The 2025 Open Science Awards for PhD Theses
The second edition of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space’s (MESRE) Open Science Awards for PhD Theses was held on December 1st 2025 at Paris-Saclay University during the National Research Data Conference (Andor 2025).
The Open Science Awards for PhD Theses were first organised in 2024 and aims to encourage and highlight open science practices among doctoral students. The award recognises theses in which open science practices have contributed to the quality of the scientific work. These awards are part of the Second French Plan for Open Science and complements the Open Science Awards set up in 2022 for research data and free research software.
The eight winners listed below were awarded prizes in four thematic categories.
Category: Medicine and Biology/Health
- Eduarda Gervini Zampieri Centeno – Sleep in songbirds
Thesis title: ‘ Étude des dynamiques neurales cortico-ganglions de la base pendant le sommeil chez les oiseaux chanteurs avec une méthodologie inspirée par la Science Ouverte’ (Study of cortico-basal ganglia neural dynamics during sleep in songbirds using a methodology inspired by Open Science)
This thesis was defended in 2024 in the field of Neuroscience at the University of Bordeaux.
Read the thesis
- Layan Fessler – Physical activity and chronic diseases
Thesis title: ‘Promouvoir l’activité physique chez les personnes atteintes de maladies chroniques : le rôle des mécanismes affectifs’ (Promoting physical activity in people with chronic diseases: the role of affective mechanisms).
This thesis was defended in the field of Movement and Behaviour for Health and Autonomy at Université Grenoble Alpes.
Read the thesis
Category: ‘Science and Technology’
- Anne Josiane Kouam – Bypass fraud in cellular networks
Thesis title: ‘Fraudes de contournement dans les réseaux cellulaires : compréhension et mitigation’ (Bypass fraud in cellular networks: understanding and mitigation).
This thesis was defended in the field of Computer Science, Data, Artificial Intelligence, at the Paris Institute of Technology.
Read the thesis
- Paul Saves – Optimisation for the eco-design of aircraft
Thesis title: ‘Optimisation multi-disciplinaire en grande dimension pour l’éco-conception avion en avant-projet’ (Large-scale multidisciplinary optimisation for eco-design of aircraft in the preliminary design phase)
This thesis was defended in the field of Mathematics and Applications, at the Institut supérieur de l’aéronautique et de l’espace de Toulouse.
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Category: ‘Humanities and Social Sciences’
- Quentin Verriez – Streamlining digital practices in archaeology
Thesis title: ‘ Rationaliser les pratiques numériques en archéologie : l’exemple des chantiers de fouilles de Bibracte’ (Rationalising digital practices in archaeology: the example of the Bibracte excavation sites).
This thesis was defended in the field of Archaeology, at Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté.
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- Ethan Meimoun – Gender norms among adolescent girls and boys
Thesis title: ‘ Réactions aux Violations des Normes de Genre d’Adolescent·e·s : Une Approche Multiparadigmatique’ (Reactions to Violations of Adolescent Gender Norms: A Multiparadigmatic Approach).
This thesis was defended in the field of Psychology at Université Paris Cité.
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Category: ‘Multidisciplinary and Cross-disciplinary’
- Saray Valentina Chavez Colmenares – Stormwater management at source
Thesis title: ‘ Quand les PLU(i) régulent la pluie : évaluation du potentiel des Plans Locaux d’Urbanisme pour intégrer la gestion des eaux pluviales à la source : le cas de Nantes Métropole’ (When PLU(i) regulate rain: evaluating the potential of Local Urban Plans to integrate stormwater management at source: the case of Nantes Metropolitan Area).
This thesis was defended in the field of Urban Planning and Development at the University of Technology of Compiègne.
Read the thesis
- Louis Regnacq – Electrical stimulation of the peripheral nervous system
Thesis title: ‘Amélioration de la sélectivité de la stimulation électrique du système nerveux périphérique basée sur l’utilisation d’électrodes intrafasciculaires et de formes d’ondes non-conventionnelles’ (Improving the selectivity of electrical stimulation of the peripheral nervous system based on the use of intrafascicular electrodes and unconventional waveforms).
This thesis was defended at CY Cergy Paris University in the field of Computer Science, Data and AI
Read the thesis
Jury
The jury was made up of the following members:
- Raphaël Porcher, chair of the jury | president of the National Network of Doctoral Colleges (RNCD, France PhD) and university professor / Université Paris Cité – PR[AI]RIE Institute of Artificial Intelligence
- Laura Bernardi, university professor | University of Lausanne
- Thierry Billard, research professor | University of Lyon 1
- Nicolas Chaillet, Inspector General of Education, Sport and Research | IGESR
- Paola Cinnella, university professor | Sorbonne University
- Hélène Delacour, university professor | Université de Lorraine
- Simon Dumas Primbault, CNRS researcher| Coordinator of OpenEdition Lab | Associate researcher at the BnF
- Yohann Foucher, university professor and hospital practitioner | University of Poitiers
- Mariannig Le Bechec, university professor | Université de Lorraine
- Valérie Legué, university professor | Clermont Auvergne University
- Aliyah Morgenstern, university professor | Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
- Serge Pinto, CNRS research professor | Aix-Marseille University
- Sabine Schmidt, research professor | University of Bordeaux
- Nicolas Torquet, CNRS research engineer | Institute of Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology – ICS
- Isis Truck, professor | Paris 8 Vincennes – Saint-Denis
Find out more:
- The MESRE website page presenting the winners of the Open Science 2025 Award: https://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/fr/remise-des-prix-science-ouverte-edition-2025-100469#these
- All the awards and winners: https://www.ouvrirlascience.fr/category/openscience-prices/
