Philippe CHOLER – Senior researcher (DR) at CNRS
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, F-38000 Grenoble
E-mail: philippe dot choler at univ-grenoble-alpes dot fr
Website: http://www.philippe-choler.com
Nationality: French. Age: 58
Research interest
I am working on the structure, dynamics and functioning of mountain grasslands. I am particularly committed to the development of a whole-system approach examining the linkages between biodiversity, soil, climate, ecosystem functioning and human activities. My current research investigates the greening of high-elevation ecosystems including its spatial and temporal variability and its main drivers.
Education
2009. Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches (HDR). University J. Fourier, Grenoble I, France.
1999-2002. Ph.D. in Plant Ecology (with distinction). University J. Fourier, Grenoble I, France
1990-1992. M.S. in Cellular & Molecular Biology. University Claude Bernard Lyon I & Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France
1987-1989. B.S. in Physics and Mathematics. Lycée du Parc, Lyon, France
Professional employment
2016-... Senior Researcher (DR) at CNRS.
2011-2016 Researcher (CR) at CNRS.
2008-2009 Marie-Curie European Fellow (FP6 European Programme). CSIRO CMAR, Canberra, Australia.
2003-2010 Assistant Professor. University J. Fourier, Grenoble I, France. Section CNU 67
1993-2003 Lecturer (PRofesseur AGrégé). University J. Fourier, Grenoble I, France.
Past responsibilities in research management
2020-2022 French National Coordinator for eLTER, a European Research Infrastructure on Critical Zone and Social-ecological systems
2015-2020 Director of the Research Department Particle physics, Astrophysics, Geosciences, Environment and ecology of the Univ. Grenoble Alpes
2015-2020 Deputy Director of the Station Alpine J. Fourier in charge of research activities
2013-2019 Director of the Zone Atelier Alpes, a Long Term Ecological Network (LTER) for the French Alps.
Teaching
2015-... In charge of a field internship in alpine ecology for master students
1993-... Main lectures in Functional Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecosystem modeling. Computer lab using R.
Supervising
2003-2026 Supervision of 12 Ph.D. students and mentoring of more than 25 undergraduates.
Expertise
2021-... Scientific Advisor for preparing the labelling process of an eLTER site in Lautaret-Galibier
2015-2016 Expert to INRA and MEDDE for the evaluation of ecosystem services in French agropastoral ecosystems (EFESE project)
2011-2015 Science advisor for the Station Alpine J. Fourier
2001-2014 Member of the Scientific Committee of the Parc National des Ecrins.
Ongoing funded projects
as Principal investigator
2026-2029 PERSEE Pastoralisme et biodivERsité dans le Socio-Ecosystème Estive (OFB funded project)
2021-2026 TOP Trajectories of agrO-Pastoral systems in mountains (ANR funded project)
as Scientific Referent for CNRS
2026-2029 GENESIS Generating Earth iNtelligence for Environmental and Sectoral Impact and Sustainability (HORIZON-Europe funded project)
Publications
In a nutshell : 126 peer-reviewed publications, around 9,000 citations, h-index = 46. (source : Web of Science, last access on February 2026)
See my full profile on Researcher ID, Google Scholar, ResearchGATE, ORCID