Herman van Tilbeurgh
After completing a Master’s Degree in Chemistry at the University of Ghent (1976–1980), Herman van-Tilbeurg pursued doctoral studies in Biochemistry at the same institution (1981–1986), focusing on enzyme mechanisms.
In 1994, he was awarded the Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches from the University of Aix-Marseille II, qualifying for full professorship and independent doctoral supervision in France.
His professional trajectory spans industry, national research organizations, and university leadership positions.
He began his career as a Research Scientist at Plant Genetic Systems (Ghent, Belgium, 1986–1991), using protein crystallography to improve industrial enzymes. He then joined the CNRS as a postdoctoral fellow in Marseille (1991–1993), followed by appointment as Chargé de Recherche (CR1) at the Centre de Biochimie Structurale in Montpellier (1993–1997). In 1997, he was appointed Professor of Structural Biology at the University of Aix-Marseille I, and in 2001 became Professor of Structural Biochemistry at the University Paris-Saclay, where he continues to lead research and teaching activities.
He leads the FAAM (Function and Architecture of Macromolecular Assemblies) research team at the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, a joint institute of CNRS, CEA, and University Paris-Saclay. His research program focuses on understanding the structural basis of protein function using complementary biochemical and structural methodologies.
Across his career, he has consistently integrated structural biology with biochemical and molecular approaches to dissect protein mechanisms in varied biological systems. This work has contributed to advancing our understanding of complex macromolecular assemblies and their roles in cellular regulation.
In addition to research leadership, he has held significant administrative responsibilities. He serves as Vice Director of the Doctoral School Innovation Thérapeutique (until 2025), contributing to doctoral training strategy, interdisciplinary program development, and the supervision framework for PhD candidates.
