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Enjeux liés au sous-sol
Fundamental Research
News 01 April 2025

Improving our understanding of underground biogeochemistry

In the context of the energy transition, it is vital to study underground biogeochemical cycles given the pivotal role they play in H2 storage, geothermal energy, the extraction of critical metals and CO2 burial. Resident microbial communities have a significant influence on these environments, modifying permeability, for example, and rendering geothermal energy, gas storage and other such operations complex. Their metabolic activity can also cause damage, notably by corroding infrastructure and producing hydrogen sulfide.

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Philippe BÉARD

Research engineer
Dr, PhD in Fluid Mechanics
PhD in Fluid Mechanics at ISAE-SUPAERO, Toulouse, France in 1994. Research engineer in the Systems Simulation and Modelling Department from 1996 to 2008. Since 2008, research engineer in the Chemical
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Francesco PATACCHINI

Research engineer in scientific computing
Francesco Patacchini is a research engineer in scientific computing and, more generally, in applied mathematics. He obtained his PhD at Imperial College London in 2017 under the supervision of Prof
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Christophe PREUX

Head of Department, Physico Chemistry of Complex Fluids and Materials
Christophe Preux graduated from the MATMECA engineering school (+ DEA in applied mathematics) (2003) before completing his doctoral thesis at the University of Bordeaux 1 in partnership with the CEA
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Delphine SINOQUET

Research engineer / project leader in optimization
PhD in applied mathematics
Master degree in numerical analysis (Paris 6 university) PhD in applied mathematics (Paris 13 university) : inversion problem of seismic tomography 2003-now : research engineer in applied mathematics
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Antoine FECANT

Head of Department
Antoine Fécant holds an engineering degree from the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Chimie de Lille (2004) and a DEA (Master degree) from the University of Lille I the same year. He then obtained a PhD
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Jean KITTEL

Materials & Corrosion Technical Advisor, Project manager
PhD in Electrochemistry
> 20 years experience in Materials and Corrosion. Materials Engineer from INSA de Lyon, 1997. PhD in Eectrochemistry (Paris 6), 2001. Habilitation from INSA de Lyon, 2011. Member of Cefracor / EFC /
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Charles-Philippe LIENEMANN

Charles-Philippe Lienemann - Scientific Advisor at the Physics and Analysis Division
Charles-Philippe Lienemann graduated at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in 1993. He then joined University of Lausanne (Switzerland) within the group of D. Perret and Prof. J-C. Bünzli for his
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Nicolas FERRANDO

Project manager / Research Engineer
Nicolas Ferrando is graduated of Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Génie Chimique (Toulouse) with a Chemical Engineering master degree, followed by a PhD in Chemistry from Université Paris
Carnot IFPEN Ressources Energétiques
Innovation and Industry

Carnot IFPEN Ressources Energétiques
The Carnot IFPEN Ressources Energétiques (RE) brings together 14 of IFP Energies nouvelles’ laboratories. Awarded the Carnot label in 2020, it maintains strong ties with the socio-economic world, both in France and internationally, and actively contributes to the Carnot Institute network. The Carnot IFPEN RE addresses the challenges associated with
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Carlos NIETO-DRAGHI

Research Engineer / Project Manager
Carlos Nieto-Draghi (b. 1975) completed a Chemical Engineer degree at the Simón Bolívar University (Caracas, Venezuela) followed by a DEA and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineer and Processes at the Rovira i