Q&A with alumni

• What are you doing now ? How did you get this job ?

I’ve been working at Romande Energie for over a year now. It’s a Distribution System Operator (DSO), responsible for the electricity grid in a part of Switzerland. I did my master’s thesis there, after three semesters of coursework. I was looking for something related to energy sufficiency, and a professor at EPFL advised me to contact the person who will become my supervisor. She was developing customer services to leverage sufficiency. Her job involved introducing private individuals to sufficiency and convincing them to make it part of their practices. My thesis was therefore about the potential leverages to apply sufficiency, from the viewpoint of a DSO.

After the master’s thesis, I was hired to keep developing these services. Also, I work at 80%, taking all my Mondays off, and it makes a real difference in terms of life balance and time management. I was grateful to have access to jobs that allow this 4-day week.

In a month, my contract with Romande Energie will end and I’ll move to p+p project, a firm that performs energy audits for other companies, on a more technical aspect. The director would like to include sufficiency measures in their proposals.

• Why did you choose this master’s? Would you make the same choice today?

I did my bachelor’s at EPFL in Microtechnique. I did not wish to pursue the Microtechnique master’s because I was not interested in techno-solutionism. Therefore, I took one year off to think about it, and I worked in self-sufficient farms. Essential questions on energy use arise in these farms, and I realized how energy was at the root of everything. What’s more, the energy crisis hit at the end of the year and there were real needs for engineers. That’s how I chose the Energy master’s, and I would do the same choice today.

At that time, my goal was to learn how to build a self-sufficient house, so I mainly chose sustainability-related courses (Orientation C), and I really loved the master’s thanks to that. Today, I would rather choose courses targeting electricity grids, as I work in that area.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

Definitely Applied Data Analysis (ADA): you work so much with data that as soon as you know how to create more sophisticated graphs and statistics beyond basic Excel skills, it becomes incredibly useful. Since I work in a DSO, Power System Restructuring and Deregulation by Prof. Cherkaoui is also valuable.

Most importantly, the way of working: the capacity to quickly gather information, assimilate it, and synthesize it. Most of the work involves synthesizing data and creating presentations out of it. I mostly learnt PowerPoint on the job. You really make a difference in your ability to adapt and absorb information, like a sponge, because you have done it during all your studies.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Go to as many conferences as possible to open up to the energy sector. What you do in class is very important, but you need to know what is waiting for you outside to know how to apply this knowledge. The real world is very different from EPFL, although it does not mean what you learn there is not relevant. Attending conferences helped me cope with the shock of entering a company and realizing you can’t apply everything you’ve learned. 

Field trips also helped. Don’t go with the idea of learning something specific, but go to see how people do not know, and how you can be useful.

Enjoy your studies, take the courses you like, do not try to think whether a course will necessarily be useful (except ADA maybe). Avoid choosing courses solely based on future job prospects, because you never know where you’ll end up working.

• What are you doing now ? How did you get this job ?

I’ve been working in sustainability consulting since August 2024 at EA Earth Action. I support both Swiss and international companies by evaluating their environmental impact. This can involve large-scale carbon footprint assessments to identify emissions hotspots, or more detailed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for current or upcoming products. There’s also a strategic side—helping clients reduce emissions, suggesting eco-design improvements, or even developing broader sustainability strategies for the company as a whole.

My master’s thesis was at CIRAIG in Montréal, where I studied the environmental impact of metals critical to the energy transition. We identified the most problematic metals and technologies, and I learned to use a new LCA tool (premise) that incorporates feedback effects. For instance, metals are extracted to build renewable energy systems, which then help decarbonize future metal extraction.

CIRAIG specializes in LCA, which really helped during my interview at EA. I had also completed another internship in the same field.

I had considered doing a PhD, but I was advised it’s a four-year commitment. If you’re unsure, it’s better to do internships in the field you’re hesitating about—if it turns out not to be for you, you can always return to the PhD path later.

• Why did you choose this master’s? Would you make the same choice today?

I did my bachelor’s in Microengineering at EPFL. I was particularly interested in electronics and data-related courses, but the master’s program in Microengineering focused more on robotics, which didn’t appeal to me as much. During my bachelor’s, I joined the student association Zero Emission Group, which introduced me to the world of sustainability—something I hadn’t really explored before.

I seriously considered doing the MSc in Sustainable Management and Technology (a joint program by EPFL, IMD, and UNIL), but I would have lost the official status of engineer. In the end, I chose the Master’s in Energy, which turned out to be a great fit. It offered a solid mix of electrical engineering and data science, while also addressing environmental challenges. I’m really happy with my decision—the Energy master provides both technical skills and a strong understanding of energy systems, which is crucial for grasping the complexity of the environmental crisis.

• Did the master’s change your view on the energy transition?

The Master’s program mainly focuses on building technical skills and developing the ability to analyze complex situations. It helps you understand what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how the systems work.

That said, I think it was my involvement in the student association and my internships that really shifted my perspective. Engaging directly with companies and communities gave me a much more hands-on, concrete view of sustainability. These are complex topics, and many people talk about them without fully grasping the nuances. The Master’s takes a scientific approach—you work with real data, real numbers. It gives you a solid foundation, so when you’re part of a discussion or debate, you’re not just speaking in vague terms—you actually know what you’re talking about.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

EPFL really teaches you to be rigorous. You learn to manage your time, projects, and deadlines efficiently—skills that are directly useful in consulting, where I often juggle several projects at once. It also taught me to stay calm during high-pressure moments.

Being surrounded by passionate professors and so many active student projects sparked my curiosity. Everyone is involved in something, whether it’s an association or a side project, and that kind of environment is incredibly stimulating.

One choice that worked really well for me was splitting my final semester into two. It allowed me to spread my coursework over four semesters and spend my last year doing a part-time internship at another consulting firm. That experience led to a fixed-term job offer afterward. My advice: don’t settle for a two-month internship—it’s often too short to gain real experience, unless your plan is to go straight into a PhD.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Find the orientation that suits you—and don’t be afraid to change it along the way. I switched tracks midway through my program, from Energy Systems to Energy Management, because I realized I was more drawn to sustainability topics.

Take on as many projects as you can. You often have the choice between taking extra courses or doing a second semester project—go for the project. Put real effort into it, because in the end, those are the experiences you’ll value most. EPFL offers a great environment for hands-on work. When you’re in an interview, no one’s going to ask about your thermodynamics exam—they’ll want to hear about your projects and what you did in your associations. If you’re hesitating between two courses, I’d recommend the one that includes a project.

Don’t be afraid to get off the beaten track. For my second project, I designed a board game about the energy transition—something a bit unconventional, inspired by an activity from a student association. Prof. Maréchal was really supportive and loved the idea. If you have a concept you’re excited about, go talk to a professor—chances are, they’ll be more enthusiastic than you expect.

• What are you doing now? How did you get this job?

I’m going to start a new position in Zurich, in the private bank J. Safra Sarasin, as a financial strategy advisor. My job will involve Python and VBA to automate processes in the bank. Now I’m waiting for the work permit to start the position. At first, I have tried to find a position in engineering during the past six months, before turning to banking. Indeed, being non-European (Brazilian in my case) was a differentiating point and it made the job search in Switzerland very difficult.

I used my personal network for this specific position, and EPFL resources during my job search in the energy sector, such as MESAA events, the mentoring program by EPFL alumni and EPFL Forum. Besides networking, often times it’s good to show something extra when you apply for jobs: it can be your presentation and public speaking skills (which I developed a lot in my consulting internship), good level in programming, mastering German…

• What is your experience of the Swiss job market as a non-European student?

Firstly, I wanted to stay in Switzerland. I’ve done EPFL since my bachelor’s, my life was very centered here as a comfort zone, in addition to the good salaries and the number of good professional opportunities. I also aimed to stay longer to get the permanent work permit and eventually the nationality.

When you’re not European, it is very hard to find a job, and it felt discouraging, as by law Swiss and EU people have a recruitment priority on you at a same given skill level. A very important point about that: I would have liked to do research on how to overcome this issue earlier. Mr. Philippe Ory at EPFL’s Career Center is a non-EU-recruitment specialist, and he does a yearly seminar to give some very useful tips on how to stay in the country. In my opinion, EPFL does not stress this issue enough, and could do a better job on warning non-EU students about the difficulty of getting recruited in the market, even with an Engineering degree. For everyone but specially non-EU, mastering local languages such as French and German maximizes your chances to find a job. You are very welcome to contact me directly if you have more questions about this issue, and I encourage you to reach out to Mr. Ory as well.

• Why did you choose this master’s? Would you choose it again today?

I learnt about the master’s during one of my bachelor’s courses, in Mechanical Engineering. Prof. Paolone was invited to present the curriculum which caught my eye immediately, since it seemed to tackle the energy crisis and sustainability goals. As we started to study it, I realized that the issues were even more urgent than what I thought, and I was happy with my choice.

Transversal skills in mechanical, electrical and environmental sciences are an incredible advantage of this master’s. Its topics are useful to all engineers, as there are lots of interesting optional classes, which are all useful. For example, classes such as Semiconductors marked me as excellent and exhaustive courses. Others like Energy conversion and Renewable energy that were specially designed for the master’s were great as well.

If I had to restart at Master level, I believe I would choose the same program. However, if I had to restart from the bachelor’s, I would maybe choose to do something more related to computer science, machine learning and data, as I have seen it is very demanded in the market. I didn’t take any machine learning courses in the master’s (although elective courses are available), because other courses appealed to me more, but I regret not doing so. Of course as I move now into banking, I wish I had done Principles of Finance for the introduction it gives.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

At the end of my master’s, I was looking for an engineering position to work for the Swiss energy strategy and the 2050 transition goals. To this end, courses by Prof. Marechal were super important, especially Modelling and optimization of energy systems. Any course that involved programming in Python and other languages were also really useful, as I believe along with Excel, getting familiar with these tools is probably one the most useful things I’ve learned. Smart grids is also a must in order to further understand the current electrical market in Europe.

Interviewers were also happy that I knew about the local Swiss electricity market, thanks to Power System Restructuring and Deregulation. You get to know who the actors are, which not only helps in understanding the system itself, but also more practically makes you discover companies which you can later apply to and work with (Swissgrid, Viteos, SiL…).

Moreover, any associative work at a high level of responsibility is valuable. I was President of the EPFL’s Musical association, and I believe it taught me team and project management skills, organization, rigor and network mobilization. The participation in Model United Nations (EPFL MUN) in my bachelor’s played a big role in improving my public speaking, which is a very useful skill to practice outside of class since EPFL has few oral exams (surprisingly).

I was able to participate in a 12-month junior position (internship and master’s thesis) at E-CUBE Strategy Consultants, a consulting firm specializing in energy, decarbonation and green transport projects. This experience was really helpful for job interviews, as you learn how to effectively prepare synthetic and complete presentations. I have found it thanks to EPFL’s internship portal in IS Academia, and I would recommend it, even for people who don’t want to work in consulting in the long run. It is the best practical introduction to the energy market that I had, and the rigorous training can be useful for any position later in your career.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Giving only one is very difficult, I will give you 3. The master’s is not easy, so I believe extending the master’s to 4 semesters of coursework was probably one of the best decisions I made. It would have put me in a very stressful situation otherwise as it is possible to fail mandatory classes because of the workload.

If you want to stay in Switzerland, I recommend learning the local languages German and French, no matter in which canton you intend to work in. Free courses are proposed by the EPFL Language Center, which can give you good basis if you follow classes thoroughly. If I could go back in time, I would attend them for German at the very beginning of my studies; I regret not attaining a B1 level before graduating. For instance, E-CUBE could have prolonged my contract if I had a better level in German, thus I stress it as an important skill. My job at J. Safra Sarasin is in English, but If I want to have growth opportunities in the company, I will need German.

Finally, focus on the subjects that you like the most, right at the beginning. I think it is important to enter the master with an idea of which subject you wish to work in (if you prefer PV, chemical, turbomachines…), in order to focus on specific courses for each. I focused on very general courses instead of specializing, which I sometimes regret.

• What are you doing now?

I’m doing a PhD on Perovskite solar cells in the EPFL PVLab. The decision to follow this path was kind of straightforward, because it’s the topic I had made my bachelor thesis, semester projects, and master thesis on. I was familiar and I liked Perovskite solar cells, and the PVLab at EPFL is one of the best options to carry on studying them. Also, deep down, I had always known that this was what I wanted to do, even though during my studies there have been some bumps and I have had second thoughts. Ultimately, the way I enjoyed the projects in this field convinced me that for me this was the right choice.

• What do you think the opportunities are for someone that graduates in energy science & technology?

I know people from our same master that took very very different paths, some followed the electrical engineering part, some went towards optimization and pure maths, others went working for international organisations. The thing is that we learn the basics of everything, as the course load spans over several disciplines, but note that this doesn’t necessarily mean that we are good at everything. What you are good at when you finish the master really depends on what you do for your projects and internship, that normally is what interests you the most. Thus, I’d say that when applying for a PhD we don’t really have a hard background in the specific field, but it’s the interest that matters more.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

Among the courses that I had to take there are some which are quite far from what I am currently doing, others are definitely relevant. For instance, knowledge on PV systems and semiconductors devices is a must for my PhD. More than that, the semester projects in the labs are where I learned the most: when you’re into your PhD you’re expected to be autonomous and independently gather the relevant knowledge to master the techniques you need. I’m really glad that when I was a student there were people that took the time to help me, and teach me what I was supposed to do. As a PhD student it is less ok not to know how to do things, while as a master student, with the semester projects, you really have the chance to learn. That’s why it is super important to have a good professor and PhD student supervisor, and it’s a great opportunity to choose a project that really interests you and that is relevant for your future career.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Probably it would be to try to focus on what you’re interested in, and then try to make the study plan around what you understand is your path and go for it. There is flexibility, even if it doesn’t look like there is. If you are very interested in something, go for it. The master risks becoming too divergent, as you could study too many different things. Personally, I found that for me it was better to focus and to specialise more on something specific. What was for me the greatest strength of this master, well above the courses, are the many opportunities to gain experience in some amazing labs and get a taste of what research really is!

• What are you doing now?

I work at sbp sonne as a project engineer in the field of solar energy, meaning that I supervise all the phases of the design through the installation. I am working on something that is very similar to what I wrote my thesis on, so this really feels like a natural continuation of what I have studied. The company I work for currently has the benchmark for the products that are used in the coupling of concentrated solar power with PV.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

Mostly, what EPFL gives us are the tools, and this really prepares us, makes us ready for the job market. At EPFL they teach us methods that enable us to learn fast also on the job. The learning process is also very important when you’re working. Other than that, teamwork is also key. At the beginning of the masters I was not used to group projects, but EPFL forced me to work with people from very different backgrounds, and at the end of the last semester I loved working together with other students. Looking back, I can see that the master gave me a lot, there are not a lot of people that leave academia with the preparation we have. The hard work and the stress level we go through make everything that comes after look pretty chill, like something we can manage.

Something that is missing in the curriculum is maybe project management, as doing my thesis in academia I missed all the possible interactions I could have with clients, that I find now in my job, and that I had never experienced nor tackled before. On the other hand, having a very research-focused experience is helping me now when I need to find ideas and solutions, as I’m ready to engage with the challenge. Also, I think that interacting more with alumni would have helped in understanding how to better manage the master experience.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Take it easy! If I could do anything differently is that I did it too fast, while it’s not a rush, it’s not a competition, we have our entire lives to work. I would have liked to get to know more people, and looking back I think I would have chosen to do the courses in four semesters and not three. EPFL puts a lot of pressure, taking more time would have allowed it to be a little bit less intense. But even when things seem to go wrong, remember that setbacks are the best thing that could happen to you, that you can learn a lot from them. Even if it was tough, and I expected it to be tough, I did it for myself, because it gives you a lot that other masters don’t give you. We study so many different things, and when doing my job all these diverse topics come together, I really know how to deal with them. From my experience I can say that it pays off, in industry they know that people coming from EPFL have worked hard.

• What are you doing now?

I am working as a consultant for McKinsey & Company.  After finishing the course load of the master, I did a 6-month internship at Groupe E still unsure if I wanted to do my MSc thesis in industry or in academia. This internship made me realize how much I enjoyed solving daily typical engineering problems commonly found in industry and swayed me towards a thesis in industry.

Luckily, there was an opening for a project on smart meters – which I thought would be a great match given my previous work around that topic. Professionally speaking, extending my internship while tackling a new challenge was a great opportunity. It was an enriching experience that highlighted the valuable role of data in optimizing the LV grid infrastructure. Having fun with the data and building libraries of load curves displayed the importance of demand-side and supply-side management in managing grid health.

Yet, as my thesis was coming to an end, I decided to explore new horizons and applied for my current position. Given that my start day was some months ahead, I enjoyed a nice break, by spending time with my siblings, traveling, and taking German classes.

• What do you think the opportunities are for someone that graduates in energy science & technology?

The Energy MSc is incredibly versatile and so are the opportunities that come out of it. Some friends now work as data scientists, traders, consultants, engineers, researchers and more.

Even though what you specialize in during the MSc helps pave a career path, you shouldn’t be afraid to branch out. The MSc curriculum covers a broad range of subjects: you’re expected to juggle between electrical, mechanical, chemical, environmental engineering (to name a few?) – this creates students who are very polyvalent and unafraid of new challenges. I believe this mentality and flexibility are key to creating opportunities for ourselves.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

Concretely, what we study in academia can at times be so niche and years ahead of the approaches and tools used in industry. The most important lessons EPFL taught me revolve around discipline, an analytical mind, and a good attitude, which are all highly appreciated in any professional setting.

In terms of courses, the more general ones, such as data analysis or energy transition and economics, always come in handy, especially when discussing with friends and family (but please take EE-472 -Smart grids technologies!!).

Additionally, the work I did at the EPFL Racing Team taught me the majority of what I now know about batteries and electronics. These hands-on experiences push your knowledge and curiosity beyond anything usually taught in classes. I would encourage all students to seek these opportunities in all shapes and forms (MAKE projects, summer lab immersions, semester projects, etc).

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

A very classic tip, I’d give is: start your 1st semester with the mandatory courses. They set a good base for what’s to come and, depending on your background, and give you the tools you need to succeed in other classes. By doing this, you get a broader picture of all things happening in energy engineering and can make more informed choices for your specialization courses.

But most importantly: be curious, have fun and don’t let missing prerequisites here and there scare you! Some of my favourite classes were the ones I had the least prerequisites in. Don’t forget that you being here means you are a strong-willed and curious individual, who will find the tools and resources to level up when/where needed.

And last tip: if you truly are passionate about a sector of energy that isn’t covered in the MSc (like offshore wind, in-depth battery chemistry, more PV design, etc), enrol in classes from other sections, find semester projects, and create opportunities for yourself to make your path in a field that drives you.

Best of luck! I hope you’ll enjoy yourselves and learn a ton!!!

• What are you doing now?

I’m working at Hitachi Zosen Inova in the R&D department of Renewable Gas. My job is very much related to the topics tackled in the master, it is very interesting and stimulating and I am really learning a lot.

• What do you think the opportunities are for someone that graduates in energy science & technology?

I think that the opportunities are endless and I’d like to stress here that our epfl network can contribute significantly to finding our path in the middle of all the options. In my case, I was finishing the master with a lot of tools, but I didn’t really know what the industry was asking. I needed to talk with someone that had experience or knew better than me what the options were. Don’t neglect the network you get when going out of EPFL, because we spend the years of our studies with some very brilliant and resourceful people. I transitioned smoothly from the master thesis to my current job, and I have to thank the network for that. I did a master thesis at Hitachi Zosen Inova and an EPFL friend actually found this opportunity for me. At the beginning, I came to know that someone who studied with me was doing her PhD where I’m working now, but I was too scared to ask for a thesis position. I was telling myself that I didn’t know her that well and that if I were her I would ask myself why would I do a favor to this person. Then, a common friend asked for me and it turned out that she could use a student for her phD project, and that’s how I ended up here. We really shouldn’t be worried about asking a friend, or to someone we know, because the worst thing we could ever get is a no, that is no worse than not trying.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

The first thing that comes to my mind when hearing this question is that there are things that I could have learned that would have been helpful in my job now that I did not learn. There are different paths within the master, and it can seem difficult to choose which one to take. I chose the courses that seemed to fit my background of environmental engineering, and it’s only after the thesis that I really realized that what I wanted to do was different. During the master, I was scared of following lectures I didn’t believe I had the right background for. However, it can be silly to think this way, I wish I had more confidence in myself to take those courses. If you are motivated, there is no reason why you shouldn’t make it. In any case, it is important to be aware that we keep learning all the time, even after we’ve left EPFL. Even if I didn’t take those courses that could have been useful, I still had the chance to learn by doing.

In terms of what I have learned, that are very helpful and important skills in industry, it mainly goes back to three things: I am not scared of taking on a challenge, I know how to work in a group, and I can learn fast. Recently, at work, I proposed to take over a task I had never done before, and I ended up really enjoying it. Knowing that I can learn fast, I can deal with new and different things, never getting bored. Thanks to the many group projects we have in the master, I have learned to listen to the others, and how much more you can do when you are in a team, taking advantage of what everyone knows. And having a way better time while doing it!

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Try to enjoy it! Doing a master is not as much to get a job as it is for yourself, to give yourself the opportunity of learning more about what interests you, to discover new exciting things. Unfortunately, I started during Covid, and there weren’t many opportunities to enjoy the social life, that is also an important part of what the master’s experience should be. It’s important to have a good life balance. Also, I like that the people in the master are really great, everyone with a different background, bringing their own perspective. It’s good to take the chance and talk, exchange opinions, and network.

• What are you doing now?

I have just started my first job at Impact Living in Yverdon which is a small company dedicating itself to ecological building renovation in Switzerland. Basically, your daily job covers everything from meeting with a potential client who wants/needs to renovate his property, doing all the monitoring and simulation of the property to understand how to have the best added value in terms of energy saving, price, comfort, and grey energy with mostly passive methods; asking to the cantons for subsidies for net zero homes , PV installation, etc.; and being on the field for some months doing the supervision of the renovation. So everything from A to Z. A lot of amazing skills to develop if you ask me.

• What do you think the opportunities are for someone that graduates in energy science & technology?

Coming from the energy master background, I think you can do pretty much anything you set your mind to. The field is so large that you have immense opportunities. The question is more what triggered your interest through your courses to better know what to aim for.  What is sure is that there is an immense lack of manpower in the energy field, in particular in the building sector which is required for the transition. Hopefully, not too many of you end up working for finance, insurance, and fossile companies.

• What are the things you learnt that you are finding most useful now?

Thermodynamics was very useful for me as I work in the building rénovation field. Courses like Modeling and Optimisation of Energy Systems (MOES) develop a good systematic view which is useful in my job. Coding in Python is also something useful in most companies now.

• If you had to give one advice to someone that is starting the master now, what would it be?

Know that it is a hard master. So don’t feel ashamed to extend it a bit to be able to really do the classes that spark your interest and do them well. This master will teach you so many things on so many subjects. It is a great background. Don’t hesitate if a particular field is interesting to you to also ask to take classes out of the curriculum. That is what I did for building  techniques by taking « Technologie du Bâti III » and I learnt so much cool stuff. By taking this master, you create yourself a toolbox for life. Hopefully you end up using it for the good of this planet cause you’re definitely needed.