This article profiles EDAM Leaders for Technical Industries (LTI) doctoral student Jean-Loup Loyer. Could you tell us about your academic background? 
I graduated from a French engineering school in aeronautics – called ISAE/Supaéro and located in Toulouse – followed by an exchange year in Imperial College, London. Please describe your previous professional experience. During my studies, I was eager to discover new sectors. Therefore I undertook internships as an engineer in a laboratory of theoretical physics and then in a biotech start-up. This last assignment was particularly fulfilling since it gave me an introduction to entrepreneurship. Then, as graduation arrived, I searched for engineering jobs in the French aeronautics sector. However, I was lucky enough to have two great professional opportunities. First, I studied American and European lunar space programs within the French embassy in Washington D.C. Then, I worked three years in the Office of the French Prime Minister on technology-related issues, contributing to working groups and writing public reports or memos on various subjects like telework, the automotive sector, or innovation policies. How did you learn about the MIT Portugal Program and what motivated you to apply for the LTI PhD program here? After 3 years in France, I wanted to go abroad again. A former Portuguese classmate in Toulouse entered the MIT Portugal Program in 2007 and his description sounded very exciting. As a mechanical engineer, applying for the EDAM area was natural. After a few years out of “pure engineering”, developing an expertise on a technical topic requires at least 3 years: in my case, the PhD was the best solution. Moreover, the LTI PhD is very applied and professionally-oriented since you do your thesis in partnership with a leading European company. Last but not least, you receive cutting-edge courses in engineering management from MIT faculty and are encouraged to spend several months in the US to finish writing your thesis. What is your area of research interest? Many years ago, I did summer jobs as a worker in food factories in Britanny, the region of France where I come from. I liked working there and noticed there are many ways to increase productivity or the quality of the products, for example through better processes and manufacturing methods. So I will work on these issues in the years to come, probably in the automotive or aerospace sectors. Did you already choose your thesis topic, or have an idea about what kind of research you intend to develop? I have begun the programme only some weeks ago and I am still not sure about the exact thesis topic. However, management of industrial production is on the top of my list. Strengthening partnerships between Portuguese universities and companies is also an interesting challenge. That’s why I intend to do my internship in the context of an MPP research project; I am waiting for the projects that will be presented in the weeks to come. How you think these kind of research projects and international partnerships can contribute to Portugal’s economic development? Compared to what I have known in France and in the UK, the general quality of the programme is very good. The courses - inspired from MIT’s leading experience in the field - are interesting and practical, the organization of the programme is innovative and relies a lot on ICT, and the faculty is of excellent quality. The students will greatly benefit from all this and will acquire new skills to manage operations or become Entrepreneurs. As a consequence, alumni belonging to the MPP community will surely contribute to increase the competitiveness of Portuguese companies globally, through new manufacturing methods, a better perception of consumers’ needs, new ways of selling goods or services, etc. What do you hope to do when you complete your degree? It is difficult to say because I am still at the very beginning of the programme. It will depend on the exact subject of my thesis, the company I will do my internship for, and the economic conditions in 2013. One very good thing about the programme is that it leaves many options open: I could either work for an industrial company in Portugal, work as a consultant in operations management for industry, or even start my own business. This last option is definitely appealing, but a good idea is needed… We will see what happens in the months to come! | 
