EDF - Testimonials

With a degree in atomic engineering from ENSTA, Claudie Ancelin joined EDF in 1978.

"I have always been interested in nuclear energy. It was therefore the natural thing for me to join EDF R&D. For 7 years, I conducted probabilistic safety analyses for nuclear power plants, which gave me the opportunity to work closely with engineering and plant operation and to traipse through sites that at the time were still under construction."

In 1986, Claudie Ancelin moved into research team management by becoming head of a group developing software for safety studies. In 1990, she was appointed as assistant, then, in 1982, as head of a team of 50 people, bringing together probabilistic analyses and teams working on human aspects. "They offered me this job when I was pregnant with my third child, which just goes to show how truly open-minded R&D is when it comes to women's careers! This was the one of the most exciting times of my career: an R&D department is like a small company with its own customers, targets to meet, skills to maintain and develop and essential external accessibility, particularly internationally. R&D is a division where you learn a lot: you come to understand complex problems with a heavy weighting on method and you learn to think ahead and plan for the future so you can set your own objectives. Research management is an ongoing transformation and also calls for a great deal of creativity and openness: objectives don't set themselves. You have to draw them out with one eye on the outside world, focusing on the needs of customer divisions. Besides technical skills, this teaches behaviour and abilities which are a real plus when moving into operational divisions."

"In 2003, I wanted to get back into management, but on the operations side of things. I came back to R&D first as an assistant, then as head of a department that managed R&D's service-sector activity. For two years, my task was to bring about the transformation of this department, the operational sectors of which needed to be guided in the direction of EDF businesses."

"Transformation has been, and will continue to be, the central theme of my career. At a time of nuclear revival and globalisation, the openness I have acquired at R&D is still of great use to me. My hope is that there will now be even more fluidity between R&D and the other divisions: everyone has a lot to gain from it."

In 1978, Claudie Ancelin joined EDF R&D.

In 1996, she left R&D to join an operational unit of the Nuclear Engineering Division in Lyon. "As assistant head of department, I found myself in the highly technical world of design engineering, supporting active plants. At the start, I needed to win over the trust of "operations" who sometimes have fixed ideas about R&D people. Once I had overcome this barrier, we found we worked really well together."

In 1999, Claudie Ancelin returned to Paris to the central level of the Engineering Division as an Operational Auditor. "It was my chance to add a financial string to my bow and to help develop this activity which was then growing within EDF."

In 2003, she returned to R&D. Then, in 2005, she wanted to get back into nuclear engineering but on the operations side. She is now Deputy Senior Executive of Nuclear Operations and is primarily responsible for the project to transform this Division and for supporting the Division Director in managerial dialogue with the 21 Unit Directors.

Charles Bodel, a graduate of the Polytechnic and the ENPC (National School of Bridges and Roads), joined EDF in 2005.

"I did my post-study training at EDF and went on to join the Group in 2005. It wasn't easy to start with, because it was an adventure and you have to get used to things. In research, there are a thousand ways to achieve a result and come up with the deliverable. You need to study, take the initiative, find the keys and sometimes force things. It's exciting and a real learning curve.

I work in applied research. I conduct vibration studies, which can be applied directly to production, to nuclear plants or to fossil-fired plants. There are a lot of upstream methods, calculations and tests. Carried out in IT development, on laboratory models or on site. For example, we fit sensors, study vibrations and make calculations to modify the structure if necessary. What I particularly like is the diversity of the tasks, between research, studies and calculations."

Since 1983, I have been working at EDF R&D in the field of probabilistic safety and availability analyses, concentrating more specifically on the development of methods and tools. I have a keen interest in research and so, in 2000, took the opportunity offered to me by Marne-la-Vallée University and sponsored by EDF R&D: I became associate research director in the testing and applied mathematics laboratory (LAMA), with a fifth of my time spent working for the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) under two successive 3-year contracts. For 6 years, one day a week, I found myself with free time which allowed me to do further research in a field that seemed to be growing, without being restricted by objectives to achieve short-term results on a particular matter.

I therefore worked on a new type of modelling, BDMPs (Boolean Logic Driven Markov Processes), which resolves problems associated with the scale effect in reliability studies of complex dynamic systems. During this time, I was able to put out 29 publications, almost as many as during my whole career. In 2006, at the end of my second contract, I prepared for a research leadership qualification, which involved writing a technical dissertation: this work was a step towards writing this book. On this basis, I decided to publish a work that is a summary of the expertise I have acquired throughout my career.

The book is a summary of the expertise I have acquired throughout my 25-year career, during which I have explored the most varied mathematical methods, techniques and models. It therefore gives a practically complete view of the methods and tools used for reliability studies, as well as feedback on their actual use: this is what sets it apart from university books, by giving an industrial view that you cannot find in academic works.

An ENSAM engineer, Bernard Dalle began his career at R&D.

"Throughout my career, I have been able to perform managerial activities as a manager of a group, a division and a department: but I have also been able to take the time to step back and think things over with my foreign counterparts on international research committees. EDF R&D and RTE have made be very open-minded and have given me contacts and a network of very rewarding relationships. At R&D we have computer and testing resources (testing resources which now belong to RTE but are managed by EDF/R&D) that are the envy of our foreign counterparts, something which young researchers are not always aware of.

Since 1975, R&D has gone through extensive change by opening up to successful international partnerships. This openness will increase in the future with the necessary pooling of research efforts between European countries.

My experience as a researcher has really made my career more relevant to Transmission. In return, I have been able to bring my knowledge of operational problems to R&D. My career has therefore unfolded within the very diverse context of professional continuity and personal development. These subsequent moves from R&D to RTE and vice versa are exchanges that are very useful for the management teams involved and should be encouraged".

"As a research engineer from 1975 to 1985, I worked on line equipment for the distribution and transmission networks, from medium to very high voltage, particularly on the mechanical and electrical design of structures. In 1985, as group manager, I worked on the different equipment used in overhead and underground lines and in transformers. At the same time, I was part of several international work groups (CIGRE, IEC, etc.)."

Bernard Dalle then joined an operations department. "I worked on issues relating to standardisation, lifespan and treatment of end-of-life electrical equipment, as well as on robotics projects for nuclear, hydro and transmission. I went on to coordinate research for the first phase-shifting transformer, then created the technical and commercial strategy for synthetic lightning arrestors before becoming department manager. At the same time, I performed my role within learned societies, as a member of the SEE International Committee and Secretary of the CIGRE Research Committee on overhead lines, of which I am currently Chairman."

In 2001, Bernard Dalle returned to R&D. "I was responsible for the Transmission System Infrastructure field. In 2008, I rejoined RTE where I am now a management consultant. In particular, I am in charge of relations with learned societies, forward planning and support for definition of the research strategy."

Jérôme Durand, an ESIGELEC engineer with a DEA degree in Instrumentation and Control

"Far from being the stereotypical Professor Nimbus that people think they will find in R&D, I found people who were very hands-on when it came to the operation and the technical reality of power plants. Besides the e-monitoring project, I worked on practical topics within the context of the PAPEETE project to improve the energy efficiency and environmental performance of traditional fossil-fired plants. We developed tools to help with operation, in particular a guide to optimising energy efficiency and management tables to enable the operator to monitor plant performance (relating to dependability, the environment, compliance with the operation programme and production economy). I was really pleased with the move to R&D where I was in close contact with pleasant and open-minded people. It was there that I acquired a good knowledge of French fossil-fired plants, on which I hadn't had the chance to work before. I also liked the fact that I could work in a different position from that of an engineer: at R&D, everyone can suggest work topics to the programme management team and see them turn into projects."

"Moving to R&D allowed me to fill out my knowledge and to get back into thermal engineering in a managerial post. It was a choice perfectly in line with the "common thread" of my career. I think that my career illustrates a reality: when you have a career at EDF like I do that involves a highly specific job, a move to R&D can be a fantastic opportunity to add to your knowledge and, depending on the opportunities available, to progress your career."

In 1996, Jérôme Durand joined EDF at the National Thermal Equipment Centre (CNET). "We conducted engineering studies for EDF's overseas investment projects. I worked on the LAIBIN B powdered coal plant project in China and then on the combined cycle projects in Saltillo and Rio Bravo in Mexico, followed by the Phu-My project in Vietnam. Starting as a technical instrumentation and control contract manager, I had a more cross-functional role involving coordination of instrumentation and control activities in the combined cycles group. This gave me the opportunity to work with an EDF R&D team on e-monitoring."

In 2003, Jérôme Durand decided to expand his professional horizons. "I wanted to stay in the traditional thermal field. The group I worked with at R&D was looking to recruit someone. And so I became a research engineer."

Meanwhile, the CNET became the Thermal Engineering Centre (CIT). There, Jérôme Durand became group manager. "My group now works in operational engineering, mainly for renovation of the instrumentation and control of fossil-fired power plants, on several combined gas cycles in France and the UK, as well as on the development of a coal project for the EDF Group, on the state-of-the-art methods in France (combustion turbine generators) and finally on an Island Electrical System (SEI) for Corsica and overseas territories. We also help to support development of the EDF Group in gas projects."

Vincent Gayrard, a graduate of the INT (French National Telecommunications Institute), joined EDF in 1998.

"It was 2000 when I joined R&D, a key area within EDF, as a research engineer within technical expertise. I went on to become project manager and then group manager in April 2003. This was a role focused on information and communication technologies, dedicated to innovation for EDF businesses. I managed a growing team of 16 engineers and this was an opportunity for me to discover all aspects of management: skills and career management, organisation, etc. I had a supervisory role, guiding the main areas of study and research in innovation, while ensuring the quality of our output for the Group. There were certainly fewer daily technical operations, but I retained a significant scientific component, in particular by supervising partnerships with other industrialists, research laboratories and even French and international standardisation centres. And I was supported in my role by my two managers and an HR consultant."

Frank Marchal, DUT and CNAM engineer

In 2003, Frank Marchal became an engineer at EDF R&D. "I came into a group responsible for working on energy performance tests for production centres and individuals. I brought with me my experience in the operation of nuclear plants and their needs. I was quickly put in charge of work coordination and then of a project. I took part in the TITRE project (for development of an alternative way of measuring the entrainment rate using a radioactive tracer), in charge of adapting the method which had been adopted at the Chinese LING AO plant. I coordinated the work for CALKIT relating to the characterisation of the uncertainty of the primary thermal balance and the OPTUNUC project (optimisation of the operating time of NPP utilities). At 32, I have also had the opportunity to move straight from technician status to project manager status with a great deal of independence: identifying the needs of different clients by using my knowledge of NPP organisation, constructing and defending a project, managing a budget and a team, maintaining communication on achievement of various objectives... At R&D, I found an unbeatable atmosphere, a real community which encourages exchange, creativity, innovation, empowerment and not forgetting an attractive remuneration and career advancement policy. It was a great experience which I gained a lot from and which made me very happy."

Frank Marchal's move to EDF R&D was decisive in getting his next role: "I had no experience with simulators. But, coming from R&D, I was seen as being capable of adapting. My project management experience, which gave me a good knowledge of the company, the recognised technical level of R&D... These are all strengths that appeal to recruiters."

With a DUT in Physical Measurements with Instrumental Techniques, Frank Marchal began his career at EDF in 1996 at the Blayais NPP as a Testing and Calculation technician. At the same time, he took evening classes at CNAM and was awarded his Instrumentation and Measurement Engineering Degree with Industrial Control. "I then became a technical supervisor responsible for plant restart testing and I also completed an engineering assignment in China for testing measurement of the entrainment rate in unit 1 of the LING AO nuclear plant.

From 2003 to 2007, Frank Marchal was an EDF R&D engineer.
In 2007, Frank Marchal returned to engineering. "My skills are rooted in the nuclear industry and it is not my ambition to be in a managerial position. I therefore chose my position in EPR, the plant of the future, from the very beginning, and I joined SEPTEN as manager of the EPR unit study simulator. This simulator, developed by an outside partner, is currently used to carry out studies to support probabilistic safety analyses and to check accidental and incidental rules of conduct. This role has opened up a whole range of opportunities, as I can work both on the EPR plant and on an IT tool that is highly technical from a modelling point of view (physical/instrumentation and control) and in terms of activities.

A SUPELEC engineer, Didier Paquet joined EDF in 1996.

In 2003, Didier Paquet decided to change career and go into nuclear production, which offered interesting development opportunities. "My profile was of interest to EDF R&D: I was recruited as a project manager in Chatou. There, I basically spent 5 years working on a technical expertise project run with the French National Centre for Nuclear Equipment (CNEN) on digital EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) instrumentation and control. We had an excellent relationship with our client and the project report was approved. I also worked with the CIT (Thermal Engineering Centre) on the instrumentation and control of 400 MW combined gas cycles and was involved with analysing feedback from international modernisation projects. I was finally able to represent EDF for the IAEA in Vienna, Austria."

Didier Paquet is still very happy with his decision: "My move to R&D presented me with a real opportunity and was my chance to discover a different world, both at a human level and professionally. As for me, I brought my field experience to R&D, in particular my ability to manage a project in an unstable environment, in a global context that is sometimes changing at a rapid rate and needs a fast response and adaptation. In return, I found the perfect environment and working conditions: an exemplary open-mindedness, a remarkable team spirit and a very high level of technical skill well applied to the company's challenges; a good level of independence, ambitious and motivational technical objectives and availability of the resources to achieve them... In short, I love my job: in addition, R&D is one of the few places left at EDF where technology is still used in its ‘pure state'."

After his first job as a telecommunications instrumentation and control engineer, Didier Paquet moved into hydro power. "My first jobs gave me a chance to discover the company and the world of hydroelectrics. I then took over management of a 23-man team which was responsible for maintenance and operation of a hydroelectric power plant. I learn a lot from the experience... One of the conclusions I drew was that, at EDF, a technically strong company, a manager does not have to do technical work but has to have done it before..."

"In 2000, I was a work coordinator and manager at the Brive Hydraulic Engineering Centre, working in particular on the modernisation of the instrumentation and control of hydroelectric power plants. I was involved in the project for upgrading Golfech's hydroelectric development, with regard to recommendations on the safety of dam operation."

Between 2003 and 2008, Didier Paquet was an R&D project manager.
"In 2008, I accepted a job as group manager at the NPP Operations Engineering Centre in Marseilles, in charge of maintenance and renovation of existing nuclear plants. At a time when we are looking to extend the lifespan of some of EDF's 58 nuclear plants to 60 years, the NPP Operations Engineering Centre really has the wind in its sails." Which, at 37, opens up great career prospects...

Arnaud Picard, from the Ecole Centrale in Paris, joined EDF R&D in 2002.

"After the Ecole Centrale in Paris, in 1997, I felt the need to stay in research. I did a thesis in applied mathematics, while working part-time as a research engineer in the military field. At the same time, I was lecturing at the Ecole Centrale. Another research professor at the school was working at EDF and we talked about his job and the different projects. I was hesitant but, in the end, the group's international position and the diversity of the assignments helped me make my decision. I joined EDF R&D in 2002. To begin with, my work involved modelling financial risk using quantitative and qualitative analysis in two areas: a pure mathematics part based on scientific calculations and a more financial part based on risk calculation.

At present, I am working on 2 main projects. The first involves creating a tool to estimate risk and to quantify the maximum risk value for EDF at a given moment T (within 10 days). The second project is more long-term and will take 30 years. The aim is to anticipate EDF's future from a financial point of view, taking into account its current energy plants. Although the first project is short-term, approximately 10 days, it is much more complicated than the second. At the same time, I am still lecturing in mathematics at the Centrale. And I have no regrets: I work in subjects that are hi-tech, complex and exciting for a research engineer-professor! »

Testimonial by Lionel Robillard, ENSMM engineer

In 2004, drawn by the technical expertise missions, Lionel Robillard became a research engineer at EDF R&D within the Dynamic Systems and Data Processing group at Chatou.
"In this group, I worked on very hi-tech projects relating to signal and data processing, on the one hand for nuclear (development of 3D non-destructive testing tools and modelling tools for automatic analysis of operating situations), and on the other hand for fossil-fired plants (image processing to measure coal particle size). Finally, I was also responsible for ISO 9000 certification for the purchasing process. I have great memories of my move to R&D, where I fitted in very well. I felt like I was bringing my field experience in operations to the team. From a personal point of view, I found it very rewarding and formative being able to work on cutting edge, technical topics and complying with very strict procedures."

After two and a half years at R&D, Lionel Robillard decided to go back into operations. "My aim was to reach managerial status very quickly. Thanks to my experience at R&D, within three months I found the job I wanted, in the location I wanted, in the distribution sector, which was undergoing major reorganisation at the time."
"Since I came to EDF, my aim was to fit into a job: my ‘detour' through R&D was a way to accelerate my career and get there quicker."

Lionel Robillard joined EDF at the end of 1999, in the EDF-GDF Services Direction in Dijon, as an assistant in the mechanical branch. In 2001, he took his second job in the Bourgogne region as a regional quality and environmental engineer responsible for ISO 9000 and 14000 certification for the four regional centres.

In 2007, after he moved to R&D, Lionel Robillard became a group manager in charge of a team of representative spokesmen responsible for maintaining relationships with local authorities and licensing authorities.

Since 2008, Lionel Robillard has been working in the Lorraine-Champagne-Ardenne Gas Network unit within GrDF. In this region, his job is twofold. He is an assistant to the gas network director and manager of the Gas Expertise group. As an assistant, he is involved in coordinating Operation group managers across a huge territory and he provides supports to the management team. In particular, he deals with how networks are run and operated, the creation of future operations offices and the industrial safety plan. As for his expertise role, this basically relates to new legislation governing the use of gas.

Michel Terver joined EDF in 1992.

Michel Terver knew EDF R&D by working as a software engineer for a contractor. "When R&D offered me a job, I seized the chance and I've never looked back", he remembers. Between 1992 and 1997, as a research engineer responsible for coordinating 2D CAD activities, he worked with a British partner on the development of pioneering 2D CAD software. We had the idea, created the file and worked with international partners to come up with the solution. What I really liked at R&D was that researchers can be a real driving force. When you have an idea and a well-supported case and when it fits within the guidelines given by the programme teams, you can see it right through to the end. It is an original way of working, which is one of the things specific to R&D. In addition, we work on interesting topics and can delve into really cutting edge subjects."

Michel Terver had good memories of moving to R&D. So, in 2002, when he was asked to come back as a group manager, he immediately accepted. "I returned to the CAD group where I had been a researcher. I managed around twenty research engineers, working in the CAD field, from virtual reality to scientific visualisation, to develop 3D visualisation tools for nuclear maintenance processes. As Group Manager, I enjoyed the independence offered by R&D. A group manager has the scope to guide group activities. With my wealth of experience from the Engineering Department, I was keen to find, together with the whole team, new industrial opportunities for 3D. My group worked on the SAAM-Colisage and ADRM (Rapid Maintenance Decision-Making Tool) projects, 3D simulations tools currently used to plan work and maintenance during outages in the reactor building. It was an exciting time: everything had to be invented. During this period, the second topic we studied, "3D visualisation for scientific calculation" allowed us, in particular, to develop contacts and work within highly beneficial partnerships with a number of outside partners - the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), engineering colleges, the EPRI in the USA, etc.".

After 5 years at R&D, Michel Terver joined EDF's Engineering Department as manager of the 3D CAD and IT group, which was responsible for developing CAD tools for designing new nuclear plants and the maintenance of existing units. "I wanted to gain management experience and I was looking to get closer to industrial users. This job, which I got thanks to the high level of technical skill I gained at R&D, was very interesting, both in terms of management and projects."

"In 2007, I joined the Information Technology and Telecommunications Management at EDF as a member of a departmental management team responsible for renovating the Nuclear Information System (SDIN). "I changed job. A very high technical level and an exceptional openness to the outside world, which I acquired at R&D, are very much appreciated here. They are useful to the company and will be beneficial to my career."