I joined Ansys more than 20 years ago via an acquisition. Back in 2002, I joined CADOE, a small company of 13 employees in applied mathematics in Lyon, France, that was acquired by Ansys a few months later. I worked on the research side on parametrization, optimization, and reduced-order model (ROM) technologies.
A few years later, I was involved in research for medical applications, which is a very interesting topic. The goal was to develop proof of concepts to show how the usage of simulation could help doctors. This was strongly linked with the research on ROMs because the simulation (usually done by an engineer) needs to be combined with ROM techniques to be exposed in an interface usable by a doctor, surgeon, or radiologist.
For five years, I have been part of the Ansys Twin Builder and ROMs team. I am still focused on the same type of technology but as part of a product development team. After several years in the research field, I appreciate participating in the exposure of these types of technologies that have currently a lot of applications in the industry.
Christelle joined Ansys 20 years ago via an acquisition.
How I’d Explain My Job to a Kindergartener
Ansys makes software that helps to design all the technical objects that surround us. For example, our simulation shows our customers how to design a bridge so that it withstands passing trucks, optimize the shape of an aircraft wing, or predict the waves emitted by cell phones.
Today, my work specifically consists of making digital twins — basically a digital copy of a physical object. It's like a video game where you use models to see what could happen in real life without actually doing it for real (e.g., it lets you see what's going on inside a pump that you can’t access because it is deep immersed).
What I Actually Do
I am part of the Twin Builder and ROMs team. We build ROMs from simulation results data. They are compact, high-fidelity numerical representations that preserve essential behavior and dominant effects of a full 3D simulation. The goal is to replace a full 3D simulation with a fast, compact, and reliable component. This opened the door to a lot of challenging applications for our customers: digital twins for predictive maintenance, enhanced control systems with enriched sensor data, efficient design space exploration, etc. It also can help multiscale and multiphysics simulation. It’s very motivating to be a part of these challenging applications.
Why I Choose Ansys
There is a great level of innovation at Ansys, and the company is always evolving. I have always had a passion for developing and learning new things. During my journey at Ansys, I have always appreciated the diversity of our customers. For example, I’ve learned how to work with many different products like a medical stent for an artery, a chip set, a vacuum pump, etc.
Hiking in the Alps Mountains in France.
Being Recognized as a Woman in Tech
Christelle and her children.
It’s a great honor to be a distinguished engineer at Ansys — especially as a woman in tech. I have always been interested in science and I became an engineer even though I didn't have any role models of women in technical professions during my childhood. Today, I'm happy to see that the proportion of women in the engineering population continues to grow, particularly at Ansys.
But I'd like to spare a thought for those women who are challenged to realize their professional aspirations because of family constraints, and for those who are even completely excluded from public life because of the political situation in their country.
Our ONE Ansys Culture
In my team, we are fully aligned with the ONE Ansys culture: we work closely with other business units to develop ROM technology that can be useful to all types of simulation (mechanical, fluid, electromagnetism) and that can also help multiphysics simulations. That’s why we are in contact with colleagues from Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Fluent, Ansys LS-DYNA, and other teams to connect our ROM technology with their products. It forces each of us to understand the other’s needs. We need to determine where our technology can help and how it can answer a customer’s needs. Developing the ROM applications and the digital twin business helps to sell more flagships licenses.
Fulfilling Our Mission
I am part of a team of eight employees developing ROMs to increase Ansys’ position in the digital twin market. This involves a variety of tasks from the theoretical mathematical research (in particular we developed a unique and powerful dynamic ROM technology) to the architecture innovation (web-based technologies, light and real-time components, light viewer, etc.).
Getting Involved
I am involved in a local running club as treasurer. I am also one of the founding members of an after-school care association that is still active now after 20 years. It is important to me to be involved in associative activities and it is a source of enrichment.
Hiking in the Alps mountains in France.
A sample of Christelle’s calligraphy — a gift to her former boss, Michel Rochette. The phrase in French means: "Here we work with courage and good humor.”
What You Might Not Know
I live in the countryside and I like outdoor sports such as running in the forest or hiking in the mountains. I also enjoy doing calligraphy because it is an activity where you have to be meticulous to reproduce historical writings but then you also have to be instinctive to practice gestural writing or play with the composition. That’s very similar to an engineer’s work: you need to digest science and technology knowledge and then this knowledge allows you to build something completely new.
"Today, I'm happy to see that the proportion of women in the engineering population continues to grow, particularly at Ansys."
— Christelle Grivot, distinguished engineer, Ansys
