果冻传媒

If she is honest, she did not expect to be successful again in her application for a European Marie Sk艂odowska-Curie Actions Network (MSCA) project in 2023. 鈥淚t was the second time I submitted this proposal for PATTERN; it was not awarded last year. I improved the project proposal and submitted it again. This time successfully.鈥�

Frenchwoman Anne Roc'h, assistant professor in Electrical Engineering, is modest. She speaks initially of being lucky when she tells of the third successful application in four years of funding for a European MSCA project. In the 2023 round, only 11 percent of the proposals submitted were honored, thus including her second project application for PATTERN.

Electromagnetic noise

Roc鈥檋鈥檚 researcher鈥檚 heart beats faster regarding electromagnetic interference (EMI). It is central to all of her research projects. An unwanted electromagnetic field is created in every electronic device when turned on; this is called electromagnetic noise. You can't see it, yet it can cause interferences in other devices.

鈥淔or example, measurements in medical systems can be disturbed by EMI: a screen would be a typical 鈥榲ictim鈥�. Or sensors in electric cars would not work properly when the electric motor is running if we do not consider EM noise during the car's design. The annoying sound of a speaker predicting your phone will ring is another example.鈥�

Electromagnetic noise is like an uninvited guest with which we must learn to deal.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

鈥淵ou always get electromagnetic noise for free with electronic devices. It's like an uninvited guest that all companies in the high-tech industry have to deal with. We are, therefore, working intensively with Philips, Canon, and NXP, for example, to investigate how we can minimize EMI in their products.

鈥淚n our community of EM noise specialists, we are working along with nature, always discovering new things. There is still so much to learn. Every case is different and requires a different solution. More and more electronic devices are being developed and used. There will only be more challenges in the future, which we will take on with our growing international research community.鈥�

My field of work is not about competition. It's about working together to solve problems for society.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

That community is characterized by close collaboration, Roc'h says. 鈥淢y field of work is not about competition. We have to work together to solve problems for society. You won't get ahead if you don't talk to each other and share your knowledge. That goes for us and our industrial partners.鈥�

Making the translation into better electronics and thereby helping society is the higher goal. 鈥淭here is still so much to do; I won鈥檛 solve everything before the end of my career. Fortunately, with the PhD students from our Doctoral Network grants, we are training more and more researchers who can take over in the future.鈥�

Seeing the young researchers grow within her projects is what Roc'h finds most enjoyable. 鈥淥f course, we have a lot of fun discovering new things in our research area, but ultimately, it's about the people and the network that is created. You see how they develop themselves; that way, a whole group of people start looking more and more in the same direction.鈥�

Community spirit

鈥淚n a regular doctoral program, you are often part of a larger project to which you contribute. In a Doctoral Network, you become a research community member, within which you learn, actively contribute, and develop yourself. You are offered training for skills you do not yet have. But you have to take the initiative yourself. During the four years of the project, you will work with your fellow PhD students. This way, you forge a bond and network for life,鈥� Roc'h says enthusiastically.

The doctoral students within a Doctoral Network project are spread across universities throughout Europe. 鈥淭hey do research at their university, but they also go to another institution or industrial partner for several months for training or to gain experience in a specific area.鈥�

You become a member of an ever-growing community and forge a bond for life.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

There are regular networking meetings where the whole project comes together. 鈥淭hen we visit other universities together and give each other updates. European experts from academia and industry give lectures, and there are training sessions for PhDs. And they immediately see some of Europe.鈥�

鈥淚t's about building bridges in Europe. We need more specialists in the EMI field, so we are creating an ever-growing network of experts.

Humble

鈥淓very time I submit an MSCA application, I do it humbly. I don't assume I will be successful again. And you have to be patient. I have very often not gotten a scholarship, and that hurts. Rejection is a part of academic life, but you can learn much from it. And most of all, you shouldn't give up.鈥�

Roc'h possesses an exceptionally good 蹿颈苍驳别谤蝉辫颈迟锄别苍驳别蹿眉丑濒 when choosing her research proposals. 鈥淚 read a lot about my field, and can regularly be found on the program pages of the European Commission. I often see what is coming up and what is needed. In this regard, my work experience in industry also helps.鈥�

If I manage to convince my colleagues of an idea, I know I have something good on my hands.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

鈥淚 can then get completely absorbed in an idea and test it with my European colleagues. Then I jump on the phone and throw my idea on the table. I love to argue with them and convince them. If that succeeds, I know I have something good on my hands. Then, I firmly believe in my plan. I follow my instinct, which may not sound very scientific. But I don't do anything I don't strongly believe in.鈥�

Impact, impact, impact

鈥淲hen I'm writing, what great things can come out of research is already unfolding in my mind. The impact goes beyond the PhD students; we all learn from it. And society ultimately benefits as well, which I think is very important.鈥�

Roc'h now knows that making the impact of her research on society clear is hugely important in the application. 鈥淭he research description itself is ultimately only a small part. The parts where you describe the impact of your proposal on society, the economy, and the quality of the training the PhD students will receive are much more extensive.鈥�

Take your time and seek help

Writing an application takes a lot of time, often months. 鈥淚 spent many evenings, nights, and weekends on each application. That's not a healthy thing to do often, so take your time. Start at least six months before a call for funding comes out.鈥�

鈥淢ake sure you know who you want to include in your consortium. It's a complex puzzle about research, industry, and what Europe needs.鈥�

Writing a proposal is a lonely process. Make sure you ask for support when you need it.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

Roc'h also gets help from her Electrical Engineering faculty's research center, the Research Support Office, the High Tech Systems Center, and the Center for Care and Cure. 鈥淭hey discuss my plan with me and help find suitable partners. Colleagues from other research groups do the same, by the way. I get fantastic support when I need it.鈥�

Social glue

Running the awarded projects is impossible for Roc'h without the help of the program managers of 果冻传媒's Research Support Office. 鈥淭hey act as the social glue within the program. Signal if something is not running smoothly and help solve it. And are the boosters for meeting the deadlines Brussels asks of us for the grant.鈥�

Three projects simultaneously

As coordinator, Roc'h runs three MSCA projects, representing a 鈧� 11.3 million budget: started in 2021, in 2023, and will kick off in spring 2025. 42 PhD students work across 12 European universities, 28 companies, and 3 hospitals. At 果冻传媒, 5 PhDs are working for Eternity and Parasol. For PATTERN, she has open for 16 PhD positions in 6 European countries.

There is a perfect grant format for every researcher. When you find it, everything clicks together, and you know it's right.

Assistant professor Anne Roc'h

Although plans are always bubbling in her head for subsequent applications, Roc'h has decided not to apply for the MSCA Doctoral Network this year. 鈥淩unning three network projects simultaneously is quite a lot,鈥� she says with a sense of understatement. 鈥淚'm taking some time off to finish Eternity and start PATTERN. I already have three or four new ideas for next year.鈥�

鈥淚 enjoy my work, even when I'm writing grant applications. Doctoral Network projects fit my profile, research, and the community that comes with them. That makes it a perfect match for me. There is a perfect grant format for every researcher. When you find it, everything clicks together. That's when you know it's right.鈥�