[Portrait] Émilie Volpi, Information Systems Administrator at CIHAM and FR Agorantic

What is your job?

Curious by nature, I wondered how a computer worked. This question led me to a degree in computer science at the engineering school Polytech'Nice Sophia-Antipolis. After 8 years as a computer analyst-developer-project manager, I joined the CNRS in 2018 as a study engineer, shared in two units of the University of Avignon, in SHS (human and social sciences).

What is its link with Research?

I support researchers in their research projects, for the digital part. I maintain and create software, websites and databases. I supervise trainees in computer science and digital humanities. I organise training courses and study days. For large projects, I participate in the expression of user needs, the writing of specifications, the recruitment and monitoring of developers and the deployment of web projects.

What does it mean to you to work at a university?

It is very pleasant to be surrounded by the excitement of youth and contribute to the dissemination of digital humanities in an academic setting. It's very interesting to be part of several university research projects, transdisciplinary, multi-university/country and to see what they bring to human knowledge.

What advice would you give to people who want to work in research support?

You have to look at how research works and the specific areas you have the most affinity with. Whatever the skills of an ITA (engineer, technician, assistant engineer), they can be really useful. You have to look at the competitions and the vacancies in the different institutions.

What object or image from your business best illustrates you?

On this International Women's Rights Day, I choose this photo, of one of the many anonymous women (computer scientist or not) who have nevertheless left their mark on history. This picture also shows how big a computer program can be!

Computer Grrrls exhibition, Gaité Lyrique, Paris, 2019