By ministerial decree dated April 23, 2026, Jean-Paul Guillet is appointed Junior Member of the ‘Institut Universitaire de France’, effective October 1, 2026, for a period of 5 years. He is a laureate of the Chair of Innovation.
The ‘Institut Universitaire de France’ (IUF, Academic Institute of France), is a service of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research and Space that annually distinguishes a small number of university professors for their research excellence.
The IUF’s mission is to promote the development of high-level research in public higher education institutions and to strengthen interdisciplinarity. It thus constitutes a network of academic excellence in France and abroad.
The Junior Member status is intended for young teacher-researchers whose work is considered exceptionally high-quality and who are in a creative phase during which they need to be partially relieved of their teaching duties and certain administrative obligations.
Appointment to the IUF is one of the most prestigious distinctions awarded to academic staff in France. The selection process is highly competitive, and only a limited number of candidates are nominated following a rigorous evaluation.
In 2026, the success rate was 23.3% for Junior Fundamental Chairs (343 applicants) and 15.2% for Senior Fundamental Chairs (527 applicants). For Innovation Chairs, the success rate was 71.4% for Junior positions (21 applicants) and 20.3% for Senior positions (74 applicants), while Mediation Chairs recorded success rates of 41.7% (12 applicants) and 12.5% (40 applicants) for Junior and Senior positions, respectively. These figures highlight the prestige and selectivity of the IUF.
Jean-Paul’s appointment as a Junior Member under the Chair of Innovation therefore reflects the national recognition of the exceptional impact of his scientific contributions and the promising perspectives of his research program.
As an Associate Professor at the University of Bordeaux and faculty member at the IMS Laboratory, Jean-Paul’s research focuses on terahertz technologies, particularly imaging, spectroscopy, and non-destructive testing. His work explores diverse applications, ranging from the analysis of materials and electronic components to cultural heritage, healthcare, and civil engineering.
His IUF project aims to develop a new generation of terahertz imaging that is much faster and more compact. The objective is to design detection arrays and systems capable of acquiring and processing a significantly increased volume of data, in order to make these technologies more efficient, more accessible, and better suited to scientific, industrial, and educational applications.
Within the IMS Laboratory, Jean-Paul works in the Terahertz team of the Waves research group.
This nomination highlights the excellence and impact of his research work.
The IMS Laboratory is proud to support and promote scientific excellence, and warmly congratulates Jean-Paul on this prestigious distinction. This recognition reflects not only his individual achievements, but also the collective commitment of our research community to advancing knowledge and innovation.
Cover photo © IUT de Bordeaux
