Six New Award Recipients from the University of Montpellier at the IUF in 2024
Six female faculty members and Professors s from the University of Montpellier have been appointed as members of the Institut universitaire de France (IUF) effective October 1, 2024, for a five-year term. On Friday, October 18, 2024, they were welcomed by Elyès Jouini, administrator of the Institut universitaire de France, in the main auditorium of the Sorbonne, in the presence of Philippe Augé, president of the University of Montpellier.

Since its creation in 1991, the Institut universitaire de France has been dedicated to promoting high-level research in universities and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration. Each year, through an international selection committee, it honors a group of 200 female faculty members and junior and senior Professors s for the exceptional quality of their research. An appointment entitles the recipient to a research grant of 15,000 euros per year.
Junior members, under the basic chair
Guillaume GUINOT, an associate professor in the Faculty of Sciences and a paleontologist, studies the evolution of chondrichthyans at the Montpellier Institute of Evolutionary Sciences (ISEM – AEB Cluster).
Yaovi HOLADE, an associate professor at the École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier (ENSCM), conducts his research at the European Institute of Membranes (IEM – Chemistry Division), on the study of electrocatalytic phenomena at the intersection of catalysis and physical electrochemistry for various applications in the fields of energy and the environment.
Junior Member, holding the Chair in Scientific Mediation
Julie MENDRET, an associate professor at Polytech Montpellier, is leading research at the European Membrane Institute (IEM – Chemistry Division) on the development of advanced water treatment processes for the reuse of treated wastewater (REUT).
Senior Member, holding the Endowed Chair
Mauro ANTEZZA, a university professor in the Faculty of Sciences, conducts research at the Charles Coulomb Laboratory (L2C – MIPS Center) on theoretical physics, with a particular focus on quantum light-matter interactions, condensed matter, statistical mechanics, quantum nanophotonics, and the connections between them.
Senior Member, holding the Innovation Chair
Sofia KOSSIDA, a university professor in the Faculty of Sciences, is a specialist in immunoinformatics. She conducts her research at the Institute of Human Genetics (IGH – Biology and Health Cluster).
Senior Member, holding the Chair in Scientific Mediation
Grégory NINOT, a university professor inthe STAPS Department, is a specialist in public health, particularly in the area of non-pharmacological interventions. He conducts his research at the Desbrest Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (IDESP – Biology and Health Division), where he serves as associate director.