À propos de moi
Marilaure Grégoire is Full Professor at the University of Liège, where she leads MAST (Modelling for Aquatic Systems) and directs FOCUS, the Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of research. She is an Honorary Research Director of the F.R.S.-FNRS.
Beyond research, serves the academic community as spokesperson of ADERE, the Association of Research and Teaching Team Directors she founded at the University of Liège, and leads UNIFRA, the Union pour les Universités Francophones, an independent, politically unaffiliated inter-university movement.
Trained in physical engineering, she completed a PhD in Applied Sciences on three-dimensional coupled physical–biogeochemical models. That work set the direction for a career devoted to building numerical models of marine systems: tools that bring together the physics of currents and mixing with the chemistry and biology of the sea, to understand it, forecast it, and inform the decisions that govern it.
My research focuses on developing and applying mathematical models to understand and predict marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, with emphasis on ocean deoxygenation, data assimilation, and climate change impacts on marine environments. I am involved in numerous European projects and international expert groups, contributing to marine policy and environmental assessment.
TODO(content): expand the biography (career stages with dates, editorial duties, expert groups and committees, awards, academic service, …)
Parcours
Parcours professionnel
- Full Professor
- Professor
- FNRS Research Director
- FNRS Senior Research Associate
- FNRS Research Associate
- Marie Curie Fellowship
- Career breaksThree maternity leaves (2000, 2003 and 2006) and two parental leaves (2003 and 2006).
- FNRS Postdoctoral Researcher (Chargée de recherches)
Formation
- PhD in Applied ScienceThesis: “The three-dimensional modeling of the Black Sea physics and ecosystem”. Summa cum laude, with congratulations of the board of examiners.
- European Diploma Eruditionum Altarum in the Modelling of the Marine EnvironmentSumma cum laude.
- Civil Engineering - Mechanics-PhysicsSumma cum laude each year, with congratulations of the board of examiners in 1992, 1994 and 1995. Final year: 92%, first of the section.
Projets de recherche
- RIVIERADE - Improving Modelling Methods to Produce Climate Services for Resilient European Seas and Coasts in a Decadal to Multi-Decadal HorizonPrincipal Investigator.
- COMEDI - Copernicus Marine Service with Enhanced Data Assimilation and Improved InteroperabilityCo-Principal Investigator.
- BioGeoSea - Enhancing Biogeochemical Essential Ocean Variables for European and Global AssessmentsPrincipal Investigator.
- NECCTON - New Copernicus Capability for Trophic Ocean NetworksPrincipal Investigator; leader of the work package “New capability in benthic habitat modelling”.
- MiTHO - Multiple Threats on Ocean HealthPrincipal Investigator. Building an emulator of ocean deoxygenation using deep learning, in collaboration with Prof. Gilles Louppe (ULiège).
- ODESSA - Optimal Design of Ensemble-based Simulation Systems for Applications to Marine ForecastingCo-Principal Investigator.
- BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Copernicus 2Principal Investigator.
- BRIDGE - Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation to Co-Develop Blue Growth within Resilient EcosystemsPrincipal Investigator; leader of the work package “Ecosystem dynamics under multiple stressors”.
- FullContinuum - Seamless Coupling of the Ocean and River SystemCoordinator.
- CE2COAST - Downscaling Climate and Ocean Change to ServicesPrincipal Investigator; leader of the work package “Regional ocean: downscaling past changes and climate projections”; Belgian representative in the project.
- FORCOAST - Earth Observation Services for Fishery, Bivalves Mariculture and Oyster Ground Restoration along European CoastsCo-Principal Investigator.
- EO4SIBS - Earth Observation for Science and Innovation in the Black SeaCoordinator.
- BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Phase 2Principal Investigator.
- BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Phase 1Principal Investigator. Deputy leader for the Black Sea in the Product Quality Working Group; representative for Black Sea biogeochemistry in the Ocean State Report.
- BENTHOX - Understanding Hypoxia in the Black SeaCoordinator.
- Face-it - Functional Biodiversity in a Changing Sedimentary EnvironmentPrincipal Investigator. Implications for biogeochemistry and food webs in a managerial setting, North Sea.
- PERSEUS - Policy-oriented Marine Environmental Research in the Southern European SeasPrincipal Investigator.
- HYPOX - In Situ Monitoring of Oxygen Depletion in Hypoxic Ecosystems of Coastal and Open Seas, and Land-locked Water BodiesAssociate Partner.
- RACE - Rapid Assessment of the Marine Coastal EnvironmentPrincipal Investigator.
- PEACE - Role of Pelagic Calcification and Export of Carbonate Production in Climate ChangeInvolved researcher.
- Understanding the Carbon Cycle in the Coastal ZoneCo-Principal Investigator.
- Marie Curie Reintegration Grant - Mathematical Modeling of Marine EcosystemsModel development, parameterization and simplification using data assimilation.
- INTAS - Study of the Nitrogen Cycling in the Oxic/Anoxic Environment of the Black SeaCoordinator.
- VENTILScientific Coordinator. Study of the ventilation process in the Black Sea.
- SESAME - Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modeling Ecosystem ChangesPrincipal Investigator and work-package leader.
- ARAL-KUMScientific Coordinator. Study of the desertification process in the Aral Sea basin.
Activités éditoriales
- Chair - Copernicus Ocean State ReportPublished in the State of the Planet journal (Copernicus).
- Editorial board - Copernicus Marine Ocean State Report
- Associate Editor - Biogeosciences
- Guest EditorGuest editor of 18 special issues in peer-reviewed journals.
Groupes d’experts & comités
- “High-Level Guidance” working groupGuidance document towards implementation of the WMO WIGOS vision.
- JET-EOSDE - Joint Expert Team on Earth Observing System Design and Evolution
- Advisory Board - SEAMLESS project
- Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)
- Board - EGU Fridtjof Nansen Medal Committee
- Scientific Committee - GMMC (Groupe de Mission Mercator Coriolis)
- Marine Ecosystem Analysis and Prediction Task Team
- GO2NE - Global Ocean Oxygen NetworkMember since 2016; Co-Chair from 2016 to 2023.
- Network of EU Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine Environment
- Chair - European Marine Board Oxygen Expert PanelWriting of a “Navigating the Future” policy brief (Oxygen Working Group).
- Scientific Committee - CoastPredict
- NEMO Scientific Advisory Committee
- Scientific Advisory Board - MyOcean Phase 1
Évaluation & expertise
- Advisory Board - Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC)
- Selection committee - FedTwin position“Abiotic and biotic sediment dynamics along estuarine–marine gradients in times of global change”.
- Evaluation of promotion to Full Professor
- Reviewer - IPCC Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere (SROCC)
- Evaluation Panel - Ocean and Lake Master programme
- Expert - European CommissionEvaluation of Horizon Europe and H2020 proposals and project monitoring, ERC Consolidator, FP7, FP6 and COST proposals and projects.
- Expert - national research councils and science foundationsUK, France, USA, Switzerland, Romania, Peru and other countries.
- Reviewer for scientific journalsNature Communications, Nature Geoscience, Progress in Oceanography, Journal of Geophysical Research, Biogeosciences, Journal of Sea Research, Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, Deep Sea Research, Journal of Marine Systems, Ocean Science, among others.
Conférences & panels
- Panelist - IOC-UNESCO Ocean Science Day
- Panelist - Digital Ocean Forum, Brussels
- Panelist - 7th European Marine Board ForumBig data in marine science, the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Digital Twin of the Ocean.
- Scientific Organizing Committee - WMO Scoping Workshop on Earth System Modelling, GenevaDiscussion leader for the ocean session.
- Panelist - Marine Copernicus Data WorkshopUse of Copernicus Marine data for assessing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; invited by Mercator Ocean International.
- Panelist - EU PERSEUS Final MeetingRound table “Where do we go from here in the SES?”.
- Session Co-Chair - 2nd International Ocean Research Conference, BarcelonaSession on low-pH and low-oxygen environments, co-chaired with R. Feely; organized by UNESCO/IOC and The Oceanography Society.
- Organizer - International Liège Colloquium on Ocean DynamicsEditions of 2001, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021 and 2022, with approximately 200 participants.
- Scientific Organizing Committee - GO2NE Webinars on Ocean DeoxygenationMonthly series.
Enseignement
- Teaching at the University of LiègeCourses in biological data analysis, dynamical biological systems, marine ecosystem modelling, marine ecology, biogeochemical cycles and statistical analysis of oceanographic data.
- Co-Director - IOC-UNESCO GO2NE Summer School
- Lecturer at international summer and winter schools
Prix & distinctions
- Scientific Award - Association des Ingénieurs de Liège (AILg)Best PhD in Applied Sciences.
- André Leroux Award - Les Amis de l'Université de LiègeBest PhD in Applied Sciences.
- Marie Curie Individual International Fellowship
- CGRI Travel GrantTwo weeks at LEGI, University of Grenoble, France.
- Student Travel Grant - American Geophysical Union
- IRMA (Jeunes océanographes) AwardBest PhD student presentation.
Service universitaire
- Member - University Research Council, Science and Technics sector
- Director - FOCUS, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of researchElected Director.
- Member - FNRS Council of Administrators
- Member - Research and Teaching-Research Commissions, Faculty of Science
- President - Doctoral College in Oceanography
- Member - Council of Studies in Oceanography
- University round tables on doctoral training
Médiation & médias
- World Ocean Deoxygenation Day“L'océan, acteur majeur dans la régulation de notre oxygène, est à bout de souffle.”
- Speaker - Société des Sciences de Liège colloquium“Le changement climatique : des outils diagnostiques aux solutions technologiques.”
- Interview - Jour Première, with Sophie LéonardEight urgent measures to preserve the role of the ocean in maintaining life on Earth; commentary on the IPSO report.
- Talks - Université du Temps Libre (Paris) and U3 (Liège)
- Organizer - Café des Sciences “Le Grand Bleu et l'Homme”
- Co-author - IOC-UNESCO Technical Brief on Ocean Deoxygenation15-page brief for decision-makers and the general public; Breitburg, Grégoire, Isensee and the GO2NE group, Paris.
- Participant - Printemps des Sciences
- France Culture - “La Méthode Scientifique”On modifications of ocean chemistry, with host Nicolas Martin.
- Media interviews on ocean deoxygenationFollowing the Science paper: Soir Première, Le Soir, RTL TVI and La Meuse.
- Side event on ocean deoxygenation - UN Ocean Conference, New YorkOrganized with the GO2NE group.
- Coordinator - Collège de Belgique lecture series“L'Océan à travers les temps : mécanismes d'une épopée passionnante perturbée par l'Homme”, with A.-C. Da Silva, X. Fettweis, F. Primeau, F. Gemenne and P. Vincent.