymeric Sallin Charles Hauser (PH'00), Marc Châte- is to represent the graduate PH’67, DR’72 EPFL Board with an external lard (GM'73), Nicolas community before the EPFL Paolo Buzzi opinion. The Council does not Musy (PH'86) Board. The first meeting was MT’89 make decisions alone. We did, attended by members of EPFL Bertrand Cardis however, highlight practical La Faculté de l’environnement naturel, La Faculté des sciences de base La Faculté des sciences et techniques de and some ten graduates, all aspects such as seeking out architectural et construit met actuelle- l’ingénieur met actuellement au concours GM’81 met actuellement au concours Alumni Award laureates. The sponsors, better integration ment au concours le poste suivant: le poste suivant: le poste suivant: Marie-Thérèse EPFL was represented by An- Ivorra of the graduate directory with Faculty Position in Faculty Positions in Faculty Position in Ultra nelies Garcia, Head of EPFL MT’91 online platforms like LinkedIn, Alumni, Jean-François Ricci and developing a mobile app Renewable Energy Theoretical Physics High Precision Robotics Marc Châtelard (GC’89), General Secretary GM’73 just for EPFL graduates. of the EPFL, Jérôme Grosse in Buildings Contact: Prof. Riccardo Rattazzi & Manufacturing Olivier Trancart (GC’91), Head of Develop- EL’83 Have other meetings been Contact: Prof. Marilyne Andersen Contact: Prof. Christian Enz [email protected] ment, Eric Merk (PH’Dr’86), planned? [email protected] [email protected] Nicolas Musy Fundraising Manager, Em- PH’86 We saw again each other on De plus amples informations sont De plus amples informations sont De plus amples informations sont manuelle Yanguas, Events November 27 and we will disponibles sous: disponibles sous: disponibles sous: Manager for EPFL Alumni, and be meeting twice a year. We http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- http://professeurs.epfl.ch/page- will ensure that the close relationship 113580-fr.html Odile Batty, Chair of the former 113699-fr.html 113168-fr.html EPFL graduate association. between the EPFL and its graduates is benefitting all parties involved, and that We asked Jacques Baur (PH’81), Head of this initiative is functioning coherently. || Research at Rolex, to give us a recap of the discussions.

alumnist Jacques Baur, why did you join the Alumni Council? jacques baur I accepted because it is im- portant for the EPFL to be more closely connected to its graduates, and that is precisely what this Council is striving to accomplish. This is a very exciting initia- tive, and I am delighted to be a part of it.

8 9 Alumnist Network Alumnist Network

120 60 0 60 120 180 The network of His close friends Wences Casares CEO and Anatoly Tikhman founder and CEO Aymeric Sallin founder of Xapo, the of TikGames (US). “Anatoly is world’s largest bitcoin a fount of European culture in Aymeric Sallin is the head of an investment company in the nano- David Jones former bank. He is the godfa- Silicon Valley. He is a brilliant CEO of the Havas ther of Sallin’s daughter mathematician, who has put technology sector. Sallin graduated from EPFL with a physics degree Group, an inter- Valentina. “Wences has his science to good use. He is in 2000. He shows you don't create a network by compromising your national leader in the solid values of his the creator of Scandisk and publicity and com- native Patagonia. He is a remarkable Zippit, which were both sold values, but by surrounding yourself with people who share them. munication. entrepreneur who, at just 26, sold his to Microsoft.” “David combines first company for 750 million dollars. creativity, energy, brilliance, He is the epitome of the passionate fun and responsibility. His worker.” ooking at Aymeric Sallin’s circle of close book, Who Cares Wins, truly friends, one can notice a particular pattern, 1973 birth in Fribourg evokes the changes com- two common genes: a pioneering spirit and 1996 creation of a management com- panies must make to their perseverance. Entrepreneurs at heart, they pany for professional snowboarders social behaviour in order to are all self-made. His network counts the 2000 Award of Masters in Physics at be victorious.” André Borschberg (epfl alumni) EPFL and start at Bain & Co in Zurich Llikes of sportsmen, CEOs from various countries and and Bertrand Piccard both creators and professors. “I think that one’s life and network are 2002 Founding of NanoDimension, directors of Solar Impulse. “André first venture capital fund focused built on values that are our own, he says. We surround exclusively on nanotechnologies, David Marcus Head of Messenger at Facebook, and Bertrand have different careers ourselves with people who share similar values, people in Zurich former CEO of PayPal. “David is a gentleman at and different personalities, but are we respect and enjoy.” 2005 Closing of the firm’s all times,” says Sallin. “He is admirably protec- true partners. They both devote their first investment tive of his family. Above all, I love paying hom- lives to demonstrating that renewable The entrepreneurs he is funding through NanoDimen- 2008 Opening of a new office in age to our Swiss origins by enjoying a fondue energy and clean tech are a reality. We sion, his venture capital firm, have similar profiles. Silicon Valley with him at home.“According to David Marcus, meet up almost everywhere across the Based in Silicon Valley and Switzerland, the firm 2010 Keynote in front of U.S. people like Aymeric are rare: “Exceptionally world, and each time it seems like we focuses solely on the nanotechnology sector. A pioneer Congress members for the 10th intelligent, with real analytical ability and intensely saw each other yesterday.” in his domain, Sallin founded the firm in 2002, when anniversary of the National dedicated to his career, together with a big heart. commercial applications for these technologies were Nanotechnology Innovation Summit He is a true friend, who you can count on any time” “When we first heard about Aymeric, in Washington, D.C. still in their infancy. Twelve years and several hundreds he was presented as one of the two 2011 Feature in Bilan magazine as of millions of invested dollars later, companies are one of the 300 most influential successful Swiss people in Silicon growing and becoming global leaders. “When science people of Switzerland Valley. But we discovered that he is is transformed into technology, it opens up huge 2012 EPFL Alumni award much more than that. He is a very open commercial opportunities. What is so gratifying about iki llison American football player (linebacker), minded person with high energy and 2013 Nomination as one of the R E nanotechnology is it addresses key issues in today’s Young Global Leaders, Class played in the NFL for ten years, and won the Super full of curiosity. With his great perse- society such as the treatment of cancer, energy chal- of 2013 by the World Economic Bowl three times with the San Francisco 49ers. verance, he has realized his vision and lenges, water purification etc.” Forum (WEF) He is the godfather of Sallin’s son, Adrien. “None dream to become an entrepreneur in of the victories won by Riki and his team were California, representing so well EPFL down to chance. Leadership, strategies, discipline as an alumni. He is a man with a big and rigour led them to glory.” heart truly loyal in his relationships and friendship.”

Nanoscience professors The CEOs of nanotechnology André Chatelain an experi- enced professor at EPFL’s Institute of Condensed Emily LeProust CEO of Dr. Peter Van Vlasselaer serial- Matter Physics. “I have Twist, a synthetic DNA entrepreneur and CEO of Armo, been lucky to spend time company co-financed by which also belongs to the port- Robert Langer professor with André for more than NanoDimension. Emily folio managed by Sallin. “Peter and head of the Chem- Omid Farokhzad professor 20 years, as his student, LeProust and Twist’s is the most efficient, concen- istry Department at at Harvard Medical then working in his laboratories

co-founder Bill Peck hold trated and robust developer of Christian Brun MIT, he has registered School and head of before evaluating companies and the world record for the medicines I have ever had the more than 1000 patents the Harvard Labora- technologies with him.” Sallin ap- longest-standing and best oligo pleasure to work with.” Armo Rao Mulpuri CEO of View, one of the and has won more than tory of Nanomedicine. preciates André’s human qualities library. develops immunotherapies companies in the NanoDimension 220 awards. Sallin co-fi- Omid and Robert and his scientific skills. for treating different types portfolio, producing electrochromic, nanced three of his companies. Langer founded the of cancer. or “smart,” glass. “This glass can “Even though he is head of the three companies that Sallin As for André Châtelain, he is save more than 20% of a building’s largest bio-engineering labora- co-financed. “Omid is a force hardly reticent in praising his energy and increase the users’ com- tory in the USA and founder of of nature. He is a doctor, former student. “I first prize Werner Cautreels former CEO of fort through dynamically controlling more than 25 companies, Bob is professor and entrepreneur. his creativity, which often goes Solvay Pharmaceutique. Living in how much heat and light they let in.” always ready to lend a hand and He expresses his opinion and beyond academic certainty. His Boston, he is currently the head of take on a new adventure. He is is unwaveringly faithful to his persistence is also the hallmark Selecta Biosciences, co-financed For Rao Mulpuri, “Aymeric is an entrepre- remarkably accessible.” friends and family.” of an entrepreneur who believes by NanoDimension. Selecta de- neur at heart in the skin of an investor. He is in what they do and who reaches velops new classes of treatments very committed to the cause, and is incred- their goals. Finally, the team for the immune system using ibly persistent – important characteristics manager in Aymeric can foresee nanoparticles. of an entrepreneur. He is a quintessential problems well before they hap- networker, and is willing to travel every- pen, and can suggest rational 120 60 where to help his companies succeed.” 0 60 120 and human solutions.” 180

10 11 Alumnist Statistics Alumnist Company the $alarie$ Kudelski has employed of graduate$ EPFL graduates since Graphics: Julie Berclaz its creation

Annual full-time equivalent salary by age in Swiss francs Specialised in IT and electronic solutions for digital television and public access, the company, based in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, relies on the SV Life sciences GR Rural engineering CH Chemistry MT Microengineering By: expertise of many EPFL graduates for the 56-65 y/o William Türler IF Financial engineering AR Architecture MX Materials MTE Management, development of its cutting-edge technology. Photos: SIE Environmental sciences MoT Management of MA Mathematics technology and Thierry Parel Here are a few profiles. and engineering technology IN Computer science entrepreneurship 46-55 y/o IML Management of logistical GE Civil engineering SC Communication EL Electrical systems PH Physics systems engineering GM Mechanical 36-45 y/o engineering

203,300

26-35 y/o 199,100

195,000 +40%average increase in salary 100,000 92,900 from 26-35 years old 123,300 to 36-45 years old

75,000

190,000 50,000

135,000 25,000

GM SV EL IF MTE christophe 187,100 SIE MT 136,700

IML SC nicolas IN

GR MA AR MX MoT CH GC PH 163,300 184,200 about Kudelski Based in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, the Kudelski group is specialised in IT and electronic solutions for digital television, public access and cyber security. Founded in 1952 by Stefan 165,000 184,200 Kudelski, the company has been run by his son André Kudelski since the 1990s.

Both father and son studied at EPFL 166,400 180,000 and have remained close with the University over the years. Most employees have completed general IT studies in French-speaking Switzer- 176,800 180,000 land. Around half of them have uni- 178,000 versity qualifications and most have +19% studied at EPFL. The Group has a total average increase in sala- workforce of more than 3,000 people 2013 throughout the world, and generated ry between 36-45 years Based on an email survey with 3,500 replies revenue of 860 million Swiss francs old and 46-55 years old in 2013.

12 > 0 / / ? / > 0 ? / 0 13 / 0 0 / ? 0 / 0 0 0 0 < Alumnist Company Alumnist Company

0 he Kudelski group has grown technologies are introduced after being discipline as a stepping stone to almost significantly over the last 20 years. brought in by the managers. After all, anything. Continuous learning courses Today it is active in several coun- they are all technicians at heart. I install and reading extensively on the job over T tries across the world in the fields them personally before they are rolled the years made up for his shortcomings of digital television, public access and out on a larger, more organised scale in in computing, which was still in its early cyber security. These activities demand the other departments.” stages in the early 80s. advanced scientific skills, so it is hardly surprising that many EPFL graduates Studying physics at EPFL (the University “The students graduating today are far work at this multinational company did not have a computing department more prepared for what awaits them, which currently employs more than at the time) taught him not only the thanks in part to access to information 3,000 people. “underlying concepts” which make up online,” says Laf- our world, but also how to form more fely. “We had no idea Laurent Laffely is one such gradu- comprehensive views of events and to “A company about corporate life, ate. Born in Lausanne in 1961, he has put things into perspective. “This also project management, worked at Kudelski for 30 years. He was means we can analyse questionable where the interpersonal prob- in the same class as André Kudelski theories that certain old-timers try to quality of work lems, or the human for his final year of high school, and assert, using their age as justification, is generally a dimension and ad- sandra they stayed in touch. “At the EPFL we without just saying ‘yes sir’. But it’s not higher priority ministrative shackles were both studying physics in the same easy when you’ve freshly graduated.” which surround a tru- year, and worked together with another Although he has little use for most than delivery ly technical company. pichon student named Marco Sasselli. All three physics theorems at work, he sees the time." That said, I was lucky of us were hired by Kudelski when we graduated, and worked on a new pay-TV project for the Swiss channel Télécinéromandie.”

After having worked in electronic, microelectronic and micro- computing development, he supervised the beginnings and installation of personal comput- ers at the company. “Today I am responsible for the Manage- ment department’s computing within the company. Many new enough to find a company where the quality of work nal worker, she applied for an in-house position, is generally a higher priority than delivery time.” since she enjoyed it there so much. She now out- lines strategies for decoder testing to ensure they A method based on continuous learning comply with norms defined by the Group. “Thanks Christophe Nicolas graduated in computing engi- to my studies, I have a strong general profile in the neering from EPFL in 1996, and joined the Group technical field. I’m a fast learn- following an interview at an EPFL Forum career fair. er and can quickly understand “At the time Kudelski was on the point of entering “Our technical a new field of my choosing. the digital television sector. Nagravision (editor’s background and As EPFL graduates, our techni- note: a subsidiary active in the development of ac- cal background and ability to cess systems for cable TV and mobile, online and ability to adapt adapt and learn are certainly satellite television) comprised some thirty people,” and learn are what we put into practice he says. certainly what most often.” we put into Nicolas is now Vice-President and head of the It’s no secret that women are Group’s cyber security division, which employs practice most still underrepresented in the more than 120 experts, engineers and consultants. often." world of engineering. But Pi- He is also responsible for computing for the entire chon does not feel set apart in Group, managing around 100 employees. His her daily work. “At work, I see studies at EPFL gave him the ability to tackle new myself as an engineer rather than a woman. I get on laurent problems, thanks to a particular methodology and well with both my male and female colleagues, who a solid foundation in understanding underlying consider me as an engineer before anything else.” laffely technologies. His time at EPFL also opened up con- tinuous learning methods, which led to him adding Everything was new to her when she arrived at to his studies with an Executive Master of Business Kudelski. The company gave her training and quali- Administration from the IMD in 2008. This helped fications in the fields of testing, management, and him improve on certain shortcomings in personal product development. “The rest was down to self- development, management, finance and marketing, teaching and on-the-job coaching by my colleagues as well as making him aware of legal aspects. “When and supervisor. It may amuse you to know that I also I was studying at EPFL, there was little emphasis on use Google and Wikipedia on a daily basis as a first these aspects, although I think things have changed step to getting to grips with aspects in certain fields.” a lot today.” Analysis and practical assignments «On-the-job coaching» Laurent Gillet is originally from a small village After earning a master’s just above Evian, and ma- degree in 2009 in microengi- triculated at EPFL in 1999. neering with a specialisation Collaborator He started with a Special in robotics and autonomous Based in San Francisco, Yves Pitton , Mathematics Course before systems, Sandra Pichon a 1996 graduate in Material Science and turning to microengineering. started her career at a con- Engineering, is also part of the Kudelski He graduated in 2006 and sulting firm. She carried out team. He is the Senior Vice President of started working for Kudelski her first mission at Kudelski. Advanced Advertising. a year later, after perfect- After 18 months as an exter- ing his English abroad and

0 0 / > 0 / ? / 0 ? / < 0 14 0 / 0 / / < 0 / 0 0 0 ? > 0 / / ? ? / > 0 / 0 15 / 0 0 / ? 0 / 0 0 0 0 < Alumnist Company Alumnist Mentoring A new mentoring programme laurent gillet for students At the instigation of Benoît Demaurex, graduate of physics in 2009, the EPFL Alumni is provi­- ding students with a new service, connecting By: Alexandre Bisenz them with graduates for advice (AR’93) on school and career choices.

The point of view of the HR As shown by these examples, Kudelski offers EPFL graduates a variety of posi- working several short-term jobs. He tions in the fields of cyber security, public currently manages a team of engineers access and, more generally, IT. “Graduates whose task is to integrate software can start their careers in software or tudying at the EPFL provides stu- into smart carts. These are the security hardware development or as test or even dents with extremely precise tech- mechanisms which control television system engineers, test or even system S nical skills. Despite this strength, access in subscribers’ homes. engineers, whose role is to install systems at any level of students’ education, many for our customers around the world,” says aspects of a career in engineering are not Andrea Collins, HR Manager at Cheseaux- His functions include manag- “The EPFL gave me a taught at the university. This is why the ing and motivating the team, sur-Lausanne. “We also employ security EPFL Alumni have created a mentoring acting as project leader and solid technical ground- engineers to work on our products or programme for students who would like to providing technical expertise. ing, which I use on a ensure a technology watch.” From these widen their field of study. What positions “My studies at EPFL gave daily basis." beginnings, employees can move onto are currently available in my branch? How me a solid technical ground- technical, project management and team can I direct my studies? Will I need a PhD? ing, which I use on a daily management branches, based on their Is it a good idea to go abroad? All ques- basis, especially in the development of preferences. tions will be answered by graduates who software and hardware solutions,” he dealt with the same challenges and who says. “More generally, my education “Our key priority is finding motivated knew how to handle them. gave me the ability to analyse, enabling people who are passionate about media me to ‘learn to understand’ instead of technology and cyber security, and who Students looking for help from EPFL to ‘learn to learn.’” He also notes that are always eager to learn,” says Collins. graduates can visit the EPFL Alumni web- the “project” aspect of several practical As the company’s products are particularly site and fill out the form provided. They assignments and the lack of a numerus complex and the technological sector is are asked to leave their contact details clausus meant that he quickly learned constantly changing, staying proactive, and the information they are looking for. to work efficiently as part of a team and flexible and innovative is indispensable The same process applies for graduates to delegate, trust, accept other points of for understanding future transformations. looking to join the programme as men- view and challenge ideas. || The company is now recruiting mainly tors. After leaving their contact details, graduates from the communications they can explain the type of advice they and IT branches, but is still open to other are able to give. The EPFL Alumni will put areas that include advanced IT skills. students in contact with mentors best suited to answer their questions.

The new programme is very flexible and free of red tape, in order to ensure that students and mentors reach their objectives. An eval- uation will be carried out in a few months to identify any possible improvements. Until then, the EPFL Alumni is encouraging This programme is supported by Benoît Demaurex students and graduates to get involved and (PH’09), an EPFL graduate and analyst at register on the website! ||

Thierry Parel Accenture in Zurich.

> 0 / / ? / > 0 / 0 ? 16 0 ? / 0 0 0 < / 0 ? 17 Alumnist A3 Angels Alumnist Rankings EPFL NEWS EPFL Alumni even more EPFL remains part supportive of innovation of the global elite and entrepreneurship

The latest worldwide university rankings reflected positively on the EPFL. The school kept its position among the top 20 EPFL Alumni took over the A3 Angels Club’s activities of By: technical universities in the world anda- connecting innovative start-ups and Alumni for mentoring Julien Robyr, Alexandre Bisenz (AR’93) mong the top 5 in Europe. By: or investment opportunities. Alexandre Bisenz (AR’93)

• A partnership with the Business Angels Switzerland (BAS) will manage financing 2014 European Ranking – EPFL is in a good position assistance activities. The (Eng. & Technology) goal is to organise several BAS evening events on the campus, giving potential in- vestors a chance to discover QS (2013) THE (2013) Shanghaï Leiden the EPFL start-ups in a well- (Eng. & Technology) (Eng. & Technology) (Eng./Tech. & Computer Science) (PP (top-10%) indicator) structured setting. 1. University of Cambridge 1. University of Cambridge 1. Imperial College, London 1. University of Cambridge • EPFL Alumni will regularly organise networking events 2. ETH Zurich 2. University of Oxford 2. University of Cambridge 2. EPFL to help young entrepreneurs 3. Imperial College, London 3. ETH Zurich 3. EPFL 3. UCL, London meet investors. The two 4. EPFL 4. Imperial College, London 4. Pierre et Marie Curie 4. University of Oxford 1 2 biggest annual events – Seed 5. University of Oxford 5. EPFL 5. ETH Zurich 5. ETH Zurich Night and BioMed Up Day – will be held again in 2015.

• Various developments are Main criteria being considered, such as the Reputation. Reputation. The most quoted scientists. Amount of citations corrected creation of a micro-invest- Amount of citations. Amount of citations corrected Amount of published papers. for the volume and the domain ment programme for people Professor to student ratio. for the domain of publication, % of papers published in the top 20 of publications, any confused domains. who want to get involved in any confused domains. scientific newspapers. 300 biggest European universities. the world of start-ups.

Entrepreneurs looking for mentoring or financing help for their start-up, or who want to grow their network, can now contact EPFL Alumni at he EPFL maintained its high position in the Rankings undeniably receive lots of media atten- [email protected]. European and global rankings that measure tion. Taken within context, they offer a clear, popu- 3 4 The same goes for people look- the quality, performance and achievement larised picture of the performances of the world’s ing to join the programme as T of higher education institutions. In the 2014 greatest universities. Although often criticised for investors or mentors. “Engineering & Technology” category, which only these same reasons, the international university n increasing demand, the A3 Angels considers technical schools, EPFL remained among rankings do, in the end, offer worldwide prestige Club decided to gradually transfer its EPFL Alumni wished to thank the club the world's top 20 universities. In Europe, EPFL to the best institutions. While the direct impact of 1. Claude Florin I operations to EPFL Alumni in order for its spirit of innovation and entre- belongs to the best five such schools. Anglo-Saxon these scores on the universities’ finances is unclear, 2. Raphaël Rollier to sutain long-term activities and meet preneurship that helped launch these universities still dominated the rankings. Dimitrios Noukakis said that the reputation gained 3. Antoine Ghosn the demand of entrepreneurs. Now, the services. A big thank you to the many from these rankings does factor heavily into the 4. Marc Gandar programme’s organization will rest with volunteer Alumni and students whose These results, which take into account various decisions of future students. || a structured and permanent staff, as well participation at the events allowed the criteria, show that EPFL’s reputation continues to as with skilled volunteers. To recap, the project to exist. Thank you especially to improve. According to Dimitrios Noukakis, who three core activities of the A3 Angels are Claude Florin (EL'82), founder, and his works at the EPFL International Relations Office, mentoring, financing help and organizing committee: Marc Gandar (IN'85), Antoine this is above all thanks to the quality of the univer- networking events. Ghosn (EL'83), Marc Gilson (CH'84) and sity’s work. “The EPFL is growing, and attracts an Raphael Rollier (MI '99), who continue to increasing number of excellent researchers. This • For mentors and start-ups looking contribute their knowledge and energy to has an impact on the quality of projects published for mentoring, there will be no major EPFL’s activitiies. in the most prestigious journals. The EPFL therefore changes. These activities will still be run increases its visibility, legitimacy and the number by experts in the relevant fields. EPFL Looking for help or information? of publications and citations. This is precisely the Alumni will manage the organisation Just contact mission the EPFL promised to undertake: become of this service with help from volunteers. [email protected]. || the best.”

18 19 Alumnist Rankings Alumnist Section

2014 Worldwide Ranking – The US excels, and the EPFL is not so far behind (Eng. & Technology)

QS (2013) THE (2013) Shanghaï Leiden (Eng. & Technology) (Eng. & Technology) (Eng./Tech. & Computer Science) (PP (top-10%) indicator)

1. MIT 1. MIT 1. MIT 1. Rockefeller University 2. Stanford University 2. Stanford University 2. Stanford University 2. MIT Math 3. University of Cambridge 3. Uni. of California, Berkeley 3. Uni. of California, Berkeley 3. Harvard University 4. Uni. of California, Berkeley 4. California Institute 4. University of Illinois 4. Uni. of California, Berkeley Studying math at the EPFL can lead to some interesting 5. ETH Zurich of Technology 5. University of Texas 5. Stanford University By: careers. Take a look at the stories of four 5. Princeton University Jean-Christophe Piot and Séverine Géroudet graduates.

8. EPFL 15. EPFL 19. EPFL 21. EPFL

Main criteria Reputation. Reputation. The most quoted scientists. Amount of citations corrected 1975 2008 Amount of citations. Amount of citations corrected Amount of published papers. for the volume and the domain Professor to student ratio. for the domain of publication, % of papers published in the top 20 of publications, any confused domains. any confused domains. scientific newspapers. 300 biggest European universities.

QS: Times Higher Education (THE): Shanghai: Leiden: The Quacquarelli Symonds This ranking looks at the This ranking favours the qual- Less publicised but well (QS) rankings are mainly three key roles of universities: ity of research. Its main crite- known in the academic based on the idea that spe­ education, research and the ria are the number of Nobel world, this ranking is based cialized institutions teach transmission of knowledge. Prizes and Fields Medals won exclusively on bibliometric the branches in which To do this, it weighs 13 differ- by graduates and researchers. indicators. These include researchers work. Citation ent indicators, including the Due to its youth, the EPFL is the number of publications rates per researcher and the number of citations, research- admittedly at a disadvantage and the number of citations amount of student support ers’ salaries and for this ranking, which also per publication. are also taken into account. the number of doctorates considers he number of cita- per student. tions and publications from researchers.

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Caroline Daniel Brélaz Ferguson Weber [email protected] [email protected] Figure in Swiss ecology Fixed Income Portfolio and mayor of Manager at Lombard Hemispheres6_Dossier_cover_Mise en page 1 13.11.2013 20:54 Page 1 Lausanne since 2001. Odier, Geneva. JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE Keystone Thierry Parel

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20 21 Alumnist Section Alumnist Proust

Proust Questionnaire Luciana Vaccaro

“My motto: passion and determination" Luciana Vaccaro is a Doctor of Sciences and former director of the EPFL Grant Office. She is devoted to public funding management for research and, in October 2013, she became the first female rector of the Haute Ecole Spécialisée de la Suisse Occidentale (HES-SO). She agreed to answer the Proust Questionnaire for Alumnist, revealing a little bit about her personality. 1998 1988

My defining characteristic The quality I like most in a man The quality I like most in a woman What I look for in my friends My biggest character flaw My favourite pastime My dream come true My worst nightmare What I would like to be The country I would like to live in My favourite colour My favourite flower 1969 My favourite bird Born in Geneva, where her father works; returns My favourite writers to Naples 3 months later christian posse 1996 My favourite poets [email protected] Alain Forclaz Graduated in physics [email protected] Programme Manager – from Naples My fictional heroes Technology – at Google, Managing Director of Kereon Mountain View, USA. 1996 My favourite composers Capital – Portfolio Alumni Award laureate Technical student Management, Geneva in 2013. at CERN

Thierry Parel Christian Brun My favourite painters 1997-2000 Doctorate in My real-life heroes fter spending five I spent 15 years in England, have many fond memo- the 1980s. The campus was micro-technology at My real-life heroines years studying concentrating more on the ries of the EPFL, and still very lively, but looked the EPFL, research assistant pure mathematics, financial sector. After several the nine years I spent a little like a village, and the What I hate the most “A “I 2000-2006 I was granted a scholarship years at Moody’s, I worked there gave me an amazing graduation party could well Assistant professor to start a PhD at Oxford Uni- for Credit Suisse, followed by education. Learning methodo- have been a family gathering! in nano-optics Historical figures I hate versity, following Professor B. the Royal Bank of Scotland. logical approaches to resolving Nothing compared to today’s at the University The military event I admire the most Dacorogna’s advice. problems enabled me to break graduation ‘spectacles’! The of Neuchâtel I came back to Switzerland into the field of Big Data, which main language at the time was 2006-2009 The reform I admire the most I have vivid memories of this two years ago and started fascinates me. French, and you couldn’t write Head of Master’s in period. It changed my life! my own private portfolio your PhD thesis in English. All health economics The gift of nature I would like the most and management Getting this financial aid management company. I directed my research towards of that has obviously changed, at the UNIL How I would like to die and the internationalisation was a way of confirming the the intersection between se- 2009-2013 quality of this demanding I am still extremely fond mantics and social and behav- of the EPFL is remarkable. Founded and directed My current state of mind programme, and enabled me of the EPFL and Lausanne. ioural sciences, and used this the EPFL Grant Office to attend one of the world’s I spent five years there over- approach to create algorithms I have spent almost 20 years 2013-today Mistakes I forgive the easiest most prestigious universities. all, and my studies paved and models for personalised living in the USA. University Rector of the HES-SO My motto the way for both my private search engines and recom- fees here are exorbitant, and My work was focused on and professional life.” mendation systems for the have made me realise how memory shape materials internet and social media. lucky I was to have access to particularly geared towards the high-quality education the medical field. The EPFL was a lot smaller in of the EPFL.”

22 23 Alumnist Class of Alumnist Class of Class of 1963 alvaro castro, 78 YEARS OLD where are they now? madrid, spain “I decided to study in Lausanne After my studies, I worked because of acquaintances in mainly in mechanical engineering Switzerland and and energy, especially in the fter more than 50 years, school campus was on avenue my father, who was oil industry and in nuclear and the mechanical engineers de Cour in the centre of Laus- also an engineer. My hydraulic power plants. I was Afrom the class of 1963 met anne. The graduates of 1963, all studies turned out to always based in Spain, but I up at the EPFL in 2013 to tell the men, remember clearly the first be quite unique, as travelled all over the world. story of their old school. During Swiss computers, called Zebra, there were not many their studies, the EPFL was still which took up two floors of their students, which al- At the end of my career, I was called the Ecole Polytechnique building. Alumnist contacted a lowed us to form close one of the first people in Europe de l'Université de Lausanne, or few of the former students to relationships with the to create bioethanol from cereals, EPUL, and had find out what they have done professors. Our les- as CEO of the Spanish company Text: Camille only 1,100 stu- after graduating 51 years ago. sons were technical, Abengoa.” von Kaenel dents. The entire but we were also taught how to make the right decisions.

hubert quenette, 76 YEARS OLD lyon, france “I remember a large dance and music concert organised by the sapir mordechay, 80 YEARS OLD EPUL students at Saint-François tel aviv, israel in Lausanne that blocked all of “Seeing as I was a on a scholar- the traffic! I have met up several ship from the Swiss government, times with some of which enabled me to come and my French and Swiss study at EPUL from classmates in Bour- my home in Israel, I gogne and Lyon, and wanted to repay my I really enjoyed our debt to Switzerland recent reunion at after finishing. I the EPFL campus. worked for Sulzer Frères in Zurich and in At the end of my France for six years, studies, 51 years ago, installing machines I decided to learn Ger- such as blowers, man. I started an internship in a which acted as cool- German high-pressure hydraulics ing systems for nuclear reactors. company, and ended up staying. Upon returning to Israel, I was I was in charge of the takeover hired by an Israeli branch of the of a French company and found French company Turbomeca, myself back in my home city of which produced reactors for Lyon. I was appointed chairman of aeroplanes and helicopters.” maurice exquis, 76 YEARS OLD the French company for 14 years. lausanne, switzerland I have had a very exciting career, “The professors at the EPUL were States! Afterwards, I was hired blaise beauverd, 74 YEARS OLD during which I have played more always available and ready to lis- for the construction and commis- st-légier, vaud, switzerland of a managerial than technical ten when we had problems. I have sioning of the Chavolon thermal “I worked for Nestlé for 40 years, I set off again, this time going to role – my MBA was very useful many fond memories power plant in Valais. I continued mainly building factories abroad Thailand, Eastern Europe and the as a complement to my studies of my time there, overseeing the operation of the for coffee, milk, health foods and United States. Towards the end of in mechanical engineering.” and my studies really plant from Lausanne while carry- chocolate. I was first my career, I finally settled down in DR, Alain Herzog helped my career. ing out mandates for the verifica- sent to Spain for a few Switzerland. tion and commissioning of other years before going to I first worked as an plants in Homs, Syria, and in other Nicaragua and Mexico. As I had spent my life building assistant in a labora- parts of the world. While I was there, my factories, I decided to build my tory testing the solar son was born at the own house and a chalet in the resistance of spatial At the end of my career, I was same time my factory mountains. Our thermodynamics equipment. I wrote responsible for decommission- was completed! professor always said that our letters to other labo- ing and dismantling the Chavolon studies would be useful in any ratories and received a personal plant, which I found particularly After spending a few situation, and he was right!” response from the director of difficult as I had been in charge years in Switzerland, Photograph taken in 1963 in front of the EPUL campus at l'avenue de Cour in spatial research in the United of building it.” Lausanne. Credits: Alain Herzog / EPFL

24 25 Alumnist News Alumnist News

circuits announce From to hydrogen: Optical sunlight EPFL NEWS the dawn of a new technological era cheap and without rare metals Lab stories The team headed by Romuald Houdré and Vincenzo The prestigious journal Science published Savona has just made a major breakthrough in the EPFL NEWS an article in September on the latest advances field of optical circuits, with successful preliminary from the Laboratory of Phototonics and Interfaces. The lab is working on producing By: work on a particularly efficient Nik Papageorgiou phototonic transistor. hydrogen from water and sunlight. Scientists have achieved a 12.3% solar-to-hydrogen con-

By: version rate – a new record! Emmanuel Barraud Lab stories

The nanocavity acts as a switch, using only a tiny amount of energy.

The new development DR Alain Herzog, from the Labora- tory of Photonics and Jingshan Luo, a post- Interfaces combines doctorate student at the electricity-producing Laboratory of Photonics Vincenzo Savona, cells with an electro- and Interfaces at the Head of the Labora- lyser which separates EPFL, developed this tory of Theoretical

Alain Herzog water molecules. innovative system for ex- Physics of Nanosys- tracting hydrogen through tems, and Romuald hydro-electrolysis. Houdré, who works at the Labora- tory of Quantum Optoelectronics, have developed a new type esearchers are running imitate plant photosynthesis. efficiency that his research was of photonic crystal the race to discover more For several years, the lab has published in the prestigious nanocavity (PCN). efficient solar energy on been looking into developing a Science journal. His model R several different tracks. process which uses electrolysis converts 12.3% of solar energy Dye-sensitised solar cells, concen- to extract hydrogen from water. absorbed by perovskite sensors ptical circuits, also known communications, and use minis- This discovery is paving the way tration solar cells, solar thermal Either by using photoelectro- into electrical energy. Perovskite as phototonic integrated cule optical cavities as switches for many other developments in power plants and increasingly chemical cells, which use light is a crystal which can be formed circuits, use light to func- to block or allow the flow of light, the field of optics and made the efficient silicon solar panels all to directly separate water into in laboratories using common tion. They are between similarly to transistors in electron- front cover of the Applied Physics strive for the same goal: produc- hydrogen and oxygen, or by materials, and which is similar to O10 and 100 times faster than ics. One step ahead, researchers Letters journal, which published ing as many electrons as possible combining electricity-producing the crystals used in car batteries. electronic circuits, which use elec- from the EPFL have produced and an article on the subject. || from sunrays. cells with an electrolyser, which These results have made this tricity. They also give off minimal conducted experimental tests on separates the water molecules. model a real competitor against heat, have a better signal-to-noise a new type of “photonic crystal At the EPFL Laboratory of Photo- other techniques used to convert ratio, have a higher resistance to nanocavity.” Designed on a tonics and Interfaces headed by Jingshan Luo, a post-doctoral solar energy. || interference and consume less silicon base, the nanocavity uses Michael Grätzel, the teams have student at Professor Grätzel’s energy. Just like fiber optic cables, only an infinitesimal amount of not settled for simply inventing laboratory, used this method to these circuits are mainly used in energy to act as a switch. dye-sensitised solar panels that obtain such a high level of energy

26 27 Alumnist Magistrale Alumnist Magistrale The Magistrale 2014 celebrates 872 new graduates

On Saturday 4 October, 872 EPFL students received their By: Master’s degree at the Magistrale graduation Alexandre Bisenz (AR'93) day, which took place at the EPFL SwissTech Photos: Christian Brun Convention Center.

his year, 872 graduates received their much sought-after and hard- T earned Master’s degrees. Almost 3,000 people, including graduates, friends, family, professors and the heads of the EPFL, were at the EPFL SwissTech Convention Center for this remarkable day. Many renowned guests were also in attendance, including State Councillor Anne-Catherine Lyon, the President of the National Research Council of the SNSF, Martin Vetterli, and Fritz Shiesser, The SwissTech Con- President of the Board of Swiss Federal vention Center was completely full when Institutes of Technology (ETH). the EPFL President, Patrick Aebischer, As usual, the EPFL Alumni granted and the head of EPFL its Alumni Awards to two graduates. Alumni, Annelies Jacques de Saussure (MA’75), senior Garcia, presented the Alumni Award to partner at Pictet, and Laure de Saint Jacques de Saussure Denis (MA’85), head of marketing at (MA'75.) Airbus, both received their awards from Annelies Garcia, head of the EPFL Between the different Alumni. The two graduates were re- highlights of the ceremony, the Ukrain- warded for their remarkable careers. ian pianist Dimitri Naïditch, a virtuoso, After this grand ceremony, the graduates and his musicians divided into their separate programmes played several Bach to receive their individual Master’s de- pieces with a jazzy twist. grees and meet their programme tutor. This role is performed by an EPFL alum- nus who has completed studies in the Laure de Saint Denis (MA’85) and Jacques de same programme, who answers ques- Saussure (MA’75) both tions and advises the young graduates. received an Alumni Award at the Magistrale 2014 See you in 2015 for the next Magistrale! || graduation day.

To see all the profiles of the laureates: www.epflalumni.ch/ the-alumni-awards/

28 29 Alumnist SectionDossier Alumnist Dossier

PFL alumni have a variety of rea- and employment seminars are all good sons to live abroad. Sometimes, ways to create opportunities and avoid it’s to be able to continue working depending solely on conventional job A guide to a successful E at the forefront of their field of offers. EPFL graduates are also able to expertise, or to carry out post-doctoral interact with the alumni community in research, or to enjoy a more flexible work- the city in question by contacting the ing environment, or even to be with their EPFL Alumni or visiting the website career abroad other halves. Or it can just be for a change www.epflalumni.ch/antennes to find of scenery. out who to get in touch with.

Out of 30,000 EPFL graduates, almost And EPFL graduates are not the only ones More than a quarter of 29,000 EPFL alumni currently live abroad. a third now live abroad. This group to enjoy opportunities with ever-increas- Four graduates told us their stories and gave advice on includes both Swiss natives living abroad ing mobility. Almost a tenth of the Swiss and international graduates who have re- population lives outside of Switzerland. succeeding as an expat. turned home after their studies. The ma- This amounted to 732,183 Swiss citizens jority now live in France (2,517), followed in 2013, or the equivalent of the canton by the United States (495), Germany (360) of Vaud, up 2.3% since 2012, according to By: and Italy (241). data from the Swiss Federal Department Martine Brocard, of Foreign Affairs. Sophie Gaitzsch and Olivier Gschwend Looking for a job outside of Switzerland is, of course, one of the main steps in “We have generally observed that the Illustration: the process. If a Swiss company sends Swiss are increasingly leaving the country Ilina Catana their employees abroad, it makes things for short amounts of time. They live a lot easier. But there are many other abroad for a few years and then come solutions, as confirmed by our expat back, whereas permanent emigration interviewees. Platforms such as LinkedIn; was more common in the past,” says networks such as Swissnex, which are Célia Francillon of the Organisation of present in San Francisco and Singapore; the Swiss Abroad. ||

paris

san francisco London singapore

30 31 Alumnist Dossier Alumnist Dossier Nicolas Grasset Igor Perisic SV’08 MA'91

With its warm welcome, easy integration and ideal Igor Perisic didn’t think he would spend more than working conditions, Singapore won over Nicolas a year in San Francisco. Fourteen years later he Grasset and his family, originally from the canton of Vaud. still can’t see himself leaving this region of the USA where entrepreneurial spirit is king.

fter training to be a pediatric surgeon, had made our decision, we realised that for every Nicolas Grasset wrote a thesis in Life problem, there’s always a solution.” Sciences at the EPFL. Two years ago, he moved to Singapore with his wife and From apartments and schools to leisure activi- Shutterstock SAN FRANCISCO Atwo children, and has since had a third child. He ties, “Singapore has everything for expats, as now works in the field of skin stem cell research long as you have the means.” Private schooling for the institute of medical biology at A*Star, a costs around 20,000 Swiss francs per year, so it is governmental agency for science, technology, necessary to have a good salary or financial sup- 5,3 m inhabitants and research in Singapore. port from an employer. 815,000 inhabitants (but more “Carrying out post-doctoral research abroad is Grasset’s children learn both English and Chi- than 7 million in the an indispensable asset for your career”, says the nese at their international school, while his wife surrounding metro- researcher. When his boss at the EPFL spoke to has taken the opportunity to study for further 3 politan area of San him about an opportunity in Singapore, he was qualifications. And he finds his job incredibly main communities Jose-San Francisco- Oakland) surprised. “I had to look at a map to find out fulfilling. “I had no problems integrating, and (74% Chinese, 13,3% Malaysian, exactly where this country was!” received a very warm welcome. Our working 9,2% Indian) conditions are excellent, particularly our access At first, the idea to funding for our research.” seemed a little far- fetched. “We had “The best way to move to Singapore is to be sent a beautiful, cheap by an employer, in order to keep a Swiss salary san francisco inhabitants6,632 per square apartment in Laus- and remain a part of the Swiss system. EPFL 2,5 % anne with a view alumni can find jobs in both the scientific and unemployment kilometer, the second most densely popu- in 2013 across the lake, and banking sectors, and there are also lots of oppor- lated city in the USA the landlord didn’t tunities for post-doctoral positions.” after New York seem too happy at 48, this mathematics graduate from relaxed atmosphere, but work is very demand- about subletting. Grasset’s contract ends in April 2015, and he the EPFL is Vice-President of Engineer- ing and stressful.” As a teacher, my will then have to decide whether to renew it, or ing at LinkedIn. “I learn something “ wife was also only to move on. Whatever happens next, it’s been a new every day! We are constantly Despite the high quality of American uni- more ” The legal44 maximum allowed to take one great experience. “Even if we had to make a few reinventingA ourselves. When I arrived in 2007 versities, EPFL alumni have a good chance number of weekly sabbatical year, so sacrifices, Singapore gave us a real perspective the company employed 170 people including of making it in the USA. This is illustrated by “Working work hours we thought it was a on the world, and we’ll never regret our time 40 engineers. Today we employ 5,000 people the large number of Europeans (often from than 50 conditions are bit mad”. Never- there.” The couple is already considering leaving including 1,500 engineers,” says Igor Perisic, Polytechnics) who work in large companies in hills within the city excellent” theless, “once we again one day, maybe to Canada this time. Pros originally from Neuchâtel. the San Francisco area. “Everyone has a chance + Society adapted In Mountain View, where to succeed in IT, physics, statistics, medical to expatriates pros he works, Perisic is sur- science, environmental science, agricultural + Safety + An optimistic rounded by Google’s engineering and even architecture. No field Lots of green outlook + offices, with Microsoft’s of study is off limits.” Perisic’s advice to those open spaces + Dynamic 40 professional premises just 200 metres thinking of emigrating is to “just try it! Have cable cars singapore cons environment away. confidence in yourself and be ready to learn. - School fees + Good salaries People here will be ready to teach you.” Housing costs - Father of three sons, he - Little access cons to nature - Hard to find housing particularly enjoys the Once arrived, finding a place to live can be a - State schools of optimism and entrepre- real challenge. “Fortunately, the salaries here, varying quality, neurial spirit that reign in particularly in IT, mean you can rent easily.” To find out more expensive private this part of the USA. “Peo- School fees also complicate matters, however. www.app.singapore.sg schools ple here want to change Towns with reputable state schools have higher www.expatliving.sg - Feeling of being in a the world, and people are rents as a result, whereas those with mediocre www.expatsingapore. large suburb (no real com city center) ready to follow them.” schools have lower rent. Private schools, on Perisic himself actually the other hand, are extremely expensive. EPFL Alumni contacts tried to launch a start-up To find out more during his first years in Perisic sees himself going back to live in “ Kim-Vân Ho-Dac www.swissnexsanfran- San Francisco. “At the Switzerland at some point in the future. “I ” (IN’07) cisco.org beginning, you need to be want to develop the start-up sector and talk “Life is very singapore@alumni. www.expatarrivals. ready to work until 2 in the with the younger generations to teach them epfl.ch com relaxed, Nicolas Grasset www.internations.org/ morning.” And even now, they shouldn’t be afraid of failure.” He already but work (SV’08) san-francisco-expats working for the giant of expects this next stage to happen without his nicolas.grasset@ professional networks, he sons. “My children are integrated now so they can be really alumni.epfl.ch EPFL Alumni contact still struggles to take his 12 will stay, but they might come and visit us stressful” days of annual leave. This every now and then!” Christian Simm is one of the paradoxes of (PH’87) [email protected]. life on the edge of the Sili-

Pieter J. TER KUILE Pieter ch (Executive con Valley: there is a very Director of Swissnex San Francisco)

32 33 Alumnist Dossier Alumnist Dossier Cédric Jolivet Marc-Henri Chamay SC’08 pros IN’91 + No working visa required + Better social se- Cédric Jolivet chose to settle down in France, curity, protection Flexibility, energy and openness: for Marc-Henri against redundancy which helped him quickly climb the ranks in + Rapid professional Chamay, working in London has many advantages. mobility, leadership a large company. positions cons - Hard to find housing without a job High rental prices - ne of the most important For those looking to find work in London, - Difficulties with public transport merits of the London job Chamay’s advice is to focus on the local - Lengthy administra- market is how open it is. A market, meeting head-hunters and using paris tive procedures non-Anglophone who does LinkedIn to directly contact people in “Onot come from the traditional British sys- charge of recruitment. “I also recommend tem of prestigious universities will not be trying it at the start of your career, as it’s the at a disadvantage as long as they can speak best time to take risks and look elsewhere.” To find out more www.expatriermod- the language fluently.” He also emphasises that London is a truly edemploi.org international city where it is easy to meet www.leforumexpat.com Originally from Geneva, Chamay graduated people and find particularly exciting career www.paris.fr/pratique/ in Computer Science from the EPFL in 1991, opportunities. “A city this big offers endless logement/se-loger-a- and is an expert in his field. He has lived in possibilities.” paris/p9378 London for 17 years. “In 1997, after an MBA in Paris and a brief stint working for Reuters On the salary side of things, London does EPFL Alumni contact “ ” in Geneva, I realised London was the place not disappoint. But it is important to Marie-Christine to be for work in the new technology sector. remember the high housing costs and, for Sawley (PH’85) “A city this big And it’s still true today. The city buzzes with those looking to bring their family, ques- marie-christine.saw- offers endless activity, and with lots of new companies tions of educating children. “For high-quali- [email protected] possibilities” and capital.” Married with two children, ty schooling we opted for a private school, Chamay is currently a partner at the large which has been a significant investment.” law firm Allen & Overy, where he manages

alpha du centaure alpha the Derivative Services, a branch of the Another drawback would-be expats need group specialised in online services. to be aware of is that technical studies, even ollowing 180,000 of his fellow country- a job through online offers a lot harder. His at the best universities, are not held in the men, Cédric Jolivet left Switzerland advice to those coming to Paris is to attend Flexibility is one of the other major advan- highest esteem in Britain. “The UK has put to settle in France, arriving in Paris in employment seminars where you can defend tages of the London job market. “Company a lot of energy into services to the detriment F 2009. He now works as an executive your skills in person. And before jumping into structure is far less rigid than in Switzerland, of industry, and technical fields are less for the development and maintenance of IT the fray, it is vital to “pinpoint the sector you and I now work from home. This is also one valued than in France or Germany.” applications used by the GDF Suez group’s want to work in, and above all to find concrete, of the main reasons I wouldn’t go back to customers. professional reasons for your choice.” Switzerland for now.”

Originally from the canton of Vaud, Jolivet He is often asked why he decided on France, moved to the French capital just one year after where salaries hardly match those offered in completing his EPFL course in Communications Switzerland. Jolivet’s decision to move abroad Systems. The rapid transition was not just due and his choice of destination go beyond finan- to chance. He moved to join his wife, whom he cial reasons, and were based rather on “a bal- pros + Open job market met several years earlier when on an exchange ance between private life, professional life and + Flexible working at the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis. He self-fulfilment.” For example, the French job environment also wanted to join a stable company in light of market is less blocked by people with extensive “” london londres + Dynamic new the 2009 financial crisis, particularly a company training in the business sector. Whereas some “In five years, technology sector which managed international projects. These of his friends took almost 18 months to find cons criteria brought him to GDF Suez, currently a job in Switzerland, Jolivet found employ- I have been - Housing costs the world’s fourth largest group in the energy ment five times as fast. Career advancement appointed to - School fees sector. The multinational company is based in prospects are also incomparable. At 33, he now - Unstable a leadership public transport Paris, and employs more than 138,000 people manages a team of more than 60 people, and position” 8,17 across almost 50 countries. their budgets for projects can reach 15 million milions euros. Being appointed to a leadership posi- inhabitants To find out more Jolivet didn’t get this far without hard work, tion in less than five years is “almost impos- www.movingtolon- however. The EPFL’s qualifications are not as sible to achieve as quickly in Switzerland.” don.net well known in the rest of Europe. “The French www.londres-expat. aren’t aware of the EPFL’s reputation and I com 43 www.cityoflondon. had to fight to show my employers the quality universities of my coursework.” This aspect makes finding gov.uk EPFL Alumni contact 3,5 Naoufal Adlouni unem- metro million journeys Alami (SC'06) ployment stations taken daily naoufal.adlounia- m [email protected] inhabitants 180,000 on the tube paris 2,2 Swiss inhabitants 8,1% 303 Peter Moore Peter

40%of green spaces

34 35 Alumnist Offices Alumnist Offices The EPFL

Naoufal Adlouni Alami (SC’06) Alumni Great Britain, London [email protected] Commodities Structuring Emilie Michel (PH’07) at Deutsche Bank Geneva A real example of the [email protected] Quantitative strategist offices networks’ role: recognising at 1875 Finance Swiss qualifications in Canada All EPFL graduates arriving in Canada have to follow The 27,000 EPFL graduates Jacques Pansard (PH’73) a procedure to have their Swiss diploma recognised Vaud, Valais and to become a member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs scattered across the world [email protected] du Québec. This procedure is spread over several Self-employed consultant after stages and can take some time. Patrick Ngallemo know they can count on having worked for major international (IN’09) is currently working through this process and Marie-Christine Sawley (PH’85) (MoT’07) law firms and as a professor at ZhanbingRen (EL’90) has offered to help other graduates getting ready to Meriem Benmelouka France, Paris the 18 EPFL Alumni offices Canada, Montreal ESCP Europe Paris for 12 years China, Shanghai do the same thing. Contact him at hever_patrick. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] in Switzerland and abroad [email protected] Exascale Lab Director at Intel in Paris Directs the Campus des Chairman of Shanghai to assist them, bring them Technologies de la Santé (CTS) in Sino-Swiss International Montreal since August 2010 Tarik Kapić (IC 03) Trading Co Ltd together and answer their Berne, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Jura questions. [email protected] Swiss & European Patent Stéphane Essade (MX’99) Attorney, Intellectual Property Japan, Tokyo Professional, Bovard AG [email protected] mong the 27,000 Business Manager at Saint-Gobain Abrasives EPFL graduates, almost 25% cur- rently live outside Laurent Audergon (GC’01) A Eastern Switzerland of Switzerland. To make this [email protected] group a dynamic community, Recently appointed director EPFL Alumni has set up offices of consulting and project in Montreal, Shanghai, Abid- management at Emch+Berger jan, Madrid, San Francisco, New York, Paris, Lyon, Lon- don, Bangalore, Hong Kong, Carlos Da Silva Bartolo (EL’79) Tokyo, Lisbon and Singapore. Portugal, Lisbon These 14 offices complement [email protected] Board Member for the Private Equity the four offices already active division at BCP Capital, works as a in Switzerland, and provide Business Angel and Advisor Frédéric Veron (GM’84) contacts in each city. These France, Rhône-Alpes offices help graduates meet up [email protected] through regularly organised Manager at events, support them in ad- PricewaterhouseCoopers in Lyon ministrative procedures and Christian Simm (PH’87) offer information and answers USA, San Francisco [email protected] to any professional questions Kim-Vân Ho-Dac (IN’07) Founder and executive director Laurent Rus (GC’95) Singapore Allan Estivalet (GC’08) they may have. Each office is of swissnex San Francisco Spain, Madrid and Barcelona [email protected] USA, New York represented by one or several [email protected] Works in sourcing (onshore/off- [email protected] Directs the Bridges and Civil shore strategy) between Paris, Sin- EPFL alumni charged with Partner at RIZZO Associates in New Structures team at Arup, an in- gapore and India for Crédit Agricole leading the region’s graduate York, implementation of major infra- ternational group working in the Corporate & Investment Bank community. structure projects in sectors such construction sector since 2009 as hydraulic energy These offices are important both for graduates and for Jonathan Maim (IN’09) EPFL Alumni, ensuring its India, Bangalore continued international pres- [email protected] ence. The EPFL also relies on Self-employed, working with high-quality social mobile apps them to stay in touch with its former students. These volunteer-led offices are the sign of a true, international Antoine Loucou (EL’79) Ivory Coast, Abidjan EPFL community. || [email protected] Works at Télécom Côte d'Ivoire Swiss offices You want to create an office of International offices the EPFL Alumni? Contact us at the address: [email protected]

36 37 Alumnist Calendar Alumnist Sommaire THÉÂTRE DE VIDY LAUSANNE

calendar 100 cartes de réduction au Théâtre Vidy 2015 Lausanne, ainsi qu’un prix d’entrée de 26.- ESPACES CONTEMPORAINS au lieu de 37.-

february Start-up On March 18, Business Angels Switzerland LE TEMPS Abonnement pour deux ans (12 numéros ORGan (BAS) will organise a grand investment evening for start-ups. This event will take et 2 hors-série) à 58.- au lieu de 70.-) The EPFL Alumni BE-FR-NE-JU branch is place on the EPFL campus. organising an organ concert for its members 10% de remise sur l’abonnement annuel Premium at the French Church of Berne on February 3. math PME MAGAZINE An event for alumni and students in the CANADA math programme is scheduled for March 24. The Canadian graduates of EPFL are invited to Regularly organised by EPFL Alumni, these MOBILITY the Swiss-Canada Innovation Day in Montreal, an events are a great opportunity for students event on the theme of “Healthy and Active Aging: to meet graduates from their programme. Pour remercier Social/Economic Impacts and Technology/ 20 % sur l’abonnement Business Opportunities” on February 24, 2015. CHEMISTRY ses contributeurs, l’EPFL annuel 93.- au lieu de 116.- A grand evening event will give chemistry Ponctuellement, un abonnement Alumni leur permet de bénéficier d’ores graduates and current students a chance to annuel à 190.- au lieu de 290.- meet each other. Further information on the plus un crédit de circulation de evening will be available on www.epflalumni.ch 30.- Offre valable jusqu’à commerciales avantageuses: presse écrite, informatique, march fin décembre assurances, théâtre, transports... de nombreux rabais BRAIN FORUM exclusifs leur sont oerts. INNOVATION From March March 30 to April 1, 2015, the EPFL A conference will be organised with Debiopharm, Swisstech Convention Center will welcome a partner of EPFL Alumni, on the theme of innova- the biggest specialists of the research on the MATÉRIEL tion. Details on the conference will be available brain, the neurosciences and the care person- INFORMATIQUE on our website at www.epflalumni.ch alized, to review the scientific discoveries in PROFITEZ DE RABAIS this domain. COMMERCIAUX Rabais sur l’achat d’ordinateurs. La prochaine période d’achat débutera le 9 février 2015

Alumnist Impressum EUROPCAR

Editor Sophie Gaitzsch It is distributed along with Technologist, EPFL Alumni Séverine Géroudet the European science magazine published by Rolex Learning Center Olivier Gschwend EuroTech Universities, which includes EPFL. Station 20 Blandine Guigner 1015 Lausanne Nik Papageorgiou PUBLICATIONS TAMEDIA Switzerland Jean-Christophe Piot Des conditions avantageuses T. 021 693 24 91 Julien Robyr sur la location de véhicules www.epflalumni.ch William Türler ASSURANCES Camille von Kaenel Editorial and graphic production design director LargeNetwork Romain Guerini 6, rue Abraham-Gevray Les deux compagnies d’assurances 1201 Geneva layout Sympany et Swica proposent des Switzerland Julie Berclaz rabais sur leurs assurances maladie T. 022 919 19 19 Ilina Catana complémentaires [email protected] Romain Guerini www.LargeNetwork.com PPUR Cover Offre d’abonnement à prix réduit aux quotidiens Heads of publication Igor Perisic par «24 heures», «Tribune de Genève», «Le Matin», Gabriel Sigrist Marc Olivier Le Blanc «Le Matin Dimanche» et au magazine «Bilan» and Pierre Grosjean Translation Project management Technicis, Paris Remise de 10% sur toutes Alexandre Bisenz les commandes for EPFL Alumni Printer Séverine Géroudet Pajo, Estonie for LargeNetwork Distribution Writers 20'000 copies Emmanuel Barraud Alexandre Bisenz Martine Brocard Découvrez le détail de ces offres sur www.epflalumni.ch De nouvelles offres sont en préparation... Rendez-vous dans 38 les prochaines éditions du magazine39 des diplômés de l’EPFL.