Jérôme Chappellaz

Jérôme Chappellaz is a full professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IIE), and the SENSE laboratory. He also holds professorial roles in the College of Humanities (CDH) and the School of Sustainable Intervention Engineering (SSIE), and serves on the ENAC Academic Evaluation Committee. His research spans paleoclimatology, atmospheric chemistry, and biogeochemical cycles, with a focus on greenhouse gases derived from ice cores and polar firn.

His research interests include paleoclimatology, atmospheric composition, biogeochemical cycles, glaciology, polar sciences, isotopic geochemistry, and instrumental oceanography. He investigates climate feedbacks through long-term reconstructions of greenhouse gases (CH₄, CO₂, N₂O, CO, O₃) and their isotopic ratios, particularly over the Quaternary and industrial periods. He has pioneered methodological advances, including laser-based OF-CEAS spectroscopy applied to ice and oceanic gas analysis, and the development of the SUBGLACIOR and SUBOCEAN in situ probes.

His recent publications reveal trends in atmospheric composition over millennia, with a strong emphasis on CO, CH₄, and CO₂ dynamics derived from Greenland and Antarctic ice cores. His work integrates paleoclimate reconstruction, atmospheric chemistry, and advanced instrumentation, contributing to understanding both natural climate variability and anthropogenic impacts.

• President, Fondation Ice Memory (since 2021)
• Former Director, French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) (2018–2022)
• Director of Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)

He has received significant recognition through major research grants, including an ERC Advanced Grant and Proof of Concept funding, supporting the development and industrialization of oceanographic sensors. His leadership in polar science includes operational support for French polar research and international collaboration on ice core projects.

Chappellaz leads the SENSE laboratory, dedicated to developing intelligent sensors for extreme environments, and has been instrumental in advancing in situ analytical technologies for both glacial and aquatic systems. His work bridges climate science, engineering, and environmental monitoring, with a vision toward sustainable instrumentation and data preservation for future generations.