MSc&T and internships: Benyamin at l'IPVF

Internships represent an important part of the Master’s programs at École Polytechnique. They allow students to discover work fields, apply the knowledge they have acquired during their education and help them to define their professional project.

Benyamin is a MSc&T student at École Polytechnique in the 2^nd year of the STEEM program. He comes from the capital of Iran, Tehran, where he studied a Bachelor program in mechanical engineering. Let’s find out more about his internships!

Last year, you did your internship at l’Institut Photovoltaïque d'Île-de-France (IPVF). Why did you decide to do it with this company?

I wanted to do my first-year internship in research, so I decided to do it at IPVF, l’Institut Photovoltaïque d'Île-de-France, in Palaiseau, because it was a top research institute in photovoltaic technologies and they collaborate with many major companies such as Total, Airliquide and EDF. I was assigned to help in defining a new project for the institute in producing hydrogen from solar energy.

How did you find it? Did you receive any help from École Polytechnique?

I found this internship by doing some networking with the help of the school and a recent graduate student that was employed in this research center. I remember it was already pretty late when I found this internship, as all my colleagues had already started theirs while I was still looking! Regarding the recruitment process, I just had an interview. They called me a few days later and confirmed my acceptance!

Could you please tell us more about some of the things you were tasked with?

The purpose of my internship was to accompany IPVF in designing a Solar to Hydrogen project. I was in charge of performing a techno-economical study and market research on solar to hydrogen technologies. I would look into different technologies with different technology readiness levels. I would also identify the areas of research that are being carried out and their potential. I finally gathered all the information in the form of a review report to help the research center identify which technology to invest on. 

Moreover, I was assigned to animate a poster presentation during a scientific workshop and to attend conferences on behalf of the organization.

How have you managed to apply the knowledge you've learned during the Master's program?

The STEEM Master’s program and my internship were really coherent, both focusing on renewable energies, but more specifically, solar energy. Before I came to École Polytechnique, I had almost no knowledge of photovoltaic technologies but after the first year, I felt confident enough to do an internship in this field. Moreover, what I had learned during the courses enabled me to quickly adapt myself to the environment of a research center and blend in. This experience allowed me to discover the research field and helped me better understand my career options. It also allowed me to improve my document writing and research skills.

I really would like to better understand the economical and managerial side of developing renewable energies along my scientific knowledge to be able to make a bridge between the two.

What about your internship this year?

This year, I’m doing my internship at VINCI Construction in their headquarters at Rueil Malmaison. I’ll be joining the team as an engineer to provide innovative solutions to reduce the carbon emissions of the company all around the world. It will include a lot of operational activities, so I’ll be visiting the project sites among other activities.

Due to the Covid-19 situation, how has your 2nd-year internship been impacted? 

The company that I will work in has agreed to postpone my internship so that I can start it later in June. Meanwhile, I’m trying to make the most of my free time by reaching out and doing things I have always wanted to do, such as learning new languages and music instruments. Hopefully the confinement will be over by June and I’ll be able to start working on-site instead of tele-working. 

What would you like to do after graduating?

I am currently facing so many options, such as going working into the industry, doing a PhD, consulting, etc. I am aiming to do a more industry-oriented project for my second internship so that I can experience the operational work as well. I am certain that my next internship will help me define my professional project.

Any advice for future students regarding for finding an internship?

Do a lot of networking, don’t just apply on the websites.

Go and meet people, ask for their recommendation, talk with people who have already completed an internship in the field that you are interested to work in.

Don’t be afraid to enter a job where it might require skills that you haven’t yet mastered.

And finally, don’t forget that the aim of the internship is to learn new things!