Chloé Fruy, a doctoral student in quantum physics at the Laboratory of Physics of the École normale supérieure (LPENS), is among the 35 young researchers distinguished this year by the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talent Award. A former student of ESPCI Paris – PSL, she is dedicating her research to the detection of dark matter.
Originally from Cobrieux in the North of France, Chloé Fruy gravitated towards science early on. After preparatory classes in Lille, she enrolled at Chimie ParisTech – PSL and then completed part of her studies at ESPCI, specializing in quantum physics. Her internships took her to the Paris Observatory, Uppsala University in Sweden, IBM Research in the United States, and the Quantum Institute of Sherbrooke in Canada, progressively refining her interest in quantum technologies.
At LPENS, within the Hybrid Quantum Circuits team led by Takis Kontos, her work focuses on developing quantum detectors to search for particles like axions, which could constitute dark matter. Invisible and non-luminous, dark matter, whose gravitational effects are evident, represents a significant portion of the Universe's matter. The devices being developed to measure extremely weak signals may also find applications in other areas of quantum technologies.
Established in 2007, the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Young Talent Award recognizes 35 doctoral and post-doctoral students annually. Supported by the L'Oréal Foundation in partnership with the Academy of Sciences and the French National Commission for UNESCO, the program aims to support and enhance the visibility of young female researchers.
Chloé Fruy is also committed to improving the representation of women in science, highlighting the impact of stereotypes. She recalls a high school teacher advising her to choose chemistry over mathematics preparatory classes, stating that "girls preferred chemistry." Recognizing these biases is crucial for changing mindsets.
Chloé Fruy joins several researchers and former ESPCI students who have previously been honored by this program. These include Aliénor Rivière and Paula A. Gomes (2024), Irène Nagle and Noémi Renaudin (2022), Judith Pineau and Lauren Reynolds (2021), as well as Marine Bézagu and Laura Magro (2015).
