"Believe in yourself and don’t be discouraged! "

>Can you tell us about your academic background?

I applied to Sciences Po after earning my Baccalaureate diploma in a small public high school in the south of France. At the end of my Bachelor’s degree, I decided to continue my studies with a Master's in Economics at the Sciences Po School of Research. After three years of working as a research assistant, I enrolled in the doctoral programme in September 2022. 

What inspired your interest in economics?

My background is a bit unusual. When I was in high school, I would often read printed newspapers because I felt I needed to get a better understanding of how society functions. As soon as I discovered Economics and Social Sciences (SES) as a subject in high school, I knew I wanted to be an economist. It was a discipline that corresponded to all the questions I was asking myself, as well as providing a means of answering them. I have always hated sub-optimal situations because I feel that, collectively, we should be able to find better solutions, and that is precisely what economists seek to do. 

What were the different stages in building your academic and career plans?

It was my SES teacher in high school who first gave me the good advice of applying to Sciences Po, with the eventual aim of going on to the Master's in Economics. The other courses I was able to take as an undergraduate at Sciences Po, in sociology and history for example, also fed into my interest in the social sciences more broadly. Once I had begun the Master’s in Economics, my passion for research and teaching grew. I particularly enjoyed the experience of writing my master’s thesis, with the help of my master’s supervisor who has since become my PhD supervisor. 

What made you decide to enrol in a PhD?

At the start of the Master’s, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to go on to a PhD. I was more interested in applying economic findings than in researching those findings. Nonetheless, the training I gained over the two years of the programme equipped me with a very firm foundation. After graduating, I decided to continue in academia, particularly in order to gain more experience and a better understanding of research tools. I worked as a research assistant for several academics, first at UC Berkeley in California and then at the Paris School of Economics. After three years, I finally felt ready to work on my own projects and begin a PhD. It felt like the logical next step in my academic career. 

Do you have any advice for students hoping to enroll in a PhD?

Believe in yourself and don’t be discouraged. Lots of students, and I was one of them, struggle with impostor syndrome, or think they're not good enough because they don't understand everything right from the beginning. There’s no shame in taking your time, pausing your studies and gaining experience because, both during your PhD and afterwards, you will always continue to learn. It’s not grades that determine whether you can be a researcher, but rather creativity and the ability to come up with good ideas. A PhD is a long journey, with many ups and downs. You have to think about it calmly, when you’re ready and without rushing into anything. I would also stress the fact that research is a collective and human experience. We have to present our projects in seminars and work with other researchers, so we can’t have doubts about collaborating, discussing our topic and asking for help. That’s why, in my view, your relationship with your PhD supervisor is so essential.

Learn more

• About Master’s in Economics

=> See all the Graduates' Portraits

[ January 2023 ]