I am a senior researcher at the École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, which is part of the Université Paris-Saclay. I head the research theme on ancient and palaeo-inspired materials and teach in the chemistry department. I am the coordinator of the Key Research and Innovation Sector on Tangible Heritage of the Île-de-France region with L. Romary, I. Rouget and A. Thomas and L. de Viguerie which includes 135 laboratories and institutions. I coordinate the Atoms for Heritage collaborating center of the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2021 with S. Nomade and S. David.

My group's research focuses on the study of the multiscale physico-chemical properties of ancient materials, using innovative full-field and scanning micro-imaging methods that we develop. I study long-term ageing processes and the exceptional preservation of biological remains and archaeological materials, manufacturing techniques used in the past, and the origin of materials used to produce archaeological objects. I develop multiscale photonic methodological approaches, notably using synchrotron methods, in collaboration with instrumentalists and data scientists. My research has been mainly supported by the European Commission, CPER funds, ANR / LabEx and EquipEx funds, regional funds, the American NSF and the Dutch research funding agency NWO.

As a physico-chemist, I have studied materials from archaeology, cultural heritage, paleoenvironment and palaeontology at the C2RMF (Paris, 1999-2002), the University of Cambridge (UK, 2002-2003), the Laboratoire de Physique des solides (Orsay, 2004-2005), the SOLEIL synchrotron (2005-2020), IPANEMA (2007-2020) and PPSM (since 2022). I initiated and built the European laboratory for research on ancient materials IPANEMA and have been its director from 2010 to 2019. I have coordinated the participation of France in the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science (E-RIHS) from 2015 to 2022, and have been the scientific director of E-RIHS during its preparatory phase.

Main research interests

Physico-chemistry of the long-term alteration and exceptional preservation of biological remains in archaeological and palaeontological contexts (micro-taphonomy of soft and hard tissues, textiles, hair)
Development of spectral imaging approaches for ancient materials based on synchrotron and photonic methods (X-ray absorption, X-ray Raman, X-ray fluorescence, UV/vis photoluminescence, X-ray microtomography)
Study of photo-induced molecular effects on complex ancient materials and mathematical approaches for safer conditions of analysis
Development of materials and processes inspired by ancient materials (paleo-inspiration)
Advanced study of artists' materials (pigments, semiconducting phases, varnishes)
Interdisciplinary methodologies and innovation in heritage sciences