Marilaure Grégoire

Marilaure Grégoire

Portrait of Marilaure Grégoire

In brief

  • Full Professor at the University of Liège
  • Honorary Research Director, F.R.S.-FNRS
  • Head of MAST, Modelling for Aquatic Systems
  • Director of FOCUS, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of research
  • Spokesperson of ADERE and founder of UNIFRA

Full career & CV ↓

I am an oceanographer, and I build mathematical models of the ocean. Trained as an engineer in physics, I came to oceanography through my love of mathematics and physics. Since my master’s thesis, I have been developing mathematical models to understand and predict our oceans and seas.

What I love most about oceanography is its interdisciplinarity: it requires exchanging with scientists from very diverse backgrounds and, increasingly, with decision-makers. These dialogues are fascinating. You never get bored!

I did my PhD on modelling the ecosystem of the Black Sea, the world’s largest anoxic and euxinic basin; a sea I have worked on ever since, from that first model to the European projects my team leads today. The PhD also sparked a lasting interest in ocean deoxygenation, a process accelerated by climate change that disrupts biogeochemical cycles and threatens marine life.

At the University of Liège I founded MAST, a team of young modellers, oceanographers, and data scientists who forecast the state of the ocean the way weather models forecast the atmosphere. This work feeds into the European Copernicus Marine Service, whose Ocean State Report I serve as Chief Editor. The tools have grown over the years, data assimilation, machine learning, coupled atmosphere–ocean–river systems, living organisms from the macrobenthos to fish, but the goal has stayed the same: describing the ocean with equations well enough to predict it.

My initial plan had been to go straight into teaching, but research completely won me over: I started as an FNRS PhD fellow, rose to the rank of FNRS Research Director, and, having never stopped loving teaching, moved to a professorship in 2021 and became Full Professor in 2023.

I would like to pass on a message to students who like mathematics: it opens more doors than you might think. It was maths that brought me to the ocean, and the field still needs people who like to model, compute, and predict.

“Une planète bleue”, three minutes on why I believe ocean forecasts can change how we treat the sea, a portrait filmed by my university.

Research

explore all themes →
  1. 01Ocean deoxygenation6 projects
  2. 02Ocean stochastic forecasting, AI emulation & data assimilation4 projects
  3. 03Towards an Earth System approach3 projects
  4. 04Climate projections4 projects
  5. 05Blue growth assessment effect on biology4 projects
  6. 06Science for marine policy3 projects
  7. 07Commitment to the Academic community2 projects

Projects

Flagship projects · 17 projects →

Career

Download the CV (PDF) ↓ · last updated 15/08/2026

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Work experience8
  1. 2023 – ongoingFull ProfessorUniversity of Liège
  2. Sept 2021 – Dec 2022ProfessorUniversity of Liège
  3. 2015–2021FNRS Research Director
  4. 2010–2015FNRS Senior Research Associate
  5. 2002–2010FNRS Research Associate
  6. Dec 2002 – Nov 2004Marie Curie FellowshipEuropean Union - Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOZ)
  7. 2000–2006Career breaksThree maternity leaves (2000, 2003 and 2006) and two parental leaves (2003 and 2006).
  8. 1999–2002FNRS Postdoctoral Researcher (Chargée de recherches)
Education & training3
  1. 1995–1999PhD in Applied Science - FNRS research fellow (Aspirante FNRS)University of LiègeThesis: “The three-dimensional modeling of the Black Sea physics and ecosystem”. Summa cum laude, with congratulations of the board of examiners.
  2. 1995–1996European Diploma Eruditionum Altarum in the Modelling of the Marine EnvironmentSumma cum laude.
  3. 1990–1995Civil Engineering - Mechanics-PhysicsUniversity of LiègeSumma cum laude each year, with congratulations of the board of examiners in 1992, 1994 and 1995. Final year: 92%, first of the section.
Research projects27
  1. 2026–2030RIVIERADE - Improving Modelling Methods to Produce Climate Services for Resilient European Seas and Coasts in a Decadal to Multi-Decadal HorizonHorizon EuropePrincipal Investigator.
  2. 2026–2030COMEDI - Copernicus Marine Service with Enhanced Data Assimilation and Improved InteroperabilityHorizon EuropeCo-Principal Investigator.
  3. 2026–2030O2CH - The Ocean Oxygen to Carbon Heat Nexus in a warming climateCLIVARPart of the working group of the World Climate Reasearch Program
  4. 2025–2029BioGeoSea - Enhancing Biogeochemical Essential Ocean Variables for European and Global AssessmentsHorizon EuropePrincipal Investigator.
  5. 2023–2027NECCTON - New Copernicus Capability for Trophic Ocean NetworksHorizon Europe (HORIZON-CL4-2022-SPACE-01-41)Principal Investigator; leader of the work package “New capability in benthic habitat modelling”.
  6. 2023–2025MiTHO - Multiple Threats on Ocean HealthEuropean Space AgencyPrincipal Investigator. Building an emulator of ocean deoxygenation using deep learning, in collaboration with Prof. Gilles Louppe (ULiège).
  7. June 2022 – June 2024ODESSA - Optimal Design of Ensemble-based Simulation Systems for Applications to Marine ForecastingCopernicus Marine Service Evolution (21036-COP-INNOSCI)Co-Principal Investigator.
  8. 2022–2024BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Copernicus 2Principal Investigator.
  9. June 2021 – Dec 2025BRIDGE - Advancing Black Sea Research and Innovation to Co-Develop Blue Growth within Resilient EcosystemsHorizon 2020Principal Investigator; leader of the work package “Ecosystem dynamics under multiple stressors”.
  10. 2021–2024FullContinuum - Seamless Coupling of the Ocean and River SystemFNRS PDRCoordinator.
  11. 2020–2023CE2COAST - Downscaling Climate and Ocean Change to ServicesJPI Ocean and ClimatePrincipal Investigator; leader of the work package “Regional ocean: downscaling past changes and climate projections”; Belgian representative in the project.
  12. 2020–2022FORCOAST - Earth Observation Services for Fishery, Bivalves Mariculture and Oyster Ground Restoration along European CoastsHorizon 2020 (DT-SPACE-01-EO-2018-2020)Co-Principal Investigator.
  13. June 2019 – Sept 2021EO4SIBS - Earth Observation for Science and Innovation in the Black SeaEuropean Space AgencyCoordinator.
  14. 2018–2021BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Phase 2Principal Investigator.
  15. 2016–2018BS-MFC - Black Sea Marine Forecasting Centre, Phase 1Principal Investigator. Deputy leader for the Black Sea in the Product Quality Working Group; representative for Black Sea biogeochemistry in the Ocean State Report.
  16. 2015–2019BENTHOX - Understanding Hypoxia in the Black SeaFNRS PDRCoordinator.
  17. 2015–2019Face-it - Functional Biodiversity in a Changing Sedimentary EnvironmentBelspo, BRAIN callPrincipal Investigator. Implications for biogeochemistry and food webs in a managerial setting, North Sea.
  18. 2012–2015PERSEUS - Policy-oriented Marine Environmental Research in the Southern European SeasEU FP7 Integrated ProjectPrincipal Investigator.
  19. 2009–2012HYPOX - In Situ Monitoring of Oxygen Depletion in Hypoxic Ecosystems of Coastal and Open Seas, and Land-locked Water BodiesEU FP7 Integrated ProjectAssociate Partner.
  20. 2005–2010RACE - Rapid Assessment of the Marine Coastal EnvironmentAction de recherches concertées, French-speaking CommunityPrincipal Investigator.
  21. 2005–2009PEACE - Role of Pelagic Calcification and Export of Carbonate Production in Climate ChangeBelgian Science PolicyInvolved researcher.
  22. 2005–2008Understanding the Carbon Cycle in the Coastal ZoneFNRS Mandat d'impulsion scientifiqueCo-Principal Investigator.
  23. Dec 2004 – Nov 2005Marie Curie Reintegration Grant - Mathematical Modeling of Marine EcosystemsModel development, parameterization and simplification using data assimilation.
  24. 2000–2002INTAS - Study of the Nitrogen Cycling in the Oxic/Anoxic Environment of the Black SeaEU INTASCoordinator.
  25. 1997–2000VENTILEU INCOScientific Coordinator. Study of the ventilation process in the Black Sea.
  26. –SESAME - Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modeling Ecosystem ChangesEU FP6 Integrated ProjectPrincipal Investigator and work-package leader.
  27. –ARAL-KUMEU INCOScientific Coordinator. Study of the desertification process in the Aral Sea basin.
Editorial activities6
  1. 2022 – ongoingWMO ET-EOSDE Expert Team on Earth Observing System Design and Evolution (ET-EOSDE)
  2. 2022 – ongoingChair - Copernicus Ocean State ReportPublished in the State of the Planet journal (Copernicus).
  3. 2022 – ongoingChief Editor of the Marine Copernicus Ocean State Report
  4. 2018–2022Member of the editorial board
  5. 2012–2024Associate Editor - Biogeosciences
  6. –Guest EditorGuest editor of 18 special issues in peer-reviewed journals.
International expert groups & advisory boards14
  1. 2023–2024Chair - European Marine Board Oxygen Expert PanelWriting of a “Navigating the Future” policy brief (Oxygen Working Group).
  2. 2022 – ongoingFNRS delegate at the European Marine BoardF.R.S.-FNRS
  3. 2022 – ongoingNEMO Scientific Advisory Committee
  4. 2021–2022“High-Level Guidance” working groupWorld Meteorological OrganizationGuidance document towards implementation of the WMO WIGOS vision.
  5. 2021 – ongoingScientific Committee - CoastPredictUN Ocean Decade
  6. 2020 – ongoingJET-EOSDE - Joint Expert Team on Earth Observing System Design and EvolutionWorld Meteorological Organization
  7. 2020–2023Advisory Board - SEAMLESS projectEU H2020
  8. 2018 – ongoingScientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC)EU Copernicus Marine Service
  9. 2018–2021Board - EGU Fridtjof Nansen Medal CommitteeEuropean Geosciences Union
  10. 2017–2023Scientific Committee - GMMC (Groupe de Mission Mercator Coriolis)LEFE programme, CNRS INSU
  11. 2017 – ongoingMarine Ecosystem Analysis and Prediction Task TeamGODAE OceanPredict
  12. 2016 – ongoingGO2NE - Global Ocean Oxygen NetworkIOC-UNESCOMember since 2016; Co-Chair from 2016 to 2023.
  13. 2016Network of EU Experts for ReDeveloping Models of the European Marine EnvironmentDG-ENV, DG-JRC
  14. –Scientific Advisory Board - MyOcean Phase 1EU GMES programme
Reviewing & evaluation8
  1. since June 2025Advisory Board - Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC)Spanish National Research Council
  2. May–June 2022Selection committee - FedTwin positionUniversity of Antwerp & Natural Sciences Museum“Abiotic and biotic sediment dynamics along estuarine–marine gradients in times of global change”.
  3. Feb 2022Evaluation of promotion to Full ProfessorUniversity of Maryland, USA
  4. June 2018Reviewer - IPCC Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere (SROCC)
  5. March 2018Evaluation Panel - Ocean and Lake Master programmeUA, UGent and VUB
  6. –Expert - European CommissionEvaluation of Horizon Europe and H2020 proposals and project monitoring, ERC Consolidator, FP7, FP6 and COST proposals and projects.
  7. –Expert - national research councils and science foundationsUK, France, USA, Switzerland, Romania, Peru and other countries.
  8. –Reviewer for scientific journalsNature Communications, Nature Geoscience, Progress in Oceanography, Journal of Geophysical Research, Biogeosciences, Journal of Sea Research, Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, Deep Sea Research, Journal of Marine Systems, Ocean Science, among others.
Conferences & panels10
  1. 2026Digital ocean weekSee event website
  2. June 2025Panelist - IOC-UNESCO Ocean Science Day
  3. 2024Panelist - Digital Ocean Forum, Brussels
  4. Oct 2020Panelist - 7th European Marine Board ForumBig data in marine science, the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Digital Twin of the Ocean.
  5. Dec 2019Scientific Organizing Committee - WMO Scoping Workshop on Earth System Modelling, GenevaDiscussion leader for the ocean session.
  6. Oct 2019Panelist - Marine Copernicus Data WorkshopUse of Copernicus Marine data for assessing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive; invited by Mercator Ocean International.
  7. Dec 2015Panelist - EU PERSEUS Final MeetingRound table “Where do we go from here in the SES?”.
  8. Nov 2014Session Co-Chair - 2nd International Ocean Research Conference, BarcelonaSession on low-pH and low-oxygen environments, co-chaired with R. Feely; organized by UNESCO/IOC and The Oceanography Society.
  9. 2001–2022Organizer - International Liège Colloquium on Ocean DynamicsEditions of 2001, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021 and 2022, with approximately 200 participants. Founded the first full-hybrid event in 2022.
  10. –Scientific Organizing Committee - GO2NE Webinars on Ocean DeoxygenationMonthly series.
Teaching5
  1. Feb 2023CE2COAST winter school - Lisbon, Portugal
  2. 2022 – ongoingTeaching at the University of Liège
  3. Sept 2019Co-Director - IOC-UNESCO GO2NE Summer SchoolXiamen University
  4. –Lecturer at international summer and winter schools
  5. –University round tables on doctoral training
Awards & distinctions6
  1. 2002Scientific Award - Association des Ingénieurs de Liège (AILg)Best PhD in Applied Sciences.
  2. 2002André Leroux Award - Les Amis de l'Université de LiègeBest PhD in Applied Sciences.
  3. 2002Marie Curie Individual International FellowshipEuropean Community
  4. 2002CGRI Travel GrantTwo weeks at LEGI, University of Grenoble, France.
  5. 1998Student Travel Grant - American Geophysical Union
  6. 1998IRMA (Jeunes océanographes) AwardBest PhD student presentation.
University service7
  1. 2020 – ongoingMember - University Research Council, Science and Technics sectorUniversity of Liège
  2. since Feb 2019Director - FOCUS, Freshwater and Oceanic science Unit of researchUniversity of LiègeElected Director.
  3. 2019–2021Member - FNRS Council of Administrators
  4. 2016 – ongoingMember - Research and Teaching-Research Commissions, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of Liège
  5. ended in 2023President - Doctoral College in OceanographyUniversity of Liège
  6. ongoingMember - Council of Studies in OceanographyUniversity of Liège
  7. ongoingUniversity round tables on doctoral training
Outreach & media16
  1. ⭐ March 2018France Culture - “La Méthode Scientifique”On modifications of ocean chemistry, with host Nicolas Martin.
  2. June 2025L’océan digital : un océan de données au service d’une communauté d’utilisateurs.Forum des savoirs à Verviers - Modules de conférences, Résumé
  3. March 2025Explorer la planète avec l’IA, les océans, le climat et les avancées scientiifiquesWatch the video
  4. Jan 2025L’océan digital : un océan de données au service d’une communauté d’utilisateurs.Forum des savoirs à Verviers
  5. 2024Invitation conférence, Observation de la Terre depuis l'espace : les enjeux du programme CopernicusSee online informations
  6. June 2024World Ocean Deoxygenation Day“L'océan, acteur majeur dans la régulation de notre oxygène, est à bout de souffle.”
  7. May 2022Surveillance de l’état de santé de nos océans, le service Copernicus marinSee online informations
  8. Nov 2019Speaker - Société des Sciences de Liège colloquium“Le changement climatique : des outils diagnostiques aux solutions technologiques.”
  9. Aug 2019Interview - Jour Première, with Sophie LéonardEight urgent measures to preserve the role of the ocean in maintaining life on Earth; commentary on the IPSO report.
  10. May 2019Talks - Université du Temps Libre (Paris) and U3 (Liège)
  11. June 2018Organizer - Café des Sciences “Le Grand Bleu et l'Homme”
  12. June 2018Co-author - IOC-UNESCO Technical Brief on Ocean Deoxygenation15-page brief for decision-makers and the general public; Breitburg, Grégoire, Isensee and the GO2NE group, Paris.
  13. March 2018Participant - Printemps des Sciences
  14. Jan 2018Media interviews on ocean deoxygenationFollowing the Science paper: Soir Première, Le Soir, RTL TVI and La Meuse.
  15. June 2017Side event on ocean deoxygenation - UN Ocean Conference, New YorkOrganized with the GO2NE group.
  16. –Coordinator - Collège de Belgique lecture series“L'Océan à travers les temps : mécanismes d'une épopée passionnante perturbée par l'Homme”, with A.-C. Da Silva, X. Fettweis, F. Primeau, F. Gemenne and P. Vincent.