community
"Assist IP Network": a network created by and for assistants to serve the Institut Pasteur and research
A network that addresses real needs
The Institut Pasteur currently has more than 130 assistants across all its research and corporate departments, units and core facilities on its campuses in the 15th and 12th arrondissements in Paris. Although the nature of their work is similar, they are all located in different parts of the Institut Pasteur, making it difficult for them to discuss with fellow colleagues, share information and standardize processes. Each department and unit also has its own needs and specific procedures, and assistants can soon begin to feel isolated in their daily tasks.
To address these difficulties, a network of Institut Pasteur assistants, known as the Assist IP Network, was set up as a space created by and for assistants with the aim of boosting efficiency at the Institut Pasteur. The network offers an environment in which questions and solutions can be shared effectively. It facilitates access to information and capitalizes on the knowledge and diversity of each member.
Anyone working as an assistant at the Institut Pasteur can join the network, regardless of the type of unit or department they belong to – all assistant roles are welcome.
Whether you want to get actively involved or simply be part of a group that offers mutual support and shared resources, we would encourage you to join. One of the strengths of the network is that people are free to participate and contribute in their own way.
"Having a space where people in the same role can share their thoughts and ideas is so important – but until now there has been no structured framework for assistants to reach out to each other about their work and their experiences.
When I joined the Institut Pasteur in 2020, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, I felt lost. The fact that there was no dedicated space for communicating with other assistants made it harder for me to settle in and especially to understand procedures and how things work on campus.
That is what gave me the idea to create a network where we can share, help each other and better support new staff on campus."
Céline Dormoy, research unit assistant
A structure focused on mutual interests
The network, led by a steering committee composed of 12 assistants, will foster a collective dynamic in which each individual can use their talent to help improve daily working life and encourage collaboration among assistants on campus.
The network is organized around several working groups – training, welcoming new staff, procedures, digital tools, events – aimed at creating links between members (especially with new staff), testing and producing shared tools, improving practices and making existing resources easier to understand. Throughout the year, events and gatherings will be organized to boost the effectiveness of the network's initiatives and address specific needs related to the role of assistant: training, opportunities for dialog and debate, meetings with support departments and coffee chats.
“Getting to grips with the tools used by the Institut Pasteur, the CNRS and Inserm can be complicated. The Training group has decided to create detailed user guides to help the Institut Pasteur's assistants work more efficiently on a daily basis. The first guide, on creating vacancy/hosting requests (DARs), is already available via the network's Sharepoint space. A key aim of the network is to help people feel less isolated and better supported in their role.”
Déborah Philipps, research unit assistant
The Assist IP Network will not just benefit members; it will have a positive impact on the overall efficiency of the Institut Pasteur. By facilitating information sharing and empowering assistants to develop their skills, the network will help improve the efficiency of scientific and support teams.
"When I arrived, I was struck by the complexity of the working environment and I felt that I had to grapple with all the procedures on my own. It didn't help that I was simultaneously managing two departments. This highlights how important it is to facilitate the flow of information as a way of improving efficiency and making sure that handovers go smoothly. I am convinced that developing collaborative synergy is crucial for us to be successful in our work and strengthen our sense of community."
Yohan Rigot, assistant in the Departments of Microbiology and Neuroscience
Contact: assist_IP_network@pasteur.fr
Join the network now: Registration form to join Assist IP Network
"As Director of the DEI (Department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), I am delighted to support and sponsor the Institut Pasteur's network of assistants, people who make inclusion a reality on a daily basis in all the support and research teams. The network is driven by an inspiring vision that we need to foster contact and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and processes among people in similar roles, through a structured framework built around the principle of mutual support. The initiative shines a light on the role of assistants, which goes far beyond the strictly operational nature of their work. The network serves as an ambassador for a profession that is crucial for the cohesion, efficiency and quality of the Institut Pasteur as a whole. Their energy and impact deserve to be fully recognized, supported and encouraged."
Mariana Mesel-Lemoine, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion