awards
Recognition for Institut Pasteur scientists: CNRS medals, Mary Lyon Award, EAM elections...
Romain Koszul, Brice Bathellier and Léo Valon, winners of 2026 CNRS medals
Each year, the CNRS recognizes the achievements of its talented researchers, engineers, technicians and administrative staff by awarding bronze and silver medals. In 2026, the CNRS awarded 46 bronze medals and 26 silver medals.
- Romain Koszul and Brice Bathellier, recipients of the silver medal
Romain Koszul, Head of the Spatial Regulation of Genomes Unit, received a 2026 CNRS silver medal for his interdisciplinary contributions to chromosome biology, ranging from research into the universal principles governing 3D functional genome organization in the three domains of life to the development of innovative genomic methods like HiC-scaffolding and metaHiC.
Brice Bathellier, rHead of the Neural Codes and Dynamics Unit, was awarded a 2026 CNRS silver medal for his neuroscience research, especially his work on how the brain transforms sounds into meaningful objects. Contrary to popular belief, sound information does not simply spread through the brain; it is transformed at every stage of its journey so that it can be interpreted. At the Hearing Institute, Brice Bathellier is studying this process by simultaneously recording the activity of thousands of neurons through the auditory system. His research shows that as we move further through the auditory system, neuron activity becomes more specific to precise types of sounds. A similar transformation is observed in the artificial neural networks used in artificial intelligence to identify auditory objects such as words. This convergence highlights general principles in sound recognition. Brice Bathellier's research is currently paving the way for the development of a cortical implant that uses these principles to directly transmit sounds to the brain. The research also explores working memory, which is crucial in understanding how sounds follow on from each other and create meaning over a given time span.
- Léo Valon, recipient of the bronze medal
Léo Valon, a research associate in the Cell Death and Epithelial Homeostasis Unit, received a 2026 CNRS bronze medal for his research on a key question regarding tissue biology: how do mechanical forces influence cell behavior and fate? With a background in biophysics, Léo Valon decided to focus on the technique of optogenetics. This approach, which involves using light to control cell activity, gives him access to rapid, precise and reversible disruptions that are particularly useful for studying biomechanical phenomena that were previously inaccessible in in vivo contexts. His recent research shows that in mechanical cell competition, death depends not only on cell growth but also on the geometry and topology of interacting cell populations. He is seeking to elucidate how tissue mechanics govern the balance between cell survival and death.
Caroline Manet, winner of the Mary Lyon Award
Caroline Manet, a research engineer in the Mouse Genetics, lmmunity and Infections Unit, has been awarded the Mary Lyon Prize in recognition of her work on the genetic mechanisms underlying host susceptibility to vector-borne viral infections.
By pioneering the use of genetically diverse Collaborative Cross mouse models and applying complex trait genetic analyses, Caroline identified key genetic and immune determinants that influence antiviral responses and disease outcomes. Building on this foundation, her current projects use advanced genetic tools and innovative mouse-mosquito and mouse-tick systems to explore how host variation shapes arbovirus transmission and disease pathology.
The Mary Lyon Award, presented by the International Mammalian Genome Society (IMGS), honors the legacy of Dr. Mary Lyon, a pioneering geneticist and longtime advocate for mentorship and women in science. This award recognizes early- and mid-career female scientists whose work significantly advances mammalian genetics, highlighting my innovative and integrative approach to understanding host-pathogen interactions in genetically diverse mammalian systems.
Find out more about he Mary Lyon Award
European Academy of Microbiology: four Institut Pasteur scientists among the new Fellows elected in 2026
Four Institut Pasteur scientists are among the 95 newly elected Fellows of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) this year – a prestigious honor that recognizes their scientific excellence and major contributions to the advancement of microbiology.
This year, the EAM admitted 95 new members from European and international institutions, representing a wide range of expertise in microbiology and related disciplines. Their work reflects the breadth and dynamism of the field, from fundamental microbial research to applied innovations addressing global challenges in health, environment and biotechnology.
Election to the EAM Fellowship, the result of a rigorous nomination and evaluation process by existing members, recognizes outstanding scientific achievement and leadership in microbiology.
The new Fellows from the Institut Pasteur are:
David Bikard, Head of the Synthetic Biology Unit
Ariane Briegel, Head of the Integrative Structural Cell Biology Unit
Ivo Gomperts Boneca, Head of the Biology and Genetics of the Bacterial Cell Wall Unit
Eduardo Rocha, Head of the Microbial Evolutionary Genomics Unit
Eight Institut Pasteur teams selected in the "'Research Hopes' 2026 FRM Team Program" call for proposals
The French Foundation for Medical Research (FRM) has selected 48 of the proposals submitted in response to the "'Research Hopes' 2026 FRM Team Program" call, including 8 out of a total of 11 Institut Pasteur proposals. Each winning team will receive funding over three years.
Read on for the list of eight selected Institut Pasteur teams and their projects:
Pierre Brunhs, “Pathological functions of human IgGs in vivo”
Laurent Debarbieux, “Characterization and quantification of antibacterial synergy between bacteriophages and immune cells using a lung-on-a-chip model”
Sandrine Etienne-Manneville, “Studying the interaction between intermediate filaments and microtubules in the functional plasticity of glioblastoma cells”
Louis Lambrechts, “Urban adaptation of vectors and emergence of dengue in Africa”
Nadia Naffakh, “Using single-virion sequencing to explore the mechanisms underpinning intra- and inter-host evolution of influenza A viruses”
Mathieu Picardeau, “Leptospira: diversity, dynamics, evolution and adaptation to the host”
Javier Pizarro-Cerda, “Analysis of Yersinia pestis evolution in Africa”
Timothy Wai, “Mitochondria and genetics for quantitative comprehension of energetics”
Four laureates of MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships are individual grants open to researchers of any nationality who wish to undertake a research project as part of an international mobility programme, with a view to acquiring new skills and advancing their careers.
This year, the Institut Pasteur is delighted to announce that four of its researchers have been selected among the 130 postdoctoral researchers chosen in France:
Valentina Venzin, postdoctoral fellow in the Meta-organism Unit led by Yasmine Belkaid
Azusa Yamada, postdoctoral fellow in the Biology and Genetics of Bacterial Cell Wall Unit led by Ivo Gomperts Boneca
Ricardo Obonaga Gomez, future postdoctoral fellow in the Trypanosome Molecular Biology Unit, led by Lucy Glover
Mathilde Dura, postdoctoral fellow in the Evolutionary cell biology and evolution of morphogenesis 5-year group (G5) led by Thibaut Brunet
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call for 2026 will open very soon, with a project submission deadline of 9 September 2026.
If you want to apply or find out more, please contact the Grants Office via goeurope@pasteur.fr