Alliance teams grows

Welcome to Pauline Calarnou, Collaboration and Technology Innovation Officer.

In October, the Alliance team welcomed a new face: Pauline Calarnou, who holds the position of Collaboration and Technology Innovation Officer. She introduces herself here and explains what this new role will bring to the members of the Alliance Association.

My role with members

I am fortunate to have joined the Alliance team in October. This position, created especially for the occasion, aims to strengthen ties with member companies. Specifically, I will be responsible for:

  • strengthening the relationship with Alliance members to encourage the launch of their innovation projects;
  • maintaining regular contact through our newsletter and various communication channels;
  • showcasing members’ successes and achievements to highlight the innovations of our community;
  • proposing and running events for Alliance.

My background

I studied physics (bachelor’s), then applied physics (master’s) at EPFL, right next to our offices. My master’s project focused on cardiac MRI, in collaboration with CHUV, which made me want to pursue a PhD in the same lab. During this thesis, carried out in partnership with a large biomedical imaging company, I came to see just how valuable it is to bring industry and research closer together. For example, the company told us which aspects to prioritize for MRI users (radiologists and technicians), notably the immediate availability of results on the console. This led to a project aimed at speeding up post-processing so that a usable image is obtained quickly. This process is now being used in a clinical study and has attracted the interest of other research groups abroad.

At the end of my PhD, I was looking for a role close to innovation, in a stimulating environment where I could discover a variety of sectors. Alliance, at the crossroads of innovation and research, was exactly what I was looking for. My taste for communication and science popularization, developed through the many writing exercises a thesis requires, is also an asset. Finally, my experience in student association life at EPFL will help me come up with events that, I hope, you will enjoy.

I look forward to meeting you, and thank you to Alliance for welcoming me into the team!

To contact me: pauline.calarnou@alliance-innovation.ch