Jean-Pierre Mahy

Jean-Pierre Mahy is a Professor and Director of the Chemistry Department at Paris-Saclay University, where he also serves as a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Chemistry and Materials in Orsay (ICMMO - CNRS/Université Paris-Sud). He has played a pivotal role in structuring chemistry research across the Paris-Saclay campus.

His academic journey began at the École supérieure de chimie de Paris, where a laboratory internship with Daniel Mansuy at the ENS focused on liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism solidified his research vocation. Recruited by CNRS in 1984, he defended his state thesis in 1986 and became a CNRS research director in 1999 while taking leadership of ICMMO and obtaining his professorship.

Mahy's research operates at the chemistry-biology interface with societal applications in health and renewable energy. His two primary research axes include bio-inspired multicatalysis (mimicking cellular catalytic cascades for eco-compatible reactions in water at reasonable temperatures) and biomaterials development, particularly artificial metalloenzymes. His team creates these by inserting metal complexes into protein scaffolds to enhance stability and reaction selectivity, collaborating with researchers at University of Versailles and University of Paris-Sud.

As an academic leader, Mahy directed the ICMMO from 2006-2014 (one of France's largest chemistry laboratories with 320 researchers), founded the CHARMMMAT Labex in 2012 to unite chemists across the Paris region, and currently directs the Chemistry Department at Paris-Saclay University. He actively promotes chemistry through events like 'Meet my Plateform - Chemistry' and IUPAC symposia while teaching his popular 'Chemistry and the Origins of Life' course for first-year undergraduates.