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Published: 06 September 2024

Zoom on: interview with REIXACH Diane (Ai 2022)

AFAM: Hello Diane, and thank you for answering our questions. You are a student at Arts et Metiers Aix-en-Provence campus, class 2022. You’re also a part of the TAMU-Arts et Metiers team that worked on the project related to AI. Could you please tell us more about the project itself, its results, its framework and the team you were working with?

Diane: Hello Albina, thank you. Our team of five, including three students from Texas A&M, worked on a project to predict residual stress profiles at the foot of a welded joint using AI. Traditionally, this process was very time-consuming, requiring hours of finite element simulations. Using AI, we've managed to reduce calculation time to several seconds. This progress could significantly help manufacturing processes in various industries. The team was a blend of expertise, combining aeronautics, computer science, and mechanics. We also had the opportunity to work closely with professors from both Arts et Métiers and Texas A&M, who provided invaluable guidance and support. 

AFAM: what else can you say about Texas AM- Arts et Metiers partnership ( precisely how is it going on Aix campus)? What benefits can you see for students?

Diane: The partnership between Texas A&M and Arts et Métiers in Aix-en-Provence is a great chance for all students involved. Besides our project, there are regular student exchanges. American students can visit the Aix campus for 2 months, and French students can study a whole semester at Texas A&M.

Our teamwork has helped us improve our English and learn new ways of working and organizing ourselves, especially considering everyone's specialties.  It's a truly rewarding experience, in my opinion.

AFAM: this summer you got awarded with the Mayoux-Dauriac 2024 prize. Please tell us more about it!

Diane: I was honored to receive the Mayoux-Dauriac 2024 prize. The Mayoux-Dauriac prize rewards every year the interest of engineering students for the French language, more specifically for : "his/her knowledge of the French language and his/her use in oral and written reports, be they literary, mathematical or scientific". I chose to write about the resistance fighter Simone Michel-Lévy, who defied societal norms by pursuing engineering studies and actively sabotaging enemy production during World War II. Her story resonated with me, and she highlighted the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

AFAM: you are a part of the Shasta program ( a program created to help students find internships in the United States). Please let us know why you decided to join this program and how it is going for you now.

Diane: " The Shasta program was a game-changer for me. Having a mentor like Yves-Marie Plard was incredibly useful. He gave me invaluable advice and, together, we completely overhauled my CV. The program gave me the tools and confidence to carry out my final internship in the United States. I’m looking for a 6-month internship, from February to July, to become a Product manager Officer. If you have an opportunity don’t hesitate to contact me on linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/diane-reixach”

AFAM: thank you very much for your time, Diane

Picture: Diane Reixach (left) and Agathe Fremont (right) on Aix-en-Provence campus holding certificates of completion in "Global Engineering Design" (Texas A&M University)

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Published: 22 August 2024

Valentin Fehr, (Cl 212), our Atlanta Gadz'Arts representative organized a welcome meeting for our Arts et Metiers students who came to Atlanta to study in Georgia Tech ( as a part of parcours US or GTE - Georgia Tech Europe - program).

Congratulation to all our students! We wish you success in all your endeavors and we are looking forward to meeting some of you during our first edition of Gadz'Meet in San Francisco in September!

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Published: 31 July 2024

Hello, we are ready to continue our interview series "Zoom on" with a new a news interview.

Please meet Thomas Mas (Ch 219), Associate Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering

AFAM: Hello Thomas and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. You are an Associate Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. What is your role about? Could you maybe describe to us one of your days at work?

Thomas: Hey Albina, my pleasure to take some time to answer your questions. I am happy to share more about my job and the company that I value so much. As you said I am an Associate Project Manager with Walt Disney Imagineering. Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative engine that designs and builds all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, and cruise ships worldwide. As a project manager, I manage teams to deliver a project on time, within budget, and with good communication across the team. I am working with many different disciplines such as creative directors, ride engineers, show managers, or producers. My daily task is to ensure all the team members have clear milestones and everything they need to reach them.

AFAM: Today you work in Germany. Before taking this job, you were a project management intern at Walt Disney in Orlando, Florida. How come you could get a job with Walt Disney in Germany? Tell us a few words about the road that led you to your current position.

Thomas: This is correct, I started as a Project Management intern at Walt Disney Imagineering in Florida working on my current project. I spend almost a year there to learn more about the company culture leadership, and history, and about being a Project Manager at Walt Disney Imagineering. After that, I had the opportunity to relocate to Germany as an Associate Project manager. It was a chance for me to keep working on this project and to go through all the phases of it until the delivery and turnover process. 

AFAM: What is the most exciting and the most challenging in your Associate Project Manager job at Walt Disney Imagineering?

Thomas: The most exciting aspect is supporting incredibly talented and passionate Imagineers, each excelling in their field. This gives me immense energy to succeed in my role and continually improve myself. Working with a global team on a project with people located around the world presents a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. I always try to look at the positive side and see it as a way to get ahead.

AFAM: how did being a Gadz’Arts (alumni name e.g., Aggies) help you in your professional life so far?

Thomas: Being Gadz’Arts means embodying values such as fraternity, excellence, and openness. These values are dear to me and I try to make the Gadzarique community shine by emphasizing them in my daily behavior at work.

AFAM: anything about your future plans that you would like to share with us?

Thomas: For the time being, I'm going to take advantage of my remaining time in Germany while working on the project, and who knows, maybe I'll even improve my German.

AFAM: thank you, Thomas

Photo (courtesy of Thomas Mas)

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Published: 17 July 2024

A 45 minutes Welcome meeting with students was organized by DG Amériques Patrice Brossard (Bo 195) on July 17th. The students who attended the meeting are those coming to Canada, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and other countries of the American continent to study abroad for a year or semester in 2024-2025.

More than 40 students attended the online event to meet Gadz'Arts regional representatives in America. Most of the students are going to the United States (18 students were present) and Canada ( 17 students present). During the event students joined break rooms to be able to ask questions and talk to their regional representative. Thank you to Patrice Brossard for organizing and to the alumni representing the regions - Arthur Boivin (Texas, US), Nicolas Horde (California, US), Paul Mottier (Canada), Pierre-Yves Bertou (Mexico), Cédric Palma ( Brazil), Lourde Peira (Argentina) to find the time to meet students. Albina Patou-Chebykina, AFAM community manager also attended the meeting.

Congratulations to all our students going abroad and good luck to you! See you soon!

Students and Gadz regional representatives during the meeting