ready. You are currently on: The right chemistry with the United Nations
The right chemistry with the United Nations
What do you do if you have a master’s degree in chemistry but you aren’t cut out for a lab job? For Andy De Laet, the answer was surprising: Geneva. With the support of the Flanders Trainee Programme, he swapped the test tubes for an internship at the United Nations. What began as a search for an alternative grew into an international career in which he uses his scientific knowledge to tackle global environmental issues.
From a master’s degree in chemistry to the UN is not an everyday move. How did you end up there?
Andy: “After my studies, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted new challenges outside the laboratory. I started looking for jobs where I could use my scientific background outside the traditional lab environment.”
I was looking for a way to use my chemistry degree without being in a lab 24/7. The United Nations wasn’t part of the plan, but it turned out to be the perfect match.
Andy De Laet
“There wasn’t really a plan to work as an intern at the United Nations. It only started to grow when I visited a friend in Geneva. She told me that her colleagues at the UN were looking for an intern with a chemistry degree. Suddenly, everything fell into place.”
How did you end up at the Flanders Trainee Programme?
“My friend in Geneva had also applied to the Flanders Trainee Programme (FTP) for her internship. To be honest, I was unfamiliar with the programme: little or nothing was communicated about it at my university’s Faculty of Sciences. The FTP made it possible to start working as an intern at the UN. As an intern, you only receive a small allowance; the FTP contribution from the Government of Flanders makes it possible to make ends meet. That financial security was decisive for me. It made the move to an expensive city like Geneva feasible and allowed me to gain valuable experience.”
Andy De Laet
Were the application procedure and the FTP application major hurdles for you?
“Not really. I sent my CV and a cover letter for the UN vacancy. The online interview that followed lasted maybe 20 minutes. I had already expressed most of what I wanted to say in my letter, so it was mainly a matter of further substantiating my motivation. As soon as I received confirmation that I could start, I sent all the details to the FTP team. The application was sorted out very quickly.”
You started working at UNITAR. What exactly does your work involve?
“UNITAR is the UN’s training and research institute. The Chemicals and Waste Management Programme Unit, in which I work, trains governments and civil servants on environmental issues. My main project revolves around polychlorobiphenyls or PCBs. These are carcinogenic and hard-to-degrade synthetic oils that were formerly used in transformers and capacitors. This problem has long been addressed in Belgium, but in many countries in the Global South, old, leaking equipment still causes severe soil contamination. My job is to co-develop an online platform that helps countries correctly identify, control and dispose of these PCBs. It’s a very hands-on job with a global impact on public health.”
What was it like for you as a resident of Flanders to live in an international city like Geneva?
“You end up in an environment with people from all over the world, which is very enriching. At the office, I work in a small team of fewer than ten people, but our contacts span all continents. Finding a room or studio flat was a challenge, though: I had to arrange that all by myself. It felt a bit like an Erasmus adventure finally coming true. Fortunately, there was an FTP ambassador in Geneva: a resident of Flanders who had lived there for some time and had also done an FTP internship. She brought the interns together and was a huge help for all our practical questions during the first few weeks.”
Was the internship also a professional springboard for you?
“Absolutely. My internship lasted six months. After a few months, I suggested staying longer, but with an employment contract. They accepted.”
My six-month internship culminated in a contract. The Flanders Trainee Programme was my springboard to an international career.
Andy De Laet
“My internship turned into a job. I’ve since started working on a new project, and my contract has been extended. For me, the Programme really opened the door to an international career that I might never have considered otherwise.”
How did you experience the connection with Flanders during your internship?
“The Delegation of Flanders in Geneva regularly organises events, for instance on the occasion of Flanders Day. You not only meet other people from Flanders and interns there, but also international contacts who work together with Flanders. These are interesting networking opportunities. It’s a great way to feel like you’re still part of a Flemish network, even when you’re abroad.”
What message do you have for others who dream of an international career?
“Look beyond the obvious paths. I never thought an organisation like the UN would be looking for a chemist. But my technical knowledge turns out to be a huge asset. Don’t let your degree tie you down but dare to dream. And know that the Flanders Trainee Programme is your springboard to launch that dream.”
