I am a senior researcher at the École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay, which is part of the Université Paris-Saclay. I am a member of the Chemistry department and an associate member of the Design department. I lead the research theme on ancient and palaeo-inspired materials. With L. Romary, I. Rouget, A. Thomas and L. de Viguerie, I am the coordinator of the Île-de-France region's key research and innovation sector on Tangible Heritage, which brings together 135 laboratories and institutions.

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. We 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 make archaeological objects. We develop multiscale photonic methodological approaches, particularly 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 archaeological, cultural heritage, palaeoenvironmental and paleontological materials 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 ENS Paris-Saclay (since 2020). 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 France's participation 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 and education