Flavie Braud, an enthusiastic ambassador for the #XXElles exhibitions

Flavie Braud: when light transforms matter

A micro- and nanotechnology engineer at the IEMN, Flavie Braud was one of the ambassadors for the exhibition La Science taille XX Elles — Hauts-de-France 2026 edition. A portrait of a journey marked by doubt, curiosity and passion.

“I transform matter using lasers”

Her path to research was not mapped out in advance. After dropping out of medical school, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in fundamental physics, and then a master’s in medical physics, Flavie Braud discovered optics during an internship… and never looked back. She eventually chose to pursue her PhD at the PhLAM laboratory at the University of Lille, where she developed a passion for optical fibres and solving cutting-edge technical problems.

In 2016, she joined the IEMN after passing the CNRS research engineer competitive examination. Her speciality? Using ultra-powerful lasers to cause matter to transition directly from a solid to a vapour state. This work opens up prospects as varied as early cancer detection, the fight against bacteria, and the manufacture of microelectronic components.

Since 2024, she has also been leading the laboratory’s packaging division, a key step in making components functional and achieving an initial level of prototyping.

An enthusiastic ambassador for the exhibition La Science taille XX Elles, organised in particular by the Femmes & Sciences association with the support of its partners, including the CNRS and the University of Lille, Flavie perfectly embodies the very best of science: a unique journey, driven by curiosity and perseverance, in the service of today’s research.