Education
HDR, University of Rennes, 2017
Postdoctoral Associate, Tokyo University, 2010-2013
Ph.D. Université Paris-XI Orsay (now Université Paris Salay), 2007-2010
Jean-François Soulé completed his chemistry studies at Paul Sabatier University (Toulouse) before joining Professor Jean-Marie Beau’s group at the Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette) for his Master’s internship and PhD. Co-supervised by Dr Stéphanie Norsikian, his doctoral work focused on the development of multicomponent reactions for the synthesis of new biologically active molecules, including antiviral candidates targeting influenza.
He then undertook a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tokyo (2010–2013) in Professor Shū Kobayashi’s laboratory. His research there centered on the heterogenization of nanocatalysts via the “incarceration method”, with the goal of improving the environmental profile of cross-coupling and oxidative coupling reactions.
In 2013, Jean-François Soulé was recruited as a CNRS researcher at the Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR) in Dr Henri Doucet’s team, and he obtained his Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) in 2017. In 2022, he moved to Paris as a Full Professor of Organic Chemistry and Catalysis at Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, where he conducts his research within the “Catalysis, Synthesis of Biomolecules and Sustainable Development” team at the i-CLeHS institute. Since 2025, he has served as Deputy Director of the Doctoral School ED406 “Chimie Moléculaire de Paris Centre” and as the PSL representative.
His research focuses on the design and mechanistic understanding of new catalytic methods for C–H bond functionalization. These innovative tools enable faster and more sustainable access to compound libraries, supporting structure–activity exploration in areas ranging from pharmaceuticals and molecular materials to catalyst discovery.
In recognition of his contributions, he received a Thieme Chemistry Journals Award in 2020 and the Jean-Pierre Sauvage Prize from the Organic Chemistry Division of the French Chemical Society.
