Presentation

I was born on the 8th of July 1972 in the french Basque Country , and grew up in Biarritz . I have both French and Swiss origins and nationalities.
I became Ingeneer of the Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) in 1994, and Doctor in Theoretical Physics in 1998 at the University of Tours (France).
I enjoyed two post-doctoral experiences at SISSA (Trieste, Italy) and CERN (Geneva, Switzerland). Since 2000, I am a permanent CNRS researcher, member of LAPTH (Laboratoire de Physique Théorique d'Annecy-le-Vieux, France). Since March 2008, I am on leave of absence from LAPTH.

I am currently carrying my research and teaching activities both at CERN (in the Theory Division ) and at the Laboratoire de Physique des Particules et Cosmologie of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at EPFL (Lausanne). Hence, you can reach either me at:

CERN:

Theory Division, PH-TH 4-2-018

CERN

CH-1211 Geneva 23

tel: + 41 (0)22 767 28 24

fax: + 41 (0)22 767 38 50

EPFL:

SB-ITP-LPPC, BSP 312

EPFL

CH-1015 Lausanne

tel: + 41 (0)21 693 05 61

fax: + 41 (0)21 693 05 23

Research activities

I am a researcher in cosmology, the area of physics devoted to the understanding of our universe's global properties and evolution. This rapidly developing field is placed at the interface between theoretical physics, particle physics and astrophysics. My original background is rather in theoretical physics, but I am getting closer and closer to astrophysics, with a particular interest for understanding and interpreting astrophysical observations relevant for cosmology.
I am specialized in modeling the evolution of cosmological perturbations, starting from their generation (presumably during a stage in the early universe called inflation). Cosmological perturbations are responsible for cosmic microwave background anisotropies and for the formation of the large scale structure of the universe. Observing these quantities allows cosmologists to derive bounds and constraints on cosmological parameters, and on various possible extensions of the minimal cosmological scenario.
These issues are intimately related to the dark matter and dark energy problems, as well as other fascinating questions like the role of neutrinos in cosmology, or like possible observable consequences of high energy physics models (supersymmetry, string theory, large extra dimensions, modifications of gravity...)
My list of publication is avalaible e.g. from the SLAC server .

CV

This brief version was up-to-date in March 2008.

Hobbies

Besides my wife Isabelle and my three daugthers Constance, Apolline and Diane, my main passions are:

Classical music, opera, playing the piano.
Arts: architecture, painting, etc.
Eating, winetasting and cooking
Mountain hiking and skiing (trying to balance the previous item).

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