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ISAE-SUPAERO and its talented students are once again showcasing Toulouse’s dynamism on the international stage

Publication Date

20 April 2026

Category

Research

Tag

DCAS

Event

Human factors

Innovation

Neuroergonomics

PhD

Prize

At ISAE-SUPAERO, talented students continue to distinguish themselves, both in the academic world and in the realm of innovation: a look back at the Amelia Earhart Award won by Elena Lopez-Contreras, a doctoral student at the Neuroergonomics Center, and at the French final of the ActInSpace hackathon, won by her team Solete for their Satell-EYE project.

A prestigious prize

Elena Lopez-Contreras, a doctoral student at ISAE-SUPAERO’s neuroergonomics centre, was honoured by the 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐮𝐱 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐱 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐝𝐞́𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞́ 𝐩𝐚𝐫 𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, which each year rewards 30 female doctoral candidates in aerospace engineering from around the world.

Elena is conducting her work under the supervision of Vsevolod Peysakhovich, associate professor in human factors and health engineering, Raphaëlle Roy, associate professor in neuroergonomics and human factors at ISAE-SUPAERO, and Laure Boyer, biomedical engineer at MEDES (Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology).

Their research is devoted to human performance in teleoperation in extreme environments, based on experiments conducted both in the laboratory and in real-life conditions (flight in a DR-400, underwater environment). They contribute to a better understanding of human capabilities in demanding operational contexts.

The ActInSpace hackathon

This scientific excellence is also illustrated in collaborative initiatives with high innovation potential!

As part of the ActInSpace hackathon organised by TBS Education with the support ofUNIVERSEH, the Toulouse team 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞, made up of Elena Lopez-Contreras, Leonie Gasteiner (ISAE-SUPAERO student on the Master in Aerospace Engineering), and Veronica Orlandi (PhD student at the University of Toulouse ex UT3) won first place at the national final in Bordeaux with their project 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐄𝐘𝐄.

Their solution, based on the use of satellite data and onboard artificial intelligence, makes it possible to detect “ghost ships”, thereby meeting major challenges in terms of maritime safety, the fight against illegal activities and environmental protection.

They then qualified for the international final, where they competed against 23 teams from all over the world, and finished in the international top 5 alongside Senegal, Australia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan).

Although the grand prize went to the Senegalese team, the Toulouse team put in an impressive performance on the international stage.

As national winners, the team took home an exceptional prize: a trip to the Guiana Space Centre to watch a rocket launch!

The event was a resounding success thanks to the support of major industry players such as Capgemini, Airbus, Thales and Aerospace Angels, as well as academic and institutional contributions from TBS Education, the Toulouse School of Management, CNES (Centre national d’études spatiales), the Toulouse COMUE and the Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès.

After 24 hours of intense reflection, development and presentation, the participants left inspired and motivated, eager to seize the next opportunity to push back the boundaries of space innovation!

What started as a simple challenge among friends turned into a real project and an entrepreneurial opportunity. This experience highlights the importance of daring to take the plunge and knowing how to seize opportunities when they arise.

Léonie Gasteiner ISAE-SUPAERO student in Master in Aerospace Engineering

CUBE ÉTAT Awards Ceremony: ISAE-SUPAERO Takes the Top Spot

Publication Date

10 March 2026

Category

Institute

Tag

Corporate responsibility

Institute

Prize

Sustainability

ISAE-SUPAERO takes first place

After 12 months of fierce competition, the results were revealed at the awards ceremony held on 29 January 2026 in Paris.
ISAE-SUPAERO distinguished itself by winning one of the podium places.
ISAE-SUPAERO came first in the national ranking for the “offices from 2,500 to 5,000 m²” category, and was awarded the Golden Cube.

With energy savings of 19.9% and environmental savings of 25.7%, it was also ranked 13ᵉ overall, all categories combined.

A strong commitment to sustainable development

The Institut, which is heavily involved in energy transition and sustainable development, wanted to take part in this competition by entering two office buildings renovated in 2021. The aim is to prove that even in buildings that already consume little energy, it is still possible to go further by optimising technical settings and improving the day-to-day practices of occupants.

A collective success

Above all, this award reflects a collective effort. Pauline Bénard Lironcourt, the Institute’s energy performance officer, led the initiative. To meet this challenge, she mobilised the technical services to optimise and programme the equipment, while involving users in a wide range of fun activities: a kick-off meeting, comfort surveys, quizzes, visits to the technical installations, a day of activities around the cyclotube with the Haute-Garonne Environnement association (see photos below) and regular reminders of eco-actions, particularly before the holidays.

These initiatives have been very well received, and the occupants have participated fully in the process. The Institute was also nominated in the “best technical referent” section.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to everyone for this team effort, and thanks to Pauline for the impetus and dynamism she brought to bear to get everyone on board!

“Doctor, tell me about your thesis in five minutes!” – The ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation Thesis Awards

Publication Date

03 February 2026

Category

ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation

Tag

Doctoral student

ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation

Prize

Thesis

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation awarded its thesis prizes of the year to five young doctors in recognition of the excellence and impact of their research work.

On Wednesday 7 January 2026, the Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO awarded its Thesis of the Year prizes to five young PhDs in recognition of the excellence and impact of their research work.

The prizes, each worth €800, highlight the scientific quality and communication skills of doctoral students trained in one of the most demanding doctoral programmes in the field of aeronautics, space and complex systems.

A revamped formula to promote the popularisation of and feedback from theses

For the2025 event, the format has been changed to “Doctor, tell me about your thesis in 5 minutes”. This change gives each of the winners more time to present their thesis topic in a clear, accessible and captivating way to an audience of students, researchers and ISAE-SUPAERO staff. This longer presentation time allows doctoral students to go into a little more depth than in the previous edition, which took just 3 minutes.

Set in the middle of the lunch break, this solemn event is changing the tradition of promoting research by combining scientific expertise and communication skills, an essential challenge for young researchers who aim to make their work understandable well beyond academic circles.

The 2025 winners

The five prize-winners rose brilliantly to this challenge of synthesis and pedagogy. Each of them shared the challenges, results and prospects of their research, demonstrating the diversity and excellence of the work carried out within the Institute and its partners. To see photos of the event, click here.

Theses at the service of innovation

Ricardo Rodrigues

“Modelling, robust control and analysis of complex, flexible and non-stationary space missions”.

Thesis directed by Daniel ALAZARD and Francesco SANFEDINO (ISAE-SUPAERO)

Olivier Goux

“Taking into account correlations of observation error and variational assimilation of ocean data”.

Thesis directed by Anthony WEAVER (CERFACS) and co-directed by Olivier GUILLET

Antoine Salih Alj

“Radiation effects and electrical properties of a CCD-on-CMOS sensor with active deep trenches for high-performance imaging”.

Thesis directed by Vincent GOIFFON and co-directed by Pierre MAGNAN (ISAE-SUPAERO)

Marcel Hinss (Presented by video)

“Human/UAV system interaction and human factors: taking into account the estimation of an operator’s state of fatigue in the design of adaptive interactions for the control of long-endurance UAVs”.

Thesis directed by Raphaëlle ROY (ISAE-SUPAERO) and Anke BROCK (ENAC)

Jean-baptiste Orsatelli (presented by F. Lachaud)

“Methodology for predicting the strength of repairs to aeronautical composite structures by bonding”.

Thesis directed by Frédéric LACHAUD (ISAE-SUPAERO), co-directed by Eric PAROISSIEN and co-supervised by Sebastien SCHWARTZ.

Promoting doctoral research at ISAE-SUPAERO

The 2025 edition of the Dissertation Prizes confirms the importance attached by the Foundation to high-level research and scientific communication. By extending the format to 5 minutes, the Institute is offering young researchers a platform where they can not only present their results, but also open the doors to the world of research to students working in academia and industry.

A commitment made possible by the generosity of donors

The 2025 Thesis Awards would not have been possible without the loyal support of the donors of the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation. Through their commitment, you are actively helping to encourage scientific excellence, showcase the careers of young researchers and promote innovation in aeronautics and space. Thanks to your generosity, the Foundation can continue to support the talents of tomorrow and promote academic research at the highest level.

A National Prize for Open Science Awarded to Paul Saves

Publication Date

15 December 2025

Category

Event

Tag

Prize

There, he received the Open Science Thesis Prize – Science and Technology Category, a national award that promotes and highlights exemplary open science practices among early-career researchers.
This recognition comes with a trophy as well as a €2,500 grant.

A Major Contribution to the Decarbonization of Aviation

Paul Saves’ PhD, conducted at ISAE-SUPAERO, focuses on high-dimensional multidisciplinary optimization for early-stage aircraft eco-design.
His work is fully aligned with the challenges of aviation decarbonization: better understanding, modeling, and optimizing aeronautical performance to design the low-carbon aircraft of tomorrow.

“This prize is a strong validation of the Open Science approach we adopted from the very beginning of this PhD at ISAE-SUPAERO and ONERA. It demonstrates that sharing code and ensuring transparency in methods are not constraints, but essential accelerators for innovation, especially in the face of the urgent need to decarbonize aviation.

On a personal level, this recognition provides valuable visibility to the open-source library SMT (Surrogate Modeling Toolbox) that we developed. It is a major encouragement to continue pursuing collaborative and accessible research, a philosophy I still apply today in my work on green computing, particularly through supervising the ISAE-SUPAERO PhD of Gaston Plat.”

View the thesis

Open-source tools that have become references

The prize recognizes the open-source development of:

SMT — Surrogate Modeling Toolbox 2.0
A software toolbox for surrogate modeling, widely used by the scientific and industrial communities for optimization and simulation.
smt-design-space
An innovative extension enabling the management of heterogeneous data in modeling processes.
smt-explainability
A module dedicated to explainable AI (XAI), facilitating the analysis, reproducibility, and understanding of data-driven models.

Published as open-source, these tools promote transparency, sharing, reproducibility, and the dissemination of methods — all essential pillars of modern research. They have become foundational components for numerous academic studies and international collaborations.

Research Guided by a Multidisciplinary Team

This PhD research is the result of a collaboration between ISAE-SUPAERO and ONERA. It was supervised by Dr. Youssef Diouane at ISAE-SUPAERO and by Prof. Nathalie Bartoli at ONERA.
It was also co-supervised by Prof. Joseph Morlier (CNRS, Institut Clément Ader) and Thierry Lefebvre (ONERA).

This collaborative dynamic made it possible to combine scientific expertise, software innovation, and open practices.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Paul Saves for this prestigious recognition, which highlights the quality of his research, the impact of his open-source contributions, and our institution’s commitment to an ambitious Open Science approach.

About the Open Science Thesis Prize
Established in 2024 as part of the Second National Plan for Open Science, this prize aims to promote open science practices within doctoral research.
It complements the Open Science Prizes dedicated to research data and open-source research software, which were introduced in 2022.
The goal is to encourage research that is more transparent, collaborative, and accessible, serving both society and innovation.

Testimony from Alexandre Bouraoui, engineering student by apprenticeship and IAC 2025 Award Winner

Publication Date

01 December 2025

Category

Tag

Aeronautics

Aerospace

Congress

DEOS

Prize

Can you present yourself and speak about your acadmic path?

I was born in France and grown in Tunisia.

Before joining ISAE-SUPAERO, I graduated from a BUT in Physical Measurements (Mesures Physiques) at the University of Toulouse.

I am currently a final-year student of the “Diplôme d’ingénieur” by Apprenticeship (‘Industrialisation and Methods for Aeronautics and Space’) at ISAE-SUPAERO. I am also doing an apprenticeship at Thales Alenia Space as a payload architect apprentice for communication satellites, where I develop simulation and analysis tools for other architects.

You were awarded the Hermann Oberth Gold Medal at IAC 2025 in Sydney. Why did you receive this prize?

I received this award after being selected by the Aeronautics and Astronautics Association of France (3AF) to represent France in the student competition at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) in Sydney.

There, I presented a paper entitled “Characterization of the Stationarity of an ICP Plasma”. This work focuses on studying plasma stability and was carried out within the PAMPA team of the Electronics, Optronics, and Signal Department (DEOS) at ISAE-SUPAERO, under the supervision of Romain Pascaud and Valentin Mazières. The project began during my second year as part of an introductory research module: I had personally contacted Dr. Pascaud to work on this topic, driven by my strong interest in plasma physics and electric propulsion—two of my passions.

I had the tremendous honor of winning the Hermann Oberth Gold Medal for the best student paper in the main category (“Graduate”) during the closing ceremony, in front of more than a thousand people.

The IAC was an exceptional opportunity for networking, learning about the space sector, and experiencing such a magnificent environment as Sydney.

Can you tell us about your current studies at ISAE-SUPAERO? Why did you choose this programme?

I chose the “Diplôme d’ingénieur” by Apprenticeship (‘Industrialisation and Methods for Aeronautics and Space’) programme because it provides a better understanding of the professional world through hands-on experience.

I particularly appreciate the alternating schedule (two months at school, two months in the company), which I find very suitable: it allows us to fully focus either on the academic side or on our professional assignments. Moreover, this format has helped ease the financial burden on my parents. They supported me a lot during my undergraduate studies, but it would have been difficult for them to continue assisting me throughout the additional three years of the engineering programme.

What are your career plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to focus on research in satellite electric propulsion, either as an engineer or by starting a PhD, as this is what I am most passionate about. However, I am not closing the door to aerospace engineering in all its aspects, a field I greatly enjoy through my current experience at Thales Alenia Space.

Learn more about the "Diplôme d'ingénieur" by Apprenticeship ('Industrialisation and Methods for Aeronautics and Space')

The 2025 Edmond Brun Prize from the French Academy of Sciences awarded to Annafederica Urbano, professor at ISAE-SUPAERO

Publication Date

29 October 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DCAS

News

Prize

Science

Space

Recognition of scientific expertise

Annafederica Urbano carries out her research activities in the Advanced Space Concepts team (SaCLaB) of the Aerospace and Space Vehicle Design and Control Department (DCAS). An expert in space propulsion, she has developed a research area at ISAE-SUPAERO dedicated to access to space and propulsion.

Her work focuses in particular on the management of cryogenic propellants in weightlessness and their combustion in rocket engines.

She is developing advanced numerical methods for modelling new-generation rocket engines using methane as a fuel, and is interested in the use of artificial intelligence algorithms and data from numerical simulations for rocket engine injector and combustion chamber design models. It is also studying the behaviour of fluids stored at very low temperatures in launcher tanks.

A remarkable career

She obtained her PhD in 2012 from La Sapienza University in Rome on the cooling system of rocket engines and moved to France in 2013 to specialise in numerical combustion and two-phase flows. Her research at ISAE-SUPAERO is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) and the French National Research Agency (ANR).

Its activities are also supported by Ariane Group and Airbus Defense and Space through the SaCLaB sponsorship chair on advanced space concepts, for which it is responsible. Since 2022, Annafederica has been a member of the Space Propulsion Committee of the International Astronautical Federation. She also leads the ESA topical team on propellant management physics.

"From a personal point of view, this recognition is an immense source of satisfaction and fully rewards my commitment to research. On a professional level, this prize is a fantastic opportunity to highlight my work in the field of space propulsion, a strategic sector for the future of space exploration.

Annafederica Urbano Professor of space launchers

The Edmond Brun Prize

Created in 1984 by the Suzanne Brun Foundation of the Académie des Sciences, this prize is awarded alternately for work in the field of astronautics (2025) and fluid mechanics and thermics (2027).

The Académie des Sciences, founded in 1666, is responsible for scientific expertise, the transmission and dissemination of knowledge, and the international promotion of French science. It encourages, supports and protects the spirit of scientific research, thereby contributing to the progress of science and its applications.

This award is further proof of the excellence of the research carried out at ISAE-SUPAERO and its major contribution to the scientific and technological challenges of access to space.

“Défi Aérospatial Étudiant 2025”: Dassault Aviation Prize awarded to an ISAE-SUPAERO student team

Publication Date

31 July 2025

Category

Education

Tag

Advanced Master

Aeronautics

Prize

Context and organisation of the project

The ability of private companies and government agencies to carry out manned space flights is an essential lever for future industrial, scientific and exploration missions.

The growth of commercial spaceflight is increasing the demands for safety and comfort, increasing the need for high-lift re-entry vehicles capable of landing on conventional runways. Designed to meet this challenge, OSIRIS adopts an innovative, modular architecture enabling it to carry seven passengers or five tonnes of freight for a week in orbit, or up to six months docked to a space station, while guaranteeing a safe return with moderate g-forces.

The development of this complex system was a challenge for the team, who worked on propulsion, thermal, electronics, mechanics, structures, life support systems, data processing, software, orbital mechanics and mission analysis.

The project took five months to develop, followed by a presentation at ISAE-SUPAERO, then at the Suborbital Day at the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Le Bourget). The design covered most of the sub-systems of a manned space shuttle, exploring the technical details with rigour.

Presentation of the Dassault Aviation Prize

The project culminated at Suborbital Day at Le Bourget, in front of a panel made up of representatives from ESA, Dassault Aviation, ArianeGroup and the European Astronaut Club, the event’s sponsor.

The team attended presentations by twenty other European teams and had the opportunity to discuss the projects they had developed. John McFall, Paralympic sprinter, surgeon and ESA astronaut, took the opportunity to share his experiences and the importance of taking on challenges.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Dassault Aviation Prize, awarded to the OSIRIS team for the technical quality of its project.

ISAE-SUPAERO congratulates the team on this success and expresses its gratitude to Stéphanie Lizy-Destrez, professor of space systems engineering at ISAE-SUPAERO, for her advice and support throughout the project.

Team: Lucas Alba, Louis Brocca, Luca Danet-Garbarini, Benoît Fila, Louis-Victor Gautier, Nils Joanne, Grigorios Papadas

Programme : TAS ASTRO 2024-2025

Theme : Mission profile and concept - OSIRIS space shuttle

Duration: 6 months

Mattéo Gouzien: itinerary of an award-winning engineer and PhD student committed to decarbonized aviation!

Publication Date

28 July 2025

Category

Alumni

Tag

Aeronautics

Ingénieur généraliste (MSc)

Portrait

Prize

Science

Testimonial

Passionate about science since childhood

Mattéo, who grew up in Lorient, where his passion for science was born: ” I ‘ ve had a passion for science ever since I was a little boy,” he confides. Choosing to do a BAC SSI was ” an obvious choice and an opportunity to take my passion a little further “. His academic career then took another turn, when he was admitted to the Ginette preparatory school (Lycée Sainte-Geneviève), following an application he had made ” without really believing in it “, he admits.

These two years of preparatory classes were a real challenge for him: “I was faced with a difficulty that was quite unprecedented for me. But, buoyed by the spirit of the class and the mutual support between students, I was able to enjoy those years”.

“ The discovery of new disciplines, approached in a very rigorous way, was an essential part of those years “, he adds. He remembers being amazed to unravel the equations explaining how a microwave works, or to discover the Venturi effect.

ISAE-SUPAERO: living your passion

At the end of his two years of preparatory classes and fascinated by the world of aerospace, Mattéo chose ISAE-SUPAERO, attracted by its technical side, its team spirit and its sporting activities (surfing, mountaineering, parachuting): “his preferred choice”, he stresses.

” At ISAE-SUPAERO, my passion for science only grew,” he says. ” I didn’t know where to turn, between fluid mechanics, signal processing, structural dynamics and applied maths. It was there that I finally understood what all those obscure prep school theorems were for – it was a revelation for me.

A gap year rich in knowledge and adventure

In the middle of his second year on the general engineering course at ISAE-SUPAERO, Mattéo began his gap year in two parts, “after three years with his head in the handlebars, to find out in practical terms how the theoretical knowledge he had acquired was being applied “.

He began with a 6-month placement at DGA TA in the Fleet Monitoring department. ” The idea of my placement was to use artificial intelligence algorithms to predict the damage suffered by Mirages 2000 during different flight sequences, and to understand how this damage affected the aircraft’s lifespan “.

Mattéo then went on an academic exchange to Toronto, where he was able to explore new scientific subjects such as robotics, structural dynamics in civil engineering and artificial intelligence, as well as discovering the country. ” I was also able to venture out, during the roaring of the caribou, into vast landscapes that were completely untouched by man ,” he explains.

A trip to South America before returning... by sailboat!

For the remaining six months of his gap year, Mattéo chose to go travelling in South America: ” I think that during these years, travelling, discovering and meeting new people are excellent ways of growing internally, taking a step back and, above all, confronting our way of thinking with reality.

It was an opportunity for him to let himself be carried along by the unexpected, between trekking at high altitude, cycling in the Andes and surfing on the Pacific coast, mostly on his own, “at first with only a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish “.

When it came time to return to France, and considering that his carbon footprint had already been greatly exceeded for his first Atlantic crossing, Mattéo chose to return by sailboat to Lorient.

” I’ve managed to find a sailboat so that I can return to port with three other sailors, heading for Lorient. Here I am, on a voyage lasting more than a month, buffeted by the waves, cut off from the world, in the middle of the ocean“.

It was a hugely formative experience for him, leading him to ” question the notions of progress and the race for profit, and to criticise our Western lifestyle where everything moves at 100 km/h!

A natural choice in^3rd year: “simulations of complex systems” and “signals and systems”.

Back at ISAE-SUPAERO for his 3rdᵉ year, it was natural for Mattéo to choose the “signals and systems” field of expertise and the “simulations of complex systems” field of application.

” It was a natural choice for me. Digital simulation and automatic control are at the crossroads of most of the engineering fields I’m passionate about, ” confides Mattéo.

An award-winning end-of-studies internship

His end-of-studies internship, carried out between ONERA and ISAE-SUPAERO, was a great success.

Mattéo won the regional and then the national André Blanc-Lapierre prize from the SEE for his work on data-based structured identification of the 2D Maxwell equations as a port-Hamiltonian system. His internship also enabled him to take part in the PEGASUS student conference, where he came second. This work also led to participation in an international conference and the publication of a journal article in the COMPEL journal (‘Port-Hamiltonian reduced order modelling of the 2D Maxwell equations’).

Under the supervision of Charles Poussot-Vassal (ONERA) and Denis Matignon (ISAE-SUPAERO), this internship enabled him to discover two fascinating theories: Hamiltonian port systems and the Loewner framework, applied to the 2D Maxwell equations.

” In aerospace engineering, solving Maxwell’s equations is essential for the design and analysis of numerous systems such as antennas, radars and the design of stealth technologies. However, these equations often result in very large models. The calculation time required to solve these systems can be very long (sometimes up to several months of simulation). These models are therefore unusable for iterative design processes.

Model reduction offers a solution for simplifying their complexity while retaining their critical characteristics. To illustrate the capabilities of the method used, the figure shows a snapshot of the results of the time simulations (of the magnetic field H and the electric field E) of the full-order model (FOM) compared with the reduced model, which is 13 times smaller and 100 times faster,” explains Mattéo.

Mattéo was then selected by ISAE-SUPAERO to take part in the PEGASUS student conference, held this year in Prague. This annual event brings together students from Europe’s leading aerospace schools. It was an opportunity for him to meet many students from all over Europe, giving rise to extremely enriching exchanges, both on a scientific and social level.

The conference also included a student competition, based on the evaluation of submitted scientific papers and oral presentations.

Mattéo came second, again in recognition of the work he had carried out during his final year internship.

The award was doubly well deserved, as Mattéo decided to make the return journey from Prague by bike, just as he did when he crossed the Atlantic in a sailing boat!

” Always with a view to reducing my carbon footprint, and given the price of the outward train ticket, I decided to make the return journey by bike. I’d also like to thank the Alumni Association for the grant they awarded me to finance the outward journey.

A thesis to reduce emissions from the aviation sector

A recent graduate of ISAE-SUPAERO, Mattéo has started a thesis between IMS in Bordeaux and ONERA in Toulouse on fault-tolerant active control of the flutter phenomenon.

” The aim is to design commercial aircraft with high aspect ratios in order to reduce fuel consumption and hence carbon emissions in the aviation sector “, he explains.

Mattéo sees this thesis as a new personal challenge, a way of “questioning the differences in expectations and opinions that sometimes arise between the worlds of research and industry”.

Our Rankings

Publication Date

18 February 2025

Category

Tag

Institute

Prize

Ranking

49th in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking (ARWU) for Aerospace Engineering

The Shanghai Ranking is internationally recognized for the rigor of its methodology, which relies primarily on the objective evaluation of scientific output (volume, quality, and impact) and international visibility.

ISAE-SUPAERO’s 49th place highlights the quality and intensity of the research conducted within our School.

This result is driven by several key indicators in which our Institute achieved particularly strong performance in 2025:

the volume and quality of scientific publications in top-tier (A-rank) journals;
academic impact (number of citations by peers);
international collaboration in research projects.

Learn more

The 6th Most Chosen School By Preparatory Class Students According to Génération Prépa (2023-2024)

ISAE-SUPAERO is ranked at least 6^th across all tracks, placing 4^th in the PSI track and 6^th in the MP track in the Génération Prépa 2023-2024 ranking of the most chosen schools by undergraduates. The Génération Prépa website is run by students from the Grandes Écoles and is aimed at students in the preparatory classes. Its rankings are based on data provided by the Service du Concours Ecoles d'Ingénieurs (SCEI) using 5 indicators: the competition in which the school is ranked, its average rank, the number of entrants, the number of places, and the number of students who have entered the school.

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5th in the Figaro Étudiant 2025 Ranking of Post-Prépa Engineering Schools (2025)

ISAE-SUPAERO is ranked 5^th in Figaro Étudiant's 2025 ranking of post-prépa engineering schools. Every year, Figaro Étudiant publishes its ranking of the best French post-prépa engineering schools. The characteristics and performances of 87 schools accessible after two years of preparatory classes are studied through various indicators grouped into three categories: academic, international, and employment. With a score of 16.5, our School has moved up 3 places compared to the 2024 ranking (8^th).

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7th in the Ranking of Engineering Schools According to Data Analysis for University Rankings (DAUR) (2025)

This ranking is the result of a study carried out on 185 engineering schools, with a particular focus on student engineering degrees. Classified according to five harmonised criteria depending on the output sectors and the size of the establishment, the data used for each school comes mainly from SCEI statistics, Parcoursup, the CTI's annual certification campaign, and the CDEFI's professional integration survey. With a final score of 81, ISAE-SUPAERO came 7^th out of the 185 schools ranked.

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Ranked 9th among engineering schools according to L'Usine Nouvelle (2026)

ISAE-SUPAERO has confirmed its place among France's elite engineering schools. This result reflects the recognition our Institute has earned across all evaluation criteria: professional integration, international outlook, proximity to industry, and research.

Our 9th place ranking is particularly significant in a classification that has reinforced the importance of research, a dimension that is central to ISAE-SUPAERO's identity.

At a time when engineering education is more than ever a path to the future, this ranking illustrates our commitment to technological, industrial, and environmental issues, in close collaboration with our academic and economic partners in France and abroad.

Our engineering programs shape talented individuals who are capable of playing a key role in the major transformations taking place in aeronautics, space, and complex systems, and of establishing themselves as major players in innovation and industrial transition.

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'4 stars' awarded by Challenges (2023)

With a 4-star rating, the Institute is one of the best post-prépa engineering schools in the Challenges ranking. The number of stars is awarded on the basis of a number of criteria, including the salary levels of graduates and the proportion of foreign students in each year's intake, reflecting the school's international appeal. The school's presence in the Shanghai Ranking and its alumni network on LinkedIn are also taken into account.

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A Score of 3.79/5 For a Campus That Fosters Positive Student Experiences According to the HappyAtSchool® Ranking (2025)

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DMSM’s SA-I research team wins best poster award at 14th EASN conference

Publication Date

18 December 2024

Category

Research

Tag

Conference

Prize

Researcher

14ᵉ conférence EASN

Du 8 au 11 octobre 2024, Thessalonique, en Grèce, a accueilli la 14ᵉ Conférence Internationale de l’EASN (European Aeronautics Science Network).

Cet événement, sous le thème « Innovation in Aviation and Space towards sustainability today & tomorrow », a réuni des experts du secteur aéronautique et spatial pour discuter des innovations en matière de durabilité.

C’est dans ce cadre prestigieux qu’une équipe de chercheurs, l’équipe SA-I du Département de Mécanique des Systèmes et Modélisation (DMSM) a remporté le prix du meilleur poster scientifique pour leurs travaux remarquables ! Cette équipe regroupe des chercheurs du groupe MS2M, du groupe MSC, et du groupe SUMO de l’Institut Clément Ader (https://www.ica.cnrs.fr).

Une reconnaissance pour un travail de haute qualité

Le jury de la conférence a salué à la fois la rigueur scientifique et la présentation esthétique du poster. Le travail récompensé se distingue par une approche holistique de la durabilité des assemblages collés dans le domaine des transports, prenant en compte l’interconnexion des modes de transport dans un objectif de développement durable. Il propose une technologie innovante de démontabilité contrôlée d’assemblages collés, peu coûteuse et parfaitement compatible avec toutes les méthodes industrielles actuelles et futures d’assemblage par collage, et tous les adhésifs.

L’approche, qui articule la recherche fondamentale et appliquée, a été jugée particulièrement pertinente et en phase avec les attentes de la société civile.

C’est dans ce contexte que Lorraine Aparecida Silva a réalisé sa thèse, en collaboration internationale avec l’Université de Porto. Cette thèse financée par l’Ecole Doctorale MEGeP, inscrite à l’Université de Toulouse, et co-encadrée par deux laboratoires, l’ICA et l’INGEI, a permis d’aboutir à un brevet international porté par l’ISAE-SUPAERO et l’Université Paul Sabatier.

L’équipe SA-I a donc démontré sa capacité à concilier des enjeux complexes, alliant performance scientifique et pragmatisme industriel, tout en abordant des solutions durables, applicables dès aujourd’hui et dans le futur.

Christine Espinosa récompensée

En plus de ce prix prestigieux, Christine Espinosa, membre clé de l’équipe de recherche, a reçu des distinctions supplémentaires. Elle bénéficie d’une inscription individuelle gratuite pour l’année 2025 en tant que membre de l’EASN. De plus, elle recevra une inscription « full path » pour participer à la prochaine conférence EASN de 2025.

Enfin, les travaux de l’équipe seront publiés dans Aerospace Journal, une revue scientifique de renom dans le domaine de l’aéronautique et de l’espace.