Professional Biography

I am a Contractual Researcher in Computer Science at the University Toulouse Capitole and a member of the Institute of Research in Computer Science of Toulouse (IRIT, UMR 5505 CNRS) in AI for Climate. I received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from ONERA, ISAE-SUPAERO, and Polytechnique Montréal. My doctoral work on high-dimensional multidisciplinary design optimization for eco-design was awarded the 2024 Best PhD Thesis Prize (Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO / French Ministry of Research) and the 2025 National Open Science PhD Award from the French Ministry of Research. I also received 3 additional Technical Best paper Awards at various conférences between 2022 and 2026.

My research focuses on surrogate modeling, frugal AI, and explainable machine learning for computationally expensive simulations. I develop lightweight statistical and machine-learning models (including Gaussian processes and ensemble methods) to approximate complex systems, quantify uncertainty, and support decision-making. My work connects Explainable AI, Bayesian optimization, and scientific machine learning, with applications ranging from sustainable transport design to agent-based socio-environmental modeling. I am a lead developer of the Surrogate Modeling Toolbox (SMT 2.0), contributing to open-source tools for surrogate modeling, design optimization, and interpretable simulation analysis.

Career Summary

Machine Learning Researcher

2025 - Present
IRIT (CNRS), Toulouse, France

Postdoctoral research on agent-based simulations surrogate modeling (ANR MIMICO).

Eco-Design Analyst and Optimizer

2020 - 2025
ONERA / ISAE-SUPAERO / ENAC, France
Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada

Optimization for ecological aeronautics (EU projects AGILE 4.0, COLOSSUS).

Professional Milestones

2026 - 1 month mobility

PI of a ecosystem modeling and simulation project for a Springboard British Council Project at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.

2026 - 1 month mobility

PI of a climate science simulation project for a Science and Impact IFI Project at IT Bandung, Indonesia.

2026 - 1 month mobility

Active Learning Post-doctoral research for a LabEx CIMI Project at GERAD, Canada.

2026

Intelligent Data Analysis Frontier Prize, Conference Rank B, Springer Lecture Notes on Computer Science.

2025

Recipient of the Prix du Ministère de la Recherche – Best PhD in Open Science.

2025 - Present

Machine Learning Researcher for ANR MIMICO at IRIT.

2024

Awarded ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation Best PhD Thesis Prize.

Watch PhD Defense / Presentation
2024

AIAA Best Student Paper Award in Optimal Eco-Design.

2020 - 2025

Eco-Design Optimizer at ONERA / ISAE-SUPAERO / ENAC.

2022

AIAA World Best Paper Award, NASA/Boeing Technical Committee.

2022

International Research Secondment at Polytechnique Montréal, Canada.

2020

AIRBUS National IA Contest – Finalist (issued by INSA).

2019

Research Intern at Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Informatics Systems, Russia.

2016

Intern at DGA Techniques Aéronautiques.

Media & Press

Redoc SPI Interview

"Du code à l’avion vert : ce que ma thèse m’a appris..."

Read Interview

CNRS Interview

"La science ouverte, moteur des avions éco-conçus"

Open Science Award Coverage

"Un prix national pour la science ouverte décerné à Paul Saves"

ISAE-SUPAERO L'Opinion

IDA Frontier Prize Coverage

"Une IA plus performante pour détecter les anomalies, récompensée à l’international"

UT Capitole L'Opinion

AIAA World Best Paper Coverage

Decarbonation and green aviation optimization

Education

  • PhD, Frugal AI for Eco-Design
    ISAE-SUPAERO / ONERA/ Polytechnique Montréal
    2020 - 2023
  • MSc, Operations Research
    ENAC - Civil Aviation School
    2019 - 2020
  • MEng, Numerical Models
    INSA Toulouse
    2015 - 2020
  • BEng, Mechanical Engineering
    Univ. du Québec à Trois-Rivières
    2019 - 2019

Research Areas

  • Frugal AI & Surrogate Modeling
  • Explainable AI (XAI)
  • Agent-Based Models & Socio-Technical Systems
  • Bayesian Optimization for Complex Systems

Languages

FrenchNative
EnglishC1 (955)
SpanishB2
RussianA1