Details: Published: 13 February 2025

"TAKE MY WORD FOR IT" with Edmond Loubeyre (Ch 221)

To introduce myself in a few lines, I am a Gadzart from Châlons (27ch221) currently enrolled in the Master of Engineering at UC Berkeley, in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Modeling and Simulation of Advanced Manufacturing Processes.

About accommodation, budget management, tuition fees:

The start of a new educational journey in another country that has a whole different culture that France can be stressful. The first issue to tackle is the accommodation. I was very lucky to have good friends in both my year coming to Berkeley with me and the year above us that just graduated. Therefore, four of us were able to take over the lease of the small city house that the 4 freshly graduated Gadzarts rented the previous year. It is 20 min away by bike from the campus and cheaper than the official Berkeley student housing.

The next issue that can come up especially when studying in the US is budget management. For that matter, I was also very lucky to receive help from the Gadzart community by receiving the Sequoia grant which was of great help. There are also great benefits to living with roommates, we were able to buy a car together so that we could go grocery shopping in cheaper stores and share every spendings. One other major help to pay for tuition fees and my living expenses is the positions that I obtained as a Teacher Assistant at the university also called GSI, Graduate Student Instructor. These positions are very coveted because they offer a tuition fee reduction and a monthly salary, but with some motivation and with the help of some people it is possible. For this semester I am a GSI in the Physics 7B course, which is thermodynamics, electromagnetism and electricity.

About my classes:

In my favorite class at UC Berkeley, which has the same name as my concentration, we started by studying Genetic Algorithms. They can be impressively powerful and simple to use and implement. We therefore coded our own general Genetic Algorithm from scratch. After that we studied advanced manufacturing processes that we modeled using equations like the first principle of thermodynamics, electromagnetisms or basic Newtonian mechanics that we then simulated on Python and finally we adapted and applied our genetic algorithms to those processes to optimize their parameters.

About my Death Valley trip:

Aside from my studies and GSI position I am trying my best to visit and enjoy the Californian and American way of life. My last 4 days trip, which was surreal, was in Death Valley. Death valley is between Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, and it offers incredible landscapes that we cannot find in France. Vast deserts full of colored dunes and rocks, craters caused by past volcanic activities and a salt lake. I went camping there and drove for hours on off-roads tracks (that punctured my tire) to reach a place with hot springs in the middle of nowhere called Saline valley.

Thank you!

I also want to add a short paragraph to thank all the AFAM community for their help and the one from the bay who is very active and organizes amazing gatherings!

I hope this short feedback can help some of you get a clearer idea on what it is to come to study in the US, I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

Photo 1: Entrance road to the Death Valley national park from Ridgecrest

Photo 2 : sunset at Mesquite Campground

Photo 3 : Entrance road of Saline Valley from the Inyo Forest and mountain ranges

Photo 4 : Saline Valley Hotsprings at sunrise

Photo 5 : Saline Valley Hotsprings entrance totem that was created by the visitors, with the bats - symbols of Saline Valley

All pictures are the courtesy of Edmond

Other interviews in "Take My Word For It" series:

Julie Coheleah ( Bo 221)

Details: Published: 28 January 2025

AFAM: Hello Yann and thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. You are currently working jointly with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, CA, on the Development of Instrumentation for Astrophysics and Observational Cosmology. Please tell us more about your work for this project.

Yann: Hello and thank you for having me, it is a pleasure to answer your questions. My work at Caltech involves developing advanced cryogenic structures to optimize optics for astrophysical and observational cosmology instrumentation. More specifically, I collaborate with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on enhancing Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs), which are cutting-edge superconducting sensors used in ground-based observatories and space satellites. These detectors play a great role in observing faint cosmic signals and we use them at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory in Hawaii to study stellar and massive galaxy cluster formation, their interaction with the Cosmic Microwave Background, and other phenomena from the early Universe. My job is to ensure that their performance is maximized through thermal management and structural design. Additionally, I contribute to a phonon-mediated dark matter detection instrument using MKIDs, focusing on designing the cryogenic structure and the electronics to enhance sensitivity and accuracy. My work is basically a mix of physics, engineering, and space sciences, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how these contributions can help understand some of the greatest mysteries of the Universe.

AFAM: before your work as a researcher for CalTech, you spent 2 months at NASA as a volunteer research assistant. Could you please tell us more about this opportunity that you had? In our Shasta program every year, we have students who are looking for internships in the aerospace industry. Do you think an internship at NASA could become a reality for some of them? What kind of background/skills/experience do they need to have in order to achieve it?

Yann: Yes, during my time at Caltech, I was invited through the internal network to volunteer on the preliminary phase of the LISA mission (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna). Alongside other scientists, we assessed various technical and scientific aspects of this mission aimed at detecting gravitational waves in space.

An internship at NASA can absolutely become a reality for students aspiring to a career in aerospace. There will always be a place for talented and passionate students ! To secure such an opportunity I think students should focus on excelling academically particularly in areas such as mechanics, electronics, space sciences, or systems engineering while seeking out hands-on projects and research opportunities. The multidisciplinary training at Arts et Métiers equips students with hands-on experience and a problem-solving mindset that are highly valued in the aerospace industry. Beyond technical skills, the ability to work effectively in teams, adapt to complex challenges, and communicate ideas clearly are essential qualities.

AFAM: how come that you decided to become a space systems engineer? What was the turning point and your road leading to this?

Yann: My journey to becoming a space systems engineer began with a childhood fascination for the night sky. Growing up, I was captivated by space exploration, watching documentaries, reading books, and sketching spacecraft designs. The turning point came in 2016 during my first year of Preparatory Class in France, when I enrolled in the Universpace Summer Program organized by CNES. This program was a transformative experience: I learned about the vast possibilities of the aerospace field and connected with experts and astronauts like Thomas Pesquet for the very first time. It was during this time that my passion for space truly took root.

Following my engineering degree at ENSAM, I pursued an advanced master's degree in Space Systems Engineering at ISAE-SUPAERO. While there, I participated in the SpacE Exploration and Development Systems (SEEDS) program, a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). As part of the program, I worked on developing a lander to support future human space exploration missions on Mars, as well as a concept for a European commercial space station in Low Earth Orbit. Collaborating across Europe with teams of engineers and space professionals was truly a revelation for me. Then I had the amazing chance to be recommended to work at Caltech.

AFAM: how did being a Gadz’Arts help you in your professional life and career?

Yann: Being a Gadz’Arts is much more than just receiving a strong technical education, it’s about belonging to a community that truly supports you every step of the way. The Gadz’Arts network has been a constant source of help and encouragement throughout my journey. Whether during my studies or while working in different countries, I’ve always been able to count on the guidance and assistance of fellow Gadz’Arts. This sense of solidarity and mutual aid is one of the defining features of our community and has played a crucial role in shaping my career. Knowing that you’re part of a network where everyone is ready to lend a hand makes all the difference, both personally and professionally.

AFAM: What are your plans for the future ( if you could tell us a bit more about it)?

Yann: My immediate focus is on completing my ongoing projects at Caltech and JPL. In the long term, I aspire to lead innovative missions in space exploration with agencies like NASA or ESA. My ultimate dream is to one day pass the ESA astronaut selection process and play an active role in human space exploration missions. Beyond that, I hope to inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers and researchers, whether through academia or outreach programs, sharing my passion for space and the possibilities it holds.

AFAM: you live in Pasadena. Can you tell a bit more about your life in California? What are you doing in your free time?

Yann: Pasadena is a vibrant and inspiring place to live, especially for someone passionate about space exploration. In my free time, I enjoy hiking in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains, exploring California’s beautiful nature, traveling and surfing. I also spend time connecting with the local scientific community and attending public lectures or events at Caltech, JPL or The Planetary Society. On quieter days, I love getting lost in a good book, trying out new cooking recipes, and spending time with animals through pet sitting or in abandoned animal fosters.

AFAM: thank you for your time and good luck with all your future endeavors!

Pictures: courtesy of Yann

Other interviews in “Ad astra” series:

interview # 1 with Jean-Christophe Boulon (Me 213)

Interview #2 with Laurène Rokvam (Bo 210)

Interview #3 with Corentin Lazarus ( Me 209)

Details: Published: 27 January 2025

Galette des Rois 2025 was organized by West Coast Gadz group in SF Bay area on January 25th.

The gathering took place in Foster City, CA.

More than 20 Gadz'Arts including UC Berkeley students participated in this traditional January event.

Thank you to Aurore Prévot and Jean Prévot for the galettes, Nicolas Horde for organizing, Jean Pommier for the support and all the other Gadz'Arts for coming and enjoying this moment together!