Sylvie Retailleau , born Sylvie Galdin onFebruary 24, 1965in Nice ( Alpes-Maritimes ), is a French physicist and politician . She is president from 2016 of Paris-Sud University (now Paris-Saclay University ). She has been appointed Minister of Higher Education and Research in the Élisabeth Borne government sinceMay 20, 2022.
Sylvie Retailleau is a graduate of the « Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan » where she
obtained an « Agrégation de physique » in 1988. She received her PHD degree in 1992 in
Physics from Paris-Sud University. She joins this university the same year at the Institut
d’Electronique Fondamentale at Orsay, as an associate (1992) and a senior professor (2001).
From 2002 to 2011, she was the head of the research team “Quantum components for
nanoelectronic” and she developed themes about new concept or new architectures of
components with the aim of the future generations of integrated circuits.
Sylvie Retailleau is co-authored more than 134 articles and 14 invited conferences. She
supervised 11 doctoral theses and sit on 28 thesis committees.
She contributed to the training policy in micro-nanoelectronics at the national level being,
during 12 years, director of the Paris-Sud pole of the national center of training of micro-
nanoelectronics.
From 2001 to 2008, she was responsible of Information, Systems and Technology Master’s
program at Paris-Sud University, co-accredited by Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan.
She pays real attention to transfer search-education and training innovation, concretized by
publications and educational softwares. Her passion for training was also reflected by a strong
commitment for a widespread dissemination of scientific culture. She participated in the
creation of the “Diagonale Paris-Saclay” which facilitates dialogue between science and
society.
She was Vice-Dean of Education in the Science Faculty (2008-2011) then Dean of the
Science Faculty of the Paris-Sud University (2011-2016), before to become President of
Paris-Sud University from 2016 to 2018, and President of Paris-Saclay University from 2019.
Sylvie Retailleau is Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Sylvie Retailleau is the President of Université Paris-Saclay since 2020. She’s full professor in physics.
Graduated of the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan, she received her PhD degree in Physics in 1992 at Paris-Sud University. Expert in nanoscience and nanotechnology, she’s the author of 136 international publications, 8 book chapters. She supervised 11 PhD and carried out several national, European and industrial research projects. Very committed to science dissemination, she organized more than 30 events related for young public.
Sylvie Retailleau occupied several key functions at the university, including Vice-Dean of Education at the Faculty of Sciences (2008-2011), Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at Paris-Sud University (2011-2016) and President of Paris-Sud University from 2016 to 2018.
She’s member of the French Conference of University Presidents (CPU), of the Administrative Board of the French Research National Agency (ANR), of the European University Association Research Policy Working Group and of the LERU network.
She has been recently awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French President.
