Fellow | Christophe Eloy

Christophe Eloy is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Centrale Méditerranée, whose research lies at the intersection of Fluid Mechanics, Physics, Applied Mathematics, and Biology. He combines experimental work, theoretical modelling, and numerical simulations to address complex interdisciplinary challenges. Notably, Christophe designed a 3D mathematical model that predicts flag instability, solving a classical problem in fluid-structure interactions. His work also revealed that the fractal dimension of trees is a result of the competition for light between leaves, offering new insights into plant morphology. More recently, he demonstrated how plankton can double their speed by ‘surfing’ on background turbulence, advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems.

How do microplastics drift in the ocean? How do plankton escape predators with no brain? Answering these questions requires understanding how soft particles with complex shapes move in turbulent flows. This project will develop a theoretical framework for these problems of ‘soft planktonics,’ using AI to optimize shape and flexibility for transport, clustering, and navigation.