This summer, discover each week the portrait of our M1 students who are currently on international mobility.

Today it’s Alizée, student in the Advanced Ceramics course who is doing a double degree at the University of Quebec at Trois Rivières (Canada).

1. What is your background?

My name is Alizée, I am an M1 EUR student in the “Advanced Ceramics” course at the University of Limoges. After obtaining my low S in 2019, I joined the University of Limoges in the MIPCGC course. I then specialized in Physics and Chemistry, but I really didn’t like what I was doing. I inquired about reorienting myself in an inorganic chemistry course which is the Materials Sciences course. During this L3 year, I learned of the existence of the EUR which offers interesting opportunities such as multidisciplinary courses with other courses included in the EUR, events (Sigma tech days, etc.), the scholarship studies and above all the opportunity to go abroad for the end of M1 internship. I was taken on this journey.

At the end of L3, we had a meeting presenting the double degree possibilities offered in joint supervision with other Universities. The double degree consists of doing one semester out of two at another university. One proposal concerned the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières. I was very interested and so I passed the interview to have my chance to go to Canada. I was selected.

And so here I am, pursuing a dual degree 5000km from France.

2. Mobility abroad is compulsory in M1 EUR, were you apprehensive about this mobility?

I was very apprehensive about leaving France for so long. I had never left the country, and I found myself having to prepare for my departure for 6 months far away, in an unknown country where I only knew one person.

On the other hand, my dream of going to Canada was coming true, I was going to combine business with pleasure, and that was really my main motivation.

3. What is your internship topic?

My internship subject is the synthesis of high entropy alloys for hydrogen storage.

4. How is the internship going overall?

The internship is going very well. The beginnings were a little complicated, despite the fact that Quebec is the French-speaking region of Canada, there are many foreign students. In the lab I’m in, we mainly speak English, and I’m really bad at English. It was difficult to integrate with the rest of the research team. But now everything is going very well, I have gotten to know my colleagues and it is very enriching to learn from them.

I didn’t expect to see a lab like that when I arrived. My main tools include adjustable wrenches and a huge metal pestle. It’s not at all what I expected when I arrived here, but I got used to it and now I work there every day without any problem, and I really enjoy what I do.

5. What do your internship missions look like?

I am working with two doctoral students on a research subject. I am responsible for doing the synthesis and experimental parts.

Typically, a day of experimentation begins with the synthesis of my alloy in an electric arc furnace. The pellet I obtain is crushed and placed in a hydrogen cycler. This device allows me to measure the quantity of hydrogen that my sample can absorb under a given pressure and temperature. I then carry out a PCT (Pressure-Composition-Temperature) which allows me to study the relationship between pressure and hydrogen concentration at constant temperature. I then carry out an XRD and an SEM analysis. I then analyze my results with my supervising professor and the doctoral students who supervise me.

6. Do you have a travel story to tell? A culture shock when you arrive?

Canadian food is really not good, we see things in supermarkets… it’s terrible. I have seen ketchup powder to flavor popcorns. They put sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon everywhere they can, it’s terrifying.

7. What advice would you give to future students who are going to do their mobility?

You do not have to be afraid. I was terrified when I arrived, I feared not succeeding during my internship, not making friends, not succeeding in living but more in forcing myself to survive.

But everything is going well. You will certainly not be the only exchange student and believe me, distance brings people together. You will always be on the go, create memories, discover people you will never forget, with whom you will have strong bonds. So yes, you will miss life in your country, your family, your friends, but for 3 or 4 months you will have the impression of living another life, filled with discovery and incredible encounters. You might not want to go home. Or you’ll just wait for that. Then even if it doesn’t go as well as what I just described, you will have learned lessons, both personal and professional, that will help you grow. One day, a woman I respect very much said to me: “a year in a lifetime is nothing”, so 4 months you imagine that it’s not very long either.

Whatever happens, don’t forget to enjoy life in the country where you are going, if you have the opportunity, travel, discover local dishes (and drinks)….