Starting out in any career is a challenge. Employees must prove their worth to their future employer by working their way up. Aurélie got her foot in the door at INSA Toulouse in January 2007. Eager and conscientious, this Bordeaux native started out in the International Relations Department before moving to the Department of STPI¹. In January 2011, the TBI laboratory made some organizational changes and took over managing its research contracts from the Department SAIC².. Aurélie then joined the laboratory in the brand new Administration and Finance Department (SAF), where Nicolas Combébiac, head of the Finance Department at the time, was setting up procedures and two-person teams. “It was exciting – there was so much to do.”.
Aurélie’s career at INSA Toulouse has given her the chance to see the institute from various angles, including teaching, international relations and research. Being a research contract manager means managing a grant from receipt to closure. “It’s not always easy to juggle all the different project leaders and tools, but my job is constantly changing, and that’s rewarding.” ” In practical terms, Aurélie manages around 80 research contracts, with a total budget of around 2 million euro a year. Although she is a details person, the stress of making a mistake when dealing with such staggering amounts can sometimes get to her. Despite it all, she strives to do her best and support her team in the SAF³.
“I appreciate the trust my teams have in me, both at the SAF where we help each other out, and in the research teams that I manage. It’s extremely gratifying to receive a little note or be invited to a meal at the end of the project. I like the idea of being part of something bigger.”
- STPI: Department of Science and Technologies for Engineers
- SAIC: Industrial and Commercial Activities Department
- SAF: Administration and Finance Department
