معرفی
Sébastien Merkel is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Lille, where he is affiliated with the Materials and Transformations Unit (UMET, CNRS UMR 8207). He leads the ERC HotCores project and co-leads the ANR Min-Dixi and former ANR-DFG TIMEleSS projects, focusing on Earth and planetary materials under extreme conditions.
His research interests lie at the intersection of geophysics, mineral physics, and materials science, with a focus on texture, microstructures, seismic anisotropy, plasticity, and high-pressure/high-temperature experimentation using synchrotron X-ray diffraction. His work investigates the physical properties of Earth's mantle, D" layer, and planetary cores, particularly through multigrain crystallography and deformation studies in diamond anvil cells.
His recent publications reveal a strong trend in in-situ high-pressure experiments on mantle minerals like pyrolite, wadsleyite, and bridgmanite, analyzing phase transitions, deformation mechanisms, and their seismic signatures. He frequently collaborates on experiments at large-scale facilities such as the European XFEL and synchrotrons, advancing techniques in X-ray diffraction and thermal measurements under extreme conditions.
Scientific Awards:
- Junior Member, Institut Universitaire de France (2014–2019)
- Research Excellence Medal, European Mineralogical Union (2011)
- Mineral and Rock Physics Outstanding Student Award, American Geophysical Union (2002)
- Blaustein Invited Professor, Stanford University (2020)
Advising and Grants: He actively supervises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including recent and current advisees such as Jeffrey Gay, Estelle Ledoux, and Léo Carin. He leads major funded projects including the ERC HotCores (2022–2027), ANR Min-Dixi (2023–2027), and previously the ANR-DFG TIMEleSS project (2018–2022). He has also held leadership roles in professional societies, including serving as president of the Mineral and Rock Physics section at the American Geophysical Union.
Labs and Teams: He is a key member of the Terrestrial and Planetary Materials Research team at UMET and leads the High Pressure Lab at the University of Lille. His work involves the European XFEL, synchrotron facilities, and advanced data analysis tools like MAUD and multigrain XRD software.
