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AFAM: Hello Swan and Benoît, thanks for agreeing to answer our questions. Could you please tell us a few words about you?
Benoît: Hello! I’m currently a second-year student at the Paris campus, enrolled in the US track, through which I’m applying to American universities in Mechanical Engineering. I would like to work in energy production, especially on thermofluid systems.
Swan: Hello! I’m also a second-year student (Me 225) on the Paris campus following the US track. I am particularly interested in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data engineering.
AFAM: you’ve both recently pursued an internship at University of Cincinnati. Could you please tell us a bit more about this internship and your mission?
Benoît: Swan and I both joined the Upper Airway Biomechanics Lab, supervised by Dr. Charles Farbos de Luzan, who is a Gadz as well. We each worked on a different project. Mine focused on particle tracking in videofluoroscopy recordings, which are X-ray videos of healthy patients swallowing. Using Python and deep learning tools, I developed methods to follow the movement of the swallowed liquid and of anatomical landmarks from frame to frame. The long-term goal of this research is to better understand how swallowing works, in order to identify the causes of swallowing disorders (dysphagia).
Swan: For my part, my research focused on quantitative biomarker extraction from high-speed digital imaging (HSDI) for tracheoesophageal speech assessment. Practically, I used Python to process videos recorded at 4,000 frames per second. The goal was to analyze the Glottal Area Waveform (GAW) and extract acoustic and biomechanical signals to better support vocal rehabilitation for patients.
AFAM: what kind of difficulties did you face before you started your internship (your internship search, visa process, your arrival to the US)?
Benoît: The main challenge was the visa process. Getting an appointment at the U.S. Embassy took some patience, and the interview itself requires listening carefully to the consular officer and following each step of the procedure precisely. Apart from that, everything went smoothly on my side. We were lucky to get this internship with Charles, and the lab welcomed us very well.
Swan: Just like Benoît, the visa process required a lot of rigor and planning ahead. For the internship search itself, we were fortunate to rely on the school's network. Once there, the integration happened very naturally: Charles, along with researchers Liran Oren and Ephraim Gutmark, immediately included us in a highly stimulating research environment.
AFAM: you’ve been living in Cincinnati for two summer months. Could you please tell us more about your life there. Have you been living on campus? What did you do outside of your work?
Benoît: I didn’t live on campus, but in a shared house in Clifton, the neighborhood right next to the university. I was lucky to have great roommates, and we played tennis together three times a week. Since we didn’t have a car, we didn’t do many activities outside the university, but the campus offers excellent facilities, so we made the most of them.
Swan: I shared that exact same daily! Living in Eden Avenue was not that ideal. Not having a car pushed us to fully utilize the campus's excellent sports facilities. Our regular gym and basketball sessions were perfect for unwinding after long days of coding or data analysis, while still allowing us to fully experience American student life.
AFAM: Could you share anything about your future plans? In what way did your past internship influence your future endeavors?
Benoît: This internship confirmed my wish to work in research-oriented engineering. Through the US track, I’m applying for a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a thesis, focusing on fluid mechanics and energy. In the long term, I see myself working in the energy sector. Cincinnati taught me to work autonomously on an open research problem and to collaborate with researchers and clinicians from very different backgrounds. Thanks again, Charles!
Swan: This internship was decisive because it allowed me to apply my programming and data processing skills to a complex medical challenge. I am currently preparing my applications for Master of Science programs in the US. Ultimately, I plan to specialize in developing AI architectures and predictive modeling.
AFAM: Thank you both!
From left to right: Swan, Benoît, Charles and Varun
Cincinatti lab
The city of Cincinatti
All pictures: courtesy of Benoît and Swan
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AFAM: Hello Mateo and thank you for this opportunity to ask you a few questions. You graduated from UC Berkeley and got a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Could you please tell us a few words about the road that led you to Arts et Métiers, then to UC Berkeley. When did you decide to become an engineer?
Mateo: Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by how the systems and inventions around us work, starting with reading encyclopedias and watching technical television documentaries. This curiosity naturally led me toward science and the ambition to become an engineer. Arts et Métiers was the perfect choice as it stood right at the intersection of my two favorite subjects in classes préparatoires: mechanics and industrial engineering. Beyond the academics, I was drawn to the school’s legendary student cohesion and strong network, which is clearly reflected today through initiatives like the Shasta program and AFAM. Having always dreamed of exploring the world, and the United States in particular, pursuing the dual-degree program at UC Berkeley was the ultimate way to bring this journey full circle.
AFAM: Could you tell us a bit more about your studies at UC Berkeley? What classes did you enjoy the most? How was your life on campus? What was the most challenging and the most exciting for you when you first arrived in the United States?
Mateo: While I thoroughly enjoyed the advanced technical engineering courses at UC Berkeley, the business and leadership classes were truly transformative for me. Having not had the chance to take similar management-focused modules before, they taught me an essential lesson: mastering technical concepts is crucial, but being able to communicate them clearly and effectively to anyone is even more powerful. As for arriving in the US, the most exciting part was also the most challenging, discovering an entirely new environment, culture, and academic system. Navigating that complete change of scenery and finding my footing took a little time, but after a few weeks, everything clicked into place and I went on to have an absolutely incredible year on campus.
AFAM: You started as a mechanical engineer at Bimotal. Please tell us a few words about the company you work for and your new role.
Mateo: Bimotal is an innovative startup focused on developing high-performance electric powertrains and actuators for e-mobility and beyond. My role lies at the intersection of engineering and strategy: on one hand, I handle CAD design, testing, and motion and structural simulations; on the other hand, I help guide key technical decisions by bridging engineering capabilities with market opportunities. It’s a dynamic hybrid role that I genuinely enjoy. I’ve been with the team for nearly three months now, and I’m really excited to keep advancing our current projects and tackle what’s next.
AFAM: How did being a GadzArts help you in your professional life?
Mateo: Being a GadzArts supported me in two deeply impactful ways. First, through the Shasta program and the AFAM Sequoia #2 grant, which provided invaluable support as I launched my career. I am truly grateful to AFAM and the Shasta team for their guidance. Second, through the strength of the GadzArts community itself. The alumni network and local events have this incredible ability to make you feel right at home, no matter where you are in the world. Even after moving all the way to California, the strong sense of camaraderie among alumni and friends gave me a solid foundation and made the transition seamless.
AFAM: Do you enjoy life in California? What is your favorite way to spend your free time (hobbies, weekend activities)?
Mateo: I absolutely love living in California, it truly has it all, from being at the forefront of technology for career development to offering breathtaking scenery and endless activities. In my free time, I enjoy staying active with sports, especially around the Berkeley campus, and exploring as much of the region as possible. Whether it’s taking weekend trips around the Bay Area, road-tripping through neighboring states, or going from the ocean to the mountains, California offers an amazing variety of landscapes and lifestyles to experience. That combination of professional dynamism and outdoor lifestyle makes it a phenomenal place to live.
Picture: courtesy of Mateo
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On October 6, more than 30 alumni and students from various French Grandes Écoles (Arts et Metiers, HEC, ESSEC, EDHEC, Polytechnique etc.) gathered for a friendly networking event at BGV in Menlo Park organized by AFAM.
The beautiful BGV courtyard and lovely late-summer weather provided the perfect setting for participants to connect, reconnect, share experiences, and make new acquaintances within the French alumni community in the Bay Area.
A big thank you to BGV for hosting us and to everyone who helped organize this wonderful gathering!
We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next French Grandes Écoles alumni event!
Event participants
GadzArts ( alumni) at the event
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This fall has been a busy one for our local Gadz’Arts communities, with several gatherings taking place in Washington, D.C., Boston, and New York.
These get-togethers offered a great opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and make new connections. Some participants even discovered fellow Gadz’Arts living just a few miles away whom they had never met before!
The New York gathering also brought a particularly fun surprise. During the evening, Marc (Li 93) and Alexandre (Li 218) realized that Marc was actually Alexandre’s parrain de promo — and that they had already met back in 2019 during the celebration of their parrainage! A great example of how Gadz’Arts connections can resurface years later and thousands of miles away from France.
We are looking forward to many more opportunities for our local communities to get together, strengthen existing connections, and welcome new members. The Washington, D.C. group has already planned its next gathering for November!
A big thank you to everyone who helped organize these events and to all the Gadz’Arts who joined!
Washington DC Gadz group
Boston Gadz group
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On September 23, Houston-area Gadz’Arts gathered for a fun and active evening of pickleball, padel, and drinks at Long Point Social Club.
The gathering was a great opportunity to reconnect, meet other Gadz’Arts in the Houston area, enjoy some friendly competition, and spend time together outside of work.
A special thank you to Mathilde Godard for bringing together this group of athletes and making the evening happen!
We look forward to more fun and exciting opportunities for the Texas Gadz’Arts community to get together soon!
- GadzMeet 2026: Bringing the Gadz’Arts Community Together in San Francisco
- Ad Astra dreams and reality of aerospace engineering: interview with Yassine Ben Zineb (Me 220), PhD Candidate in Astrophysics at GeorgiaTech, Sequoia # 2 grant recipient in 2026
- Zoom on: interview with Léo Nerini (Ai 223), intern at Thermo-Fluids Laboratory at the George Washington University ( Washington DC, USA)
- Atlanta-based alumni welcomed Georgia Tech Europe (GTE) students
- Zoom on: Interview with Thibault Galouye ( Bo 222)
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