IN2P3

The National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (IN2P3) performs research in the field of the 'two infinites' namely the infinitely large, with the study of cosmology and astroparticles, and the infinitely small, with nuclear physics and the physics of elementary particles. IN2P3 is a leading international actor in these disciplines which often require very large-scale transnational facilities and its scientists are at the forefront of major discoveries, such as the Higgs boson, neutrino oscillations and gravitational waves. The Institute is also having major contributions to the development of related applied technologies, such as particle accelerators and detectors, mainly in the fields of health, energy and the environment.

Presentation of the Institute

IN2P3 was created 50 years ago to coordinate French research in nuclear and particle physics and is today a leading international organisation in these disciplines. It takes part in the most important and largest-scale experiments currently in progress or under development throughout the world.

Through their research, the physicists of IN2P3 aim at finding answers to three fundamental questions. What are the fundamental constituents of the subatomic world and the forces governing them? How is nuclear matter structured? What is the Universe made of and how is it evolving?

International research with major large-scale instruments

These researches require the construction and implementation of very large research instruments such as particle or atomic nuclei accelerators and particle detectors placed on high-energy accelerators or located in underground laboratories. They also require researchers to design and construct gigantic instruments to observe high-energy cosmic rays from the ground, from space or from the seabed and large-scale matrices of ultra-sensitive sensors to observe the universe.

These experimental facilities require significant resources and are generally part of transnational projects with a European or international dimension. In this framework, IN2P3 represents France in European or international advisory or coordination committees and bodies such as APPEC and APIF for astroparticles, ECFA, FALC and ICFA for future accelerators, EGI and EU-T0 for computing and data, NuPPEC for nuclear physics.

To make the best use of its resources and skills, the Institute has structured itself into a limited number of laboratories, infrastructures and research platforms located mostly at the heart of major French university campus. IN2P3 also works in close cooperation with other CNRS institutes, as well as with other French research organisations such as the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). Its activities are focused on major and very large national and international research infrastructures and often involve running large projects in collaboration with research organisations, institutes and universities in many other countries.

A unique expertise at the service of society and all fields of science

IN2P3 carries out interdisciplinary research into ionising radiation mainly in the fields of health, energy and the environment. This work includes designing new instruments for medical diagnosis and therapy, the studying of radioactive waste in the environment and research on innovative nuclear energy production methods.

Pour assurer la qualité et la sécurité des traitements, il est essentiel de comprendre et de prédire quantitativement les interactions particules-matières lors d'une irradiation. ©Cyril FRESILLON/CNRS Photothèque

The Institute's specific scientific and instrumentation expertise is shared with other scientific fields such as astrophysics, chemistry, materials and laser physics and life sciences. This know-how is also the subject of technology transfer to companies. IN2P3 is recognised in the industrial world for its skills in the development of accelerator components, sensors and electronics and also for its in-depth knowledge of computer processing of large masses of data.

A strong commitment to formation, training and outreach

Building bridges between its research and the public –especially young people – is essential to IN2P3. The Institute is largely involved in training future scientists. It contributes to teaching in universities and engineering schools and hosts many interns and doctoral students in its laboratories. In the area of sharing and dissemination of knowledge, the Institute's staff organises multiple scientific mediation activities to help introduce a wide public to the major scientific themes and professions that will make up the world of tomorrow.

©Christophe HARGOUES/CNRS Photothèque

IN2P3 in numbers

  • 1000 researchers including 600 CNRS permanent staff and 400 university professors
  • 1500 other permanent staff including 600 research engineers
  • 700 contractual researchers including 400 doctoral students
  • 25 research laboratories and national platforms
  • 10 large research infrastructures
  • 50 large international collaborative research projects
  • 15 international research agreements
  • 10 interdisciplinary platforms
  • 15 currently active start-up companies

IN2P3 advisory committees

To help define its scientific policy and run the Institute, IN2P3 relies on three bodies which act at different levels.

The Institut Scientific Committee (“Conseil Scientifique d’Institut”, CSI)

This scientific advisory board evaluates the issues and relevance of research activities and projects which are part of its 30 research programmes. It meets approximately three times a year.

The Committee of laboratory Directors (“Comité des directeurs d’unité”, CDU)

This committee helps in steering the Institute. Every month the director of the Institute and its management hold a meeting with the directors of the research laboratories and national platforms to discuss research activities and operational issues.

The Advisory Board (CO)

An Institutional body that can be consulted on questions relative to the Institute's scientific positioning, the creation and monitoring of partnerships and the planned attribution of resources.

Organisational chart

Direction

Director (1)

IN2P3 Director assistant

Deputy director (1)

Director assistant

Nuclear and radiation safety (2)

SNR engineer

Assistant

Computer security

Deputy scientific direction

Particle and hadronic physics (1)

Director assistant

Astroparticles and cosmology (1)

Director assistant

Nuclear physics and applications (1)

Director assistant

Accelerators and technologies (1)

Director assistant

Interdisciplinary science (1)

Director assistant

Laboratories, French National Research Agency (ANR) and Europe (1)

Director assistant

Deputy administrative direction

Deputy administrative director (1)

Director assistant

Recruitment, human resources and structures (3)

IT recruitment, researchers and unit monitoring

Training advisor

Training officer

Financial resources (3)

Allocation and monitoring of resources, financial management

Financial management, training

Financial management

Partnerships, Europe and international cooperation (3)

European affairs

Legal follow-up

Partnership monitoring

Project information system

Communication and outreach (5)

Communication officer Particle physics and social media

Communication officer

Graphic designer

Communication officer Photo library

Outreach and education program officer

Scientific and technical information (1)

Documentary resources officer

Deputy technical direction

Deputy technical director

Projects management and quality

Competencies

Platforms and technical facilities

Scientific Delegates

Site policy

Training and higher education

Gender and scientific influence

Sustainable development

Theory and phenomenology

National prospective exercise

Intensive computing

Artificial Intelligence

Innovative detectors

Health and Environment

Nuclear Energy

Project managers

Accelerators for Society

Industrial partnerships and research valorisation

Electronics of the 2 infinities

Continuous training

Contact details and access

Institut National de Physique Nucléaire
et de Physique des Particules

3 Rue Michel-Ange
75794 Paris CEDEX 16

Métro :
Lines 9 and 10

Stations: Michel-Ange Auteuil or Michel-Ange Molitor

Bus :
Lines 52 and 62

Bus-stop Michel-Ange Auteuil

Téléphone : (33) 1 44 96 40 00
Télécopie : (33) 1 44 96 53 40

Getting to the Institute