Interview of Eleonore Vissol-Gaudin, Research Fellow at NTU and Visiting Researcher at NUS/A*STAR
Eleonore Vissol-Gaudin, Research Fellow, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technical University (NTU), Visiting Researcher NUS / A*STAR. Prior to NTU, she earned a PhD in Unconventional Computing from the University of Durham in the UK.
NTU is a globally recognised university, consistently ranked amongst the wold’s top 50 and it is the second oldest university in Singapore. It offers a diverse range of courses with a strong emphasis on science and engineering. The MSE department combines theoretical and blue-sky research. It is host to the HP-NTU lab and the Dyson-NTU studio.
What triggered your interest in French Tech?
My passion for technology began during my General Engineering degree at Durham University, where I was drawn to nanoelectronics and novel computing technology. This curiosity led me to pursue a PhD, earning a grant to investigate these topics and present my research at on the global stage, such as the IEEE International Roadmap for Devices and Systems conference in Washington DC.
At NTU, I currently focus on accelerated scientific discovery and lab-to-industry translation through data-driven modelling and optimisation. Beyond my work in the lab, I actively promote innovation through initiatives such as the Machine Learning for Multiscale Processes ICLR workshop, the International AI4X conference in Singapore and the IEEE Nanotechnology council. For me, tchnology is not just about research, it is about shaping the future.
I have been recently introduced to the French Tech network. I see it as a fantastic tool to connect the worlds of academic and industrial research.
The thing you're most proud of?
I am very proud of being actively involved in the Singapore AI for Science initiative. I was given the opportunity to co-organise a series of interdisciplinary workshop bringing together industry and academia to discuss how best to design a research ecosystem that will put Singapore at the forefront of AI-driven scientific discovery.
Based on these workshops we drafted a white paper for the Singapore National Research Foundation. It lays the groundwork for future funding, international collaborations and the establishment of a new research centre at CREATE. Since, the Singapore government released a $S120M funding call for AI for Science.
What is your wildest career goal?
The recent generalised deployment of LLMs and data-driven models is already transforming industry and is set to revolutionise academic research as well. However, this growing reliance on power hungry algorithms comes at a non-negligible environmental cost, as highlighted at the 2025 AI Summit in Paris (OECD and IEA).
My goal is to develop frameworks that enable both faster discovery of novel materials for the design of more efficient computing devices, and data-driven algorithms that can best exploit these devices. The aim is to harness advances in computing, whilst minimising its environmental impact.
If you could go back in time, is there anything you would do differently?
I would have sought involvement in government initiatives earlier. Whilst groundbreaking research is being undertaken worldwide, securing visibility and funding to turn it into real-world applications often requires more than strong academic publications.
Which 3 women from French Tech inspire you?
Many women in Tech inspire me every day! To cite three:
Dr. Hortense Le Ferrand – An Asst. Prof. at NTU leading excellent research in ceramics and biostructures. She has been awarded the MIT innovator under 35, Europe Award in 2023, and still takes time to actively promote women in science, including via the NTU POWERS network.
Kremena Makasheva – A researcher from the CNRS in Toulouse who has recently become the first women to head the IEEE Nanotechnology Council and is leading very interesting research in the field of Plasma Physics.
Rosie Dempsey – A Senior Data Science Manager at Expedia. From a background in Mathematics with stints at IBM and Aviva, she has kept a keen interest in science and technology and is an incredible translator of complex theoretical principle into actionable industrial insights.
Connect with Eleonore Vissol-Gaudin on Linkedin
Get in touch with us @ womenfrenchtech at gmail dot com
In collaboration with Amel Rigneau & Romeo Aguilar Bernard
