How did you start working at the ANR?As Project Leader at Inserm, I have worked in several laboratories, over the past twenty years, learning different experimental approaches (molecular and cell biology, animal testing, cohort studies, etc.) and in different specialities. At Gustave Roussy, I wanted to give some of my time to management, to help researchers (institutional funding applications, implementation of joint services, etc.).
Then, I wanted to support research on a different scale. It turns out that a position opened at the DGPIE, meeting my exact needs: something highly multidisciplinary! I arrived at the ANR on 1 June 2013, as a Thematic Coordinator (TC) in Biology and Health, first at 50% of my time, then 80% when new calls for proposals were launched. I have also been appointed Action Manager for the past year.
TCs are tasked with the scientific follow-up of each project, both annually and occasionally when, for example, a scientific objective changes. We are asked to draft scientific reports, thematic summaries, and end-of-project reviews. Our tasks also include implementing the recommendations made by Interministerial Steering Committees and the French General Secretariat for Investment and organising ex-post evaluations.
We also need to respond to requests for information from the French State, the French Parliament, and various inspections (about twenty since I arrived at the ANR) or take part in implementing future investment programmes. I am sure I am forgetting a few!
Finally, the Action Manager is responsible for setting up the call for proposals, organising the selection process (e.g., international jury), start up support for each project, the annual action review, mid- and end-of-term evaluations. I am still forgetting some!
There are so many different tasks and questions asked that is such that every day is different from the next. Here, I fully serve Science: first and foremost, I work for researchers, for Research. National infrastructures in Biology and Health, Labex, Equipex and Equipex+ cohorts, etc. All these major national projects are essential: there were such gaps.
