An interview of Mitia Duerinckx

What's your research domain?

I’m mainly interested in effects of disorder in mathematical physics equations and to the emergence of new physical properties due to disorder. From a mathematical point of view, my research combines the analysis of PDEs with probabilistic tools and aims to develop non-disruptive methods.

What did you do before joining the CNRS?

I did my PhD in Brussels and Paris 6 under the supervision of Antoine Gloria and Sylvia Serfaty. I then carried on with a one-year post-doctorate at the Ecole normale supérieure in Lyon (ENS-Lyon) before I had the chance of being recruited by the CNRS.

What do you expect from your job as a mathematician?

Above all, it is a desire or a need to try to understand the world; although I am passionate about physics, the only language I can understand is that of mathematics. To be able to do this as a profession is obviously the most pleasant thing there is.

What led you to do mathematics?

As a child I was fascinated by ancient languages and writings, and at school I devoted myself largely to the study of Latin and ancient Greek. However, it was more comparative linguistics and the underlying structure that fascinated me, and I came to realize that mathematics was a much more natural path for me.

Why the CNRS?

Above all for the complete freedom it offers researchers.