66 Notable alumni of University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
Updated: May 29, 2026 EliteDegrees
University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis is ranked #651 in the world and #19 in France by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 66 notable alumni from University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Viyé Diba
1954-. (aged 72)
painter
Viyé Diba is a Senegalese mixed-media, installation, and performance artist. He is known for using found, local, raw, and recycled materials in his work, reflecting his interest in environmental themes. Diba's work has been included in several international exhibitions, including Dak’Art, Johannesburg Biennale, and Biennale d’Abidjan, and was featured in a solo exhibition at the National Gallery in Dakar, Senegal....
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2. Robert Brown Asprey
1923-2009 (aged 86)
historian
Robert Brown Asprey was an American military historian and author, noted for his books on military history published between 1959 and 2001.
3. Laurent Anselmi
1962-. (aged 64)
magistrate
politician
Laurent Anselmi is a Monégasque politician in Monte Carlo.
4. Emmanuel Desurvire
1955-. (aged 71)
physicist
Emmanuel Desurvire is a French researcher and writer. He is the recipient of 2007 John Tyndall Award.
5. Maurice A. de Gosson
1948-. (aged 78)
university teacher
mathematician
physicist
Maurice A. de Gosson, (also known as Maurice Alexis de Gosson de Varennes) is an Austrian mathematician and mathematical physicist, born in Berlin. He is currently a Senior Researcher at the Numerical Harmonic Analysis Group (NuHAG) of the University of Vienna.
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6. Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
1950-. (aged 76)
politician
Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni is an Italian author, educator and politician, currently serving as the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe (since 2012). She previously held the post of Director General of Programs and was the first female Director General in the history of the Council of Europe.
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7. Jean-Lou Justine
1955-. (aged 71)
parasitologist
scientific collector
zoologist
Jean-Lou Justine, French parasitologist and zoologist, is a professor at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, and a specialist of fish parasites and invasive land planarians.
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8. Silvia Calvó i Armengol
1969-. (aged 57)
deputy
engineer
minister
politician
Sílvia Calvó i Armengol is an Andorran environmental engineer, Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability of Andorra between 2015 and 2023.
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9. Noah Dana-Picard
1954-. (aged 72)
mathematician
university teacher
Noah Dana-Picard is an Israeli mathematician, professor and Talmudic scholar who has been the president of the Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT) since 2009.
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10. Christophe Frassa
1968-. (aged 58)
politician
Christophe-André Frassa is a French politician and a member of the Senate of France. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement Party.
11. Laurence Trastour-Isnart
1972-. (aged 54)
intermediate administrative professions of the public service
politician
cadres de la fonction publique
Laurence Trastour-Isnart is a French politician representing The Republicans.
12. Adrian Constantin
1970-. (aged 56)
mathematician
university teacher
Adrian Constantin is a Romanian-Austrian mathematician who does research in the field of nonlinear partial differential equations. He is a professor at the University of Vienna and has made groundbreaking contributions to the mathematics of wave propagation. He is listed as an ISI Highly Cited Researcher with more than 160 publications and 11,000 citations.
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13. Hélène Masson-Maret
1947-. (aged 79)
professeur des universités
politician
Hélène Masson-Maret is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Alpes-Maritimes department. She is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement.
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14. Damon Mayaffre
1970-. (aged 56)
essayist
university teacher
historian
linguist
political scientist
Damon Mayaffre is a French academic, historian and linguist, specializing in the analysis of political discourse. He is the author of several books on contemporary French presidential speeches evaluated scientifically and statistically via software-supported analysis.
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15. Dominique Ristori
1952-. (aged 74)
official
Dominique Ristori is a European civil servant from France. From January 2014 to August 2019, Ristori was the director-general of the Directorate-General for Energy within the European Commission.
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16. Martine Reicherts
1957-. (aged 69)
civil servant
lawyer
politician
Martine Reicherts is a Luxembourgish politician who served as European Commissioner in 2014 and as the European Union's Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture until her retirement in 2018, when she was replaced by Themis Christophidou. She had previously held the post of Director-General of the Office for Official Publications of the European Union.
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17. Nargiz Gurbanova
1975-. (aged 51)
diplomat
politician
Nargiz Akif gizi Gurbanova is an Azerbaijani diplomat, serving as the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Poland since 2021.
18. Fatoumata Tambajang
1949-. (aged 77)
minister
lawyer
politician
Aja Fatoumata C.M. Jallow-Tambajang is a Gambian politician and activist who served as Vice-President of the Gambia and Minister of Women's Affairs from February 2017 to June 2018, under President Adama Barrow.
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19. Corinne Vignon
1963-. (aged 63)
politician
corporate administrative and commercial executive
Corinne Vignon is a French politician of Renaissance (RE) who has been serving as a member of the French National Assembly since the 2017 elections, representing the 3rd constituency of Haute-Garonne.
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20. Daniel Gibbs
1968-. (aged 58)
professions libérales et assimilés
politician
Daniel Gibbs is a French Saint-Martinois politician.
21. Mihnea Motoc
1966-. (aged 60)
diplomat
lawyer
politician
Mihnea Ioan Motoc is a Romanian diplomat who served as Minister of Defence of Romania between November 2015 and January 2017, in the Cioloș Cabinet. Before this appointment, he was the country's ambassador to the European Union between 2008 and 2015, and briefly the country's ambassador to the United Kingdom. He is currently the Principal Adviser in the European Commission's...
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22. Nikola Poposki
1977-. (aged 49)
diplomat
economist
politician
Nikola Poposki was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia until 31 May 2017. Prior to that role, in 2010–2011 he served as the country's ambassador to the European Union.
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23. Yehuda Lancry
1947-. (aged 79)
diplomat
politician
university teacher
Dr Yehuda Lancry is a Moroccan-born former Israeli politician and ambassador to France and the United Nations.
24. Norbert Turini
1954-. (aged 72)
Catholic priest
Catholic bishop
theologian
Catholic deacon
Norbert José Henri Turini is a French prelate of the Catholic Church who was named metropolitan archbishop of Montpellier in July 2022. He was bishop of Cahors from 2004 to 2014 and bishop of Perpignan-Elne from 2015 to 2022.
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25. Venance Konan
1958-. (aged 68)
journalist
writer
Venance Konan, is an Ivorian journalist and writer. His journalistic talents have earned him several awards by the prestigious Ebony. He was propelled to the front of the literary scene in 2003 with his bestseller Prisonniers de la haine.
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26. Sylvère Lotringer
1938-2021 (aged 83)
theorist
literary critic
philosopher
opinion journalist
university teacher
Sylvère Lotringer was a French literary critic and cultural theorist. Initially based in New York City, he later lived in Los Angeles and Baja California, Mexico. He is best known for synthesizing French theory with American literary, cultural and architectural avant-garde movements as founder of the journal Semiotext(e) and for his interpretations of theory in a 21st-century context. He is...
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27. Virginie Joron
1973-. (aged 53)
politician
ingénieurs et cadres techniques d'entreprise
lawyer
anciens cadres
cadre
Virginie Joron is a French politician. A member of the National Rally (RN), she was elected to the Regional Council of Grand Est in 2015. She was elected the European Parliament in 2019 and re-elected in 2024.
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28. Jacques Peyrat
1931-. (aged 95)
lawyer
politician
Jacques Peyrat is a French politician and lawyer who was mayor of Nice from 1995 to 2008 and has been senator from the Alpes-Maritimes from 1998 to 2008.
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29. Didier Sornette
1957-. (aged 69)
economist
physicist
scientist
university teacher
Didier Sornette is a French researcher studying subjects including complex systems and risk management. He is Professor on the Chair of Entrepreneurial Risks at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and is also a professor of the Swiss Finance Institute, He was previously a Professor of Geophysics at UCLA, Los Angeles California (1996–2006) and a Research Professor...
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30. Lionnel Luca
1954-. (aged 72)
professors
scientific professions
politician
Lionnel Luca is a French politician who was a member of the National Assembly for Alpes-Maritime's 6th constituency from 1997 to 2007. Since 2014, he is the Mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet.
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31. Claudine Monteil
1949-. (aged 77)
diplomat
writer
historian
Claudine Monteil is a French writer, women's rights specialist, historian, and a former French diplomat.
32. Marine Brenier
1986-. (aged 40)
cadres de la fonction publique
politician
Marine Brenier-Ohanessian is a French politician who served as a member of the French National Assembly from 2016 to 2022, representing the 5th constituency of the department of Alpes-Maritimes. She is a member of two political center-right parties, Horizons and La France Audacieuse.
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33. Simon Critchley
1960-. (aged 66)
philosopher
opinion journalist
university teacher
musician
Simon James Critchley is an English philosopher and the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York City, US.
34. Alain Bauer
1962-. (aged 64)
university teacher
criminologist
jurist
Alain Bauer is a French criminologist who has been a professor of criminology at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM Paris) since 2009. He is also a senior research fellow at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (New York) and the China University of Political Science and Law (Beijing). There were many protests in the scientific community...
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35. Joann Sfar
1971-. (aged 55)
film director
comics artist
actor
cartoonist
film producer
Joann Sfar is a French comics artist, comic book creator, novelist, and film director.
36. William Boyd
1952-. (aged 74)
author
screenwriter
director
writer
novelist
William Andrew Murray Boyd CBE FRSL is a British novelist, short story writer screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his novels, which include A Good Man in Africa (1981), Any Human Heart (2002), and Restless (2006), many of which have received critical acclaim and literary awards. Boyd has also written screenplays for film and television, including Chaplin...
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37. Frédérique Vidal
1964-. (aged 62)
biochemist
virologist
professeur des universités
politician
Frédérique Vidal is a Monegasque-born French-based biochemist, academic administrator, and politician who served as Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in the government of Prime Ministers Édouard Philippe and Jean Castex from 2017 to 2022. She was the president of the University of Nice from 2012 to 2017.
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38. John T. Dunlap
1957-. (aged 69)
lawyer
Fra' John Timothy Dunlap is a Canadian attorney and the reigning Prince and 81st Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since his election in 2023.
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39. Maurice Kamto
1954-. (aged 72)
jurist
politician
Maurice Kamto is a Cameroonian politician, law professor and barrister. He is one of the founders of the opposition Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC).
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40. Philippe Kahn
1952-. (aged 74)
computer scientist
entrepreneur
Philippe Kahn is a French engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of four technology companies: Borland, Starfish Software, LightSurf Technologies, and Fullpower Technologies. Kahn is credited with creating the first camera phone, being a pioneer for wearable technology intellectual property, and is the author of dozens of technology patents covering Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) modeling, wearable, eyewear, smartphone, mobile,...
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41. Eyvind Hellstrøm
1948-. (aged 78)
cook
program host
restaurateur
culinary writer
Eyvind Hellstrøm is a Norwegian chef and formerly the part owner of Bagatelle, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the city of Oslo. He was the president of the 2008 Bocuse d'Or Europe, is frequently a judge at the Bocuse d'Or world finals, and was himself a competition candidate in 1989, placing fifth.
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42. Michèle Laroque
1960-. (aged 66)
actor
screenwriter
film actor
television producer
film director
Michèle Laroque is a French actress, comedienne, producer and screenwriter.
43. Marie-France Pisier
1944-2011 (aged 67)
screenwriter
writer
director
film actor
stage actor
Marie-France Pisier was a French actress, screenwriter, and director. She appeared in numerous films of the French New Wave, and twice earned the national César Award for Best Supporting Actress.
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44. Daniel Pennac
1944-. (aged 82)
screenwriter
essayist
novelist
audiobook narrator
children's writer
Daniel Pennac is a French writer. He received the Prix Renaudot in 2007 for his essay Chagrin d'école.
45. Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio
1940-. (aged 86)
children's writer
novelist
university teacher
journalist
essayist
Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, usually identified as J. M. G. Le Clézio, of French, Mauritian, and British nationality, is a writer and professor. The author of over forty works, he was awarded the 1963 Prix Renaudot for his novel Le Procès-Verbal and the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature for his life's work, as an "author of new departures, poetic adventure...
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46. Karim Ahmad Khan
1970-. (aged 56)
barrister
jurist
judge
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC is a British lawyer who has served as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021. He specialises in international criminal law and international human rights law.
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47. Manuel Bompard
1986-. (aged 40)
ingénieurs et cadres techniques d'entreprise
mathematician
politician
Manuel Bompard is a French politician who has represented the 4th constituency of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the National Assembly since 2022. A member of La France Insoumise (LFI), of which he is the national coordinator, he previously served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2019 to 2022.
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48. Julien Lepers
1949-. (aged 77)
singer-songwriter
television presenter
actor
radio personality
Julien Lepers is a French television and radio presenter, and a singer-songwriter, born on (1949-08-12)12 August 1949 in Paris.
49. Jean-Pierre Bacri
1951-2021 (aged 70)
screenwriter
playwright
performing artist
actor
Jean-Pierre Bacri was a French actor and screenwriter.
50. Tomer Sisley
1974-. (aged 52)
comedian
television actor
screenwriter
film actor
film director
Tomer Sisley is an Israeli and French actor and comedian.
51. Guillaume Musso
1974-. (aged 52)
writer
novelist
Guillaume Musso is a French novelist. He is one of the most popular contemporary French authors.
52. Louis-Jean Calvet
1942-2025 (aged 83)
writer
sociolinguist
professeur des universités
Louis-Jean Calvet was a French linguist.
53. Robert Bourgi
1945-. (aged 81)
lawyer
political adviser
Robert Bourgi is a French-Lebanese businessman, politician, and the recipient of the Legion of Honour. He is best known as a close confidante and adviser to several African leaders in former French colonial states, especially Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon. Bourgi was considered a major facilitator in what was known as Françafrique, France's sphere of influence over its...
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54. Laurent Genefort
1968-. (aged 58)
science fiction writer
Laurent Genefort is a French science fiction writer. He studied literature at the Sorbonne (Paris IV). He has been writing SF since 1988, with around 50 novels and 40 short stories to his credit, including the "Omale" cycle, his most famous work. He also has written fantasy cycles: "Alaet" and "Hordes". He won his first Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire in...
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55. Olivier Weber
1958-. (aged 68)
biographer
screenwriter
writer
film director
journalist
Olivier Weber is a French writer, novelist and reporter at large, known primarily for his coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been a war correspondent for twenty-five years, especially in Central Asia, Africa, Middle-East and Iraq. He is an assistant professor at the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, president of the Prize Joseph Kessel and today...
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56. Catherine Guillouard
1965-. (aged 61)
businessperson
Catherine Guillouard is a French businesswoman. She was the chairwoman and chief executive officer of RATP from August 2017 to 30 September 2022.
57. Patrick Michel
1970-. (aged 56)
astronomer
university teacher
astrophysicist
planetary scientist
author
Patrick Michel is a French planetary scientist, Senior Researcher at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), member of the TOP team (for Theories and Observations in Planetology) within the Lagrange laboratory, itself under the supervision of Université Côte d'Azur, Côte d'Azur Observatory and CNRS, in Nice (France). He is also a Global Fellow of the University of Tokyo.
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58. Philippe Blay
1960-. (aged 66)
musicologist
Philippe Blay is a French musicologist.
59. François Bonneau
1953-. (aged 73)
politician
pensioner
François Bonneau is a French educationalist, politician, and incumbent President of the Regional Council of Centre-Val de Loire. He is a member of the Socialist Party.
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60. Yukiya Amano
1947-2019 (aged 72)
diplomat
politician
Yukiya Amano was a Japanese diplomat, who served as the Director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1 December 2009 until his death on 18 July 2019. Previously, Amano served as an international civil servant for the United Nations and its subdivisions.
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61. Danièle Hérin
1947-. (aged 79)
computer scientist
professors
scientific professions
professeur des universités
politician
Danièle Hérin is a French computer scientist and politician of Renaissance (RE) who was elected to the French National Assembly on 18 June 2017, representing Aude's 1st constituency.
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62. Driss Dahak
1939-. (aged 87)
diplomat
judge
politician
Driss Dahak is a Moroccan civil servant, and diplomat. He held the cabinet position of General Secretary of the Government from 2008 to 2017, under prime ministers Abbas El Fassi and Abdelilah Benkirane.
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63. Ahmed Jdey
1951-2012 (aged 61)
anthropologist
academic
researcher
historian
Ahmed Jdey was a Tunisian author, historian, and professor.
64. Mohammed VI of Morocco
1963-. (aged 63)
king
politician
entrepreneur
monarch
military leader
Mohammed VI is King of Morocco. A member of the Alawi dynasty, he has reigned since 1999.
65. Merieme Chadid
1969-. (aged 57)
researcher
explorer
astronomer
Merieme Chadid is a Moroccan-French astronomer, explorer and astrophysicist. She leads international polar scientific programs and has been committed to installing a major astronomical observatory at the heart of Antarctica.
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66. Dioncounda Traoré
1942-. (aged 84)
diplomat
politician
Dioncounda Traoré is a Malian politician who was President of Mali in an interim capacity from April 2012 to September 2013. Previously he was President of the National Assembly of Mali from 2007 to 2012, and he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1997. He was President of the Alliance for Democracy in Mali-African Party for Solidarity...
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