Alexandre Prieur

Astrophysicist

Formation

2022-2023

Informatics minor, ENS, Paris, France

Informatics minor - compilation, computer graphics, computational geometry learning, reactive and parallel programming

2021-2022

M2 AAIS, Observatoire de Paris, Paris, France

Master of astronomy and astrophysics - specialization in dynamics of gravitational systems

2020-2021

M1 ICFP, ENS, Paris, France

Master of fundamental physics, oriented around theoretical courses and numeric physics

2019 - 2020

Physics Bachelor, ENS, Paris, France

Third year of Bachelor’s degree in physics

2017 - 2019

Preparatory class - PC*, Stanislas, Paris, France

Preparation to national competitive exams for admission in “Grandes 'Ecoles” . Mathematics, physics and chemistry ; equivalent to first two years of bachelor’s degree

2017

Scientific baccalaureate with honours
Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Paris, France

Physics specialisation

Achievements

2022
SWERC
Ranked 49th at the international algorithmic contest in a team of three (ENS Ulm 2)
2019
École Normale Supérieure (Paris) national competitive examination
Ranked 10th ; also ranked 12th at the 'Ecole Polytechnique
2017
Concours général des lycées (National competition)
4th prize in ancient greek, mention in physics, selected in philosophy

Experience

March-July 2022
Internship : Numerical research of periodic orbits in the three body problem, under the direction of Jacques Féjoz and Gwenaël Boué, IMCCE, Paris
March 2022
Project : astrometry of small bodies, with Dylan Kuhn, under the direction of Lucie Maquet
During one week, we used the T120 telescope of the OHP (Observatoire de Haute-Provence) to determine orbits of near-Earth objects, in order to complete the MPC’s (Minor Planet Center) database.
March-July 2021
Internship : Detection of stochastic gravitational wave background by multiple space detectors, under the direction of Giulia Cusin, UNIGE, Geneva
For five months, I completed the schNell Python package in order to study the capacity of multiple space detectors to detect stochastic gravitational waves backgrounds.
July 2020
Internship : Data reduction of an observation of the protostar Cepheus E by SOFIA/GREAT, under the direction of Antoine Gusdorf, LPENS, Paris
During one month, I learned to use CLASS and GREG (part of the GILDAS software) in order to reduce astronomical data.
2019-current
Project ArcHe, Founder
Student project aiming to build and fire a rockoon. More than 50 students from 4 french universities work on the project (ENS Paris, Polytechnique, Mines de Paris, ENS Lyon), and two school projects are supervised by the association.
2018-2019
Project : Study of the field electron emission in atmospheric conditions, and the effect of pressure, with Maël Feurgard, Stanislas, Paris
This project was done in pairs, and required us to create, set up and use an experiment in order to test field electron emission in a school lab.

Languages

French
Native
Greek
Native
English
Level C2 (CAE grade A)
German
Level C1
Japanese
Notions (A1)

Programming

Python
Programming with Python 3 for data analysis and numerical physics ; use of classical scientific modules (Numpy, Scipy, Matplotlib)
Julia
Experimental programming with Julia for numerical physics
C
Programming with C for numerical physics and heavy simulations
C#
Programming with the Unity framework for modelization and game development
C++
Programming of efficient algorithms for the SWERC
GLSL
Rendering of a black hole with GLSL
Caml
Compiler for a subset of C written in OCaml, use of ReactiveML for reactive and parallel programming
Lustre
Notions ; prototype of rocket overwatch in reactive programming
HTML/CSS
Notions for basic websites

Hobbies

Informatics
I program both for physics and for personal hobbys, and I study informatics at the ENS.
Astronomy
I founded the astronomy and astrophotography club at the ENS, to promote the passion of space.
Philosophy
I study philosophy as a personal interest since 7 years.
HEMA
I supervise the HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts, or historical swordsmanship) club at the ENS, and personnally study italian dagger.
Sailing
I sail every year since my childhood with my family in Greece.