We interviewed some of our former master fellows…
REVEKKA KYRIAKOGLOU originally from Greece, she took the Bézout Master’s program in 2014/2015. Specialized in Algorithms Bioinformatics and Combinatorics, she is a post-doctoral researcher on machine learning applications for textual data analysis in the University Gustave Eiffel.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education?
I started my studies in Greece, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece). I became familiar with the field of theoretical computer science through some courses that I followed during my bachelor’s and mainly because of a project that I worked on, entitled “Kleene’s Theorem on automata”. It is because of this project that I decided to continue my studies in the field of theoretical computer science and apply to the Master (M2) program in Mathematics and Computer Science – The Bézout Excellence Track. I was accepted in the second year of this Master’s program in Computer Science and I chose the track “Algorithms Bioinformatics and Combinatorics”.
In the beginning of the year 2015, during my M2, I carried out an internship at the Laboratory of Informatics Gaspard-Monge (LIGM) of the UPEM, under the direction of Dominique Perrin, entitled “Bispecial factors in primitive D0L languages”. This internship was a very positive experience that motivated me to continue my studies with a PhD under the direction of the professor Dominique Perrin on the topic “Iterated morphisms, combinatorics on words and symbolic dynamical systems”.
During my thesis, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing researchers such as Jorge Almeida, Alfredo Costa, Francesco Dolce, Dominique Perrin (my professor) and Giuseppina Rindone on various subjects related to my research. The collaboration with Jorge Almeida, Alfredo Costa and my professor Dominique Perrin lead to the publication of a book entitled “Profinite Semigroups and Symbolic Dynamics” in Springer.
Currently I work as a postdoctoral researcher in the field of AI and more precisely on machine learning applications for textual data analysis in the University Gustave Eiffel.
2/ Why did you choose this Master?
During the last year of my bachelor, one of my professors, Georgios Rachonis, had informed me about the Bézout Excellence Track program that gives the opportunity to the student to follow courses from two different tracks (informatics & mathematics).
The variety offered in the master, combined with the fact that France is well-known for its research in theoretical computer science made this master very appealing to me.
3/ What did you appreciate in this Master’s program?
This master provided some very interesting, high-level classes given by professors that are well -known in their domains, such as Dominique Perrin. Moreover, the internship that I did during the last months of this Master, gave me the opportunity to pursue a PhD with the same advisor. Also, the fact that the educational system in Greece and France is very different allowed me to broaden my academic horizons. Studying in France let me come in touch with an educational system that carries a big legacy, especially in the field of mathematics.
4/ What are you doing right now?
Currently, I work as a postdoctoral researcher in the field of AI and more precisely on machine learning applications for textual data analysis, in the MALANTIN project (Machine learning for textual analysis for non-technological innovation) in the University Gustave Eiffel. I also continue my research on the domain of combinatorics on words.
5/ What are the advantages of training like the Bézout Master’s for a foreigner student?
The Bézout Master is a great program for an international student. The student has the opportunity to get familiarised with the French educational system, to learn the French language and culture and most importantly to meet and learn from professors that not only are they well established in their domain but they are also open to questions and discussion at all times. It is true that the classes were not easy and a lot of work is required, but they are well-prepared and met the newest state of the art level in their fields. It is what makes this master’s program so interesting and beneficial. It prepares you for the future providing you with all the necessary knowledge and skills for the future!
DEISE SANTANA MAIA originally from Brazil, she took the Bézout Master’s program in 2015/2016. Specialized in Mathematics, she is currently a post-doc at the OBELIX research team of IRISA, at the Université Bretagne Sud, Vannes. She works on a research project on the automatic detection of marine animals in offshore wind farms.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education?
I obtained my bachelor degree in Computer Science in 2014 from the Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, in Brazil. During my bachelor studies, I had an opportunity to enroll in a one-year exchange program. I spent one year in Portugal, at the Universidade do Minho, where I took courses in the master of Mathematics and Computer Science. Back in Brazil, I enrolled in a master program in Computer Science, with major in image analysis and processing, at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. At the end of my first semester, I applied to the Master Bézout scholarship, which gave me the opportunity to follow courses in the Master of Computer Science, with major in
image analysis, at the Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée. After my master, I was accepted for a PhD in the same university, where I continued my research on image segmentation with the advisors of my master internship.
2/ Why did you choose this Master?
After my experience in Portugal as an exchange student, I saw the benefits of pursuing an education from different environments. The same subjects can be taught in different ways, using different tools and pedagogical methods. Hence, I decided to look for master opportunities abroad. In particular, I chose this master because of the recommendation of my Brazilian master’s advisor, which already knew a well-established research group at the Université Paris-Est, and because of the Image Processing branch of this master program, that includedsubjects in which I was deeply interested.
3/ What did you appreciate in this Master’s program ?
Regarding the content of the curriculum, I appreciated the broad range of topics covered during this one-year program. This gave me a clearer vision of the job opportunities (in the eld of Image Analysis) that I could pursue after acquiring my degree. Moreover, I have enjoyed the research internship in the last months of the master program. This internship opened my path to pursue a PhD after my master with the same advisors. Besides the academic aspects, I really appreciated the opportunity to immerse in a new culture, and to interact with my colleagues from so many different countries and backgrounds.
4/ What are you doing right now?
I am currently a post-doc at the OBELIX research team of IRISA, at the Université Bretagne Sud, Vannes. I work on a research project on the automatic detection of marine animals in offshore wind farms.
5/ What are the advantages of training like the Bezout Master’s for a foreigner student?
The first advantage is the Bézout Master’s program is the broad range of topics addressed in each of its branches. Moreover, for those who have not yet the opportunity to live abroad, this is an excellent opportunity to improve their confidence in speaking a foreign language, either English or French, which can be decisive in future job applications. Finally, for those pursuing an academic career, this master open doors to apply for a PhD program.
JIN TAN originally from China, he took the Bézout Master’s program in 2017/2018. Specialized in Mathematics, he is writing a thesis on magnetohydrodynamic equations with Hall term and turbulence in Fluid Mechanics.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education?
KRISZTIAN BENYO originally from Hungary, he took the Bézout Master’s program in 2014/2015. Specialized in Mathematics, he is a post-doctoral research fellow at EDF Research & Development and Ecole de Ponts – PARISTECH.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education?
I have been studying mathematics since the beginning of my studies. After a three year bachelor program in pure mathematics at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, I started my master in mathematics at the same university when the possibility came to come to Paris with the Bézout Excellence Track master. I finished both masters at the same time (the Hungarian one from distance), and since then I have also finished a PhD program in applied mathematics at the University of Bordeaux.
2/ Why did you choose this Master?
During the first year of my master in Hungary, one of my professors has talked to me about his French colleagues and the Bézout Excellence Track program. This wasn’t the first time I have heard about the quality of mathematical research in France (for instance in Analysis), so I was already motivated to spend a year abroad in France. The opportunity seemed to be perfect so I applied and (luckily) was admitted.
3/ What did you appreciate in this Master’s program?
The French and the Hungarian system of education is quite different in general. For the second year of my master I could feel the difference first hand, since I was doing both of them at the same time. Apart from having renowned professors give the lessons, the lectures were detailed, hard but inspiring, creating the perfect environment to prepare for a career as a researcher. You are required to work on your own, but you can do it at your own place and the professors were always eager to reply to any kind of questions. The lessons blended well classical methods and state-of-the-art techniques as well, which is quite formidable.
4/ What are you doing right now?
Currently I am a postdoctoral research fellow at EDF Research & Development and Ecole de Ponts – PARISTECH and working on viscoelastic fluid models from a theoretical and numerical point of view as well.
5/ What are the advantages of training like the Bezout Master’s for a foreigner student?
Organising a year-long trip abroad can be quite a hassle, especially when it consists in moving to a far away country. The Bézout Excellence Track provided for a thorough assistance for the preparation as well as the on-the-spot administrative affairs, which was more then welcome, considering the fact that French administration can be overwhelming for foreigners. The possibility of attending language classes was just as essential. Overall, discovering a new country, establishing links and professional connections forms an essential basis for any kind of career nowadays, more so for a researcher, and I believe, for this, I chose well by participating in the Bézout Master.
THI THU HUONG NGUYEN originally from Vietnam, she took the Bézout Master’s program in 2014/2015. Specialized in Statistics Theory applying in Finance, she is writing a thesis entitled “Estimation of the jump processes”.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education?
I had a great passion in mathematics when I entered High School for the gifted in Mathematics and graduated my license in advanced program about mathematics at Hanoi University of Science. I have begun to realize that mathematics is actually beautiful and it makes everything easy. This became more and more clearly when I completed my Master 2 in Applied Mathematics at Université Paris-Est Marne-La-Vallée in Labex Bézout program. Here, I gained profound and deep understanding of the language of mathematics with an aim to apply mathematics to different fields.
2/ Why did you choose this matter ?
The program was of high international quality and closed relevant to my academic expectations. A master’s program in Probability and Statistic gave me the opportunity to gain specialized expertise within a field that particularly captured my interest during my bachelor’s degree studies. Moreover, studying in France was also very fascinating for me.
3/ What did you appreciate in this master’s program?
Thanks to Labex Bezout who gave me an opportunity to continue my passion of research with advanced environment where I had the opportunity of following courses given by the famous professors. People in here were extremely welcoming and supportive. Moreover, I had chance to meet French and international students who helped me to adapt to daily life in France.
4/ What are you doing right now ?
I began my Ph.D. thesis under the direction of Emmanuelle Clement and the co-direction of Arnaud Gloter in October 2015 at Université Paris-Est Marne-La-Vallée. Now, I work in applied mathematics, specialized in Statistics Theory applying in Finance with the topic “Estimation of the jump processes”.
5/ What are the advantages of training like the Bezout Master’s for a foreigner student?
This program would be very interesting for international students. Besides having a chance to participate in an excellence and diversity of the advanced program in Mathematics, the program offers the French language course and have chance to live in a comfortable and well-equipped campus.
KACPER PLUTA originally from Poland, he took the Bézout Master’s program in 2013/2014. He has defended a thesis in 2017.
1/ What have been the major steps in your education ?
I think it was when I started to work with Marcin Janaszewski, my engineering thesis supervisor. Before he became my supervisor, I was dismissed from his lectures for solving homework too fast and to occupy myself separately with a supervised project. Later he proposed to work on scientific projects related to modeling of the human bronchus. Influenced by the work with Marcin Janaszewski I became interested in science and I changed my mind about my future career.
2/ Why did you choose this Master ?
During my studies in Poland I became interested in digital geometry and I’ve heard about researchers from the University Paris-Est working in this field of science. Since I was familiar with their work I knew that the university has a very good reputation what I found very attracting and convincing. Later on, I also learned that it provides very promising master programs.
3/ What did you appreciate in this Master’s program ?
Classes were very interesting and well-prepared, and met the newest state of the art level in my fields of interest. I also appreciate the easiness of communication with professors and their openness to discuss topics even after classes
4/ What are you doing right now ?
I did my master thesis with supervision of Yukiko Kenmochi and Hugues Talbot, who proposed me a thesis related to digitized rigid motions. I started my PhDthesis with Mrs. Kenmochi and my co director Pascal Romon in September 2014. We also collaborate with Nicolas Passat from the University de Reims Champagne-Ardenne and Guillaume Moroz from INRIA Nancy-Grand-Est. Recently, we are about to start new projects with David Cœurjolly and Tristan Roussillon from the University of Lyon and Phuc Ngo from LORIA Nancy. Currently, I also discover other fields of science by collaboration with other PhD students at the University Paris-Est – namely geotechnical engineering – which is new and very challenging for me.
5/ What are the advantages of training like the Bezout Master’s for a foreigner student ?
This program is a very interesting opportunity for students who aspire achieving a master degree of high quality. It is also good chance to meet people from around the world and making connections for future work.