Interview with Vanessa Chávez Bracho, new Supervisor of the Processes and Polymers program

A chemical engineering graduate of the Universidad del Zulia, Vanessa Chávez Bracho is a graduate of IFP School's Processes and Polymers (POLY) program (class of 2014) and has an international profile, having worked in Venezuela, Kuwait and Belgium.

Back at the School since the beginning of May, she coordinates the Processes and Polymers program, replacing Céline Pierre, who is now a Project Officer in the Studies Department.

Portrait de Vanessa Chávez Bracho

1.   Can you tell us about your career path?

My career path is varied, thanks to the many projects in the energy sector in which I've been involved.

I started my career in Venezuela in 2012 with Weatherford, as a Technical Sales Engineer in the ALS business unit, where I was responsible for coordinating installation services and technical support for PCP (progressive cavity pump) systems. This experience enabled me to discover and better understand the field of reservoir development and production.

Two years later, I joined IFP School in the Processes and Polymers program. As part of my studies, I signed an apprenticeship contract with Total (now TotalEnergies) and moved to Feluy in Belgium to assess the performance of polystyrene production sites in Europe.

In 2016, I moved to Kuwait and joined Primeone Group as Project Coordinator in the construction of the first solar power plants at Shagaya Park, a Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) project. My mission ranged from managing the start of construction to the final phase of operation.

Following this project, I moved into the higher education sector and became a Teaching Assistant at the American University of the Middle East (AUM). For four years, working in the Science and Chemical Engineering Department, I supported students' learning and helped them with their practical work.

In 2022, back in Belgium, I was eager to get back to the innovation and technology aspects of plastics recycling. At KU Leuven's Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis And Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), I contributed to a project to sort plastic waste in the context of the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) regulations. Specifically, I worked on the cases of polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which are difficult to separate using existing methods.

2.   Why did teaching appeal to you? What would you like to pass on to your students?

When I was very young, I loved teaching. When I was in high school, I used to volunteer and help some of my classmates understand science lessons. I think we strengthen our knowledge when we share it, and with the new generations, I have the impression that this endures over time.

I'd like to inspire students to explore the different possibilities offered by the POLY program: following the traditional path as a process engineer, process or product development engineer, for example, or getting involved as a plastics engineer for processing, recycling or new technologies.  I'd also like to share my experiences with them, inviting them to learn constantly, to discover smaller companies or even to set up their own business, to innovate and contribute to a low-carbon world.

3.   What are your new duties?

First of all, I'm responsible for the smooth running of the program. I supervise the students and make sure they acquire the skills and knowledge they need for their future careers.

My mission is also to maintain the quality of the program, taking care to develop it and/or adapt the teaching to industrial needs and the challenges of the energy transition.

Finally, I'm in charge of recruiting the next intakes. 

4.   How do you feel about returning to the School?

I'm very happy to be back on the Rueil-Malmaison campus!

Attending an international school like IFP School has changed my life and my career prospects. I'm very proud of my degree, but above all of the overall experience, my classmates, the teachers, the cultural diversity, the projects, the field trips, etc. Everything has stayed in my heart.

The School is a close-knit, caring and constantly evolving community. The position of Program Supervisor came up at a time in my life when I was convinced that I wanted to continue my career in higher education, and I really enjoy it!

Interview conducted by: Meyling Siu