Student's Story - Victor Guillot's doctoral mobility at ETH Zürich (DocWalker 2024)

What is your area of ​​research?

I am working on energy system modeling, focusing on the European power system and exploring decarbonization pathways. During a three-month research stay at ETH Zürich, I worked on the coupling of my model with a life cycle assessment (LCA) model to evaluate the environmental impacts of electricity production.

How did your international mobility project start?

I contacted the ETH lab after reading a few papers related to my research interests. I realized they were among the few places in the world working on the integration of LCA and energy system modeling, making it an ideal place for my project. Following our discussions, we found an agreement on a visiting research stay.

How did you prepare for your departure?

Apart from the required administrative paperwork, which is limited for stays under 180 days in Switzerland, I prepared my model and framework to be immediately compatible with their methods. I tried to anticipate and organize everything in advance to maximize the productivity of my stay there.

What was your daily life like?

I made the most of my time there by working intensively on my project. I appreciated Zürich in the summer, especially its lake, where I enjoyed swimming, and I also explored some nearby cities.

What do you take away from this doctoral stay abroad?

This research stay has been valuable on two levels. First, it allowed me to enrich my research by incorporating new methods that were not available in my home lab, making the three months a significant leap forward. Second, it provided insight into a different research environment, exposing me to diverse practices and topics beyond my own research area, which created new ideas and perspectives. I am grateful to Pr Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez’s group for their welcome and to the DocWalker program for its financial support, which made this experience possible.

Do you have any advice for future candidates for mobility?

I would recommend preparing and planning ahead, as the administrative procedures can take some time. Additionally, it’s important to organize your stay in advance to make the most of it and remain open to their suggestions once you are there. I sincerely recommend organizing this type of collaboration, as it allows you to make significant progress in your research while also gaining insight into how research is conducted in a different environment and starting to build your professional network.