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Associate Editor, Organic Letters; Professor of Organic Chemistry; ESPCI ParisTech, Paris (France)

Janine Cossy’s early career was spent in Reims, where she did her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of this city, working on photochemistry under the supervision of Pr Jean Pierre Pète. After a postdoctoral stay with Pr Barry Trost, for two years at the University of Wisconsin (USA), she returned to Reims where she became, in 1990, Director of Research of CNRS. In the same year, she moved to Paris to become Professor of Organic Chemistry at the ESPCI (Ecole Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris), and in 1991, she was nominated Director of the CNRS Unit (UMR 7084) at the ESPCI ParisTech.

Janine Cossy's research interests focus on the synthesis of natural products and biologically active molecules (anti-cancer agents, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents and central nervous system drugs). The synthetic methodologies that she develops and applies include radical reactions, photochemistry, thermal reactions, organometallic reactions, catalysis, ring expansions, opening of strained rings, methods for the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, stereoselective reactions. Her research efforts have resulted in more than 400 publications and 15 patents. Her list of awards includes the CNRS Bronze Medal (1987), the CNRS Silver Medal (1996), UK Royal Society Rosalyn Francklin International Lecturership awarded to internationally recognized women scientists (UK) (2005), Le Bel Award from the French Chemical Society (France) (2009). Recently, she was nominated Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2013).