Svetlana Mintova - Curriculum Vitae#

Education: HDR, University of Upper Alsace, France (2007); Ph.D. Chemistry, Technological University of Sofia, Bulgaria (1993)

Current Positions: Head, Center for Zeolites and Nanoporous Materials (CLEAR), Caen, France (2021 - present); Research Director Exceptional Class (DRCE), CNRS (2025 - present).

Research Profile:

The background of Dr. Mintova is in the discovery, characterization, and development of active nanosized zeolites. She is a Director of Research in materials and physical chemistry, specializing in the synthesis of zeolites and related porous materials, their advanced characterization, and applications in catalysis, separation, biomedicine, sensors, and membranes. Multidisciplinary research of Dr. Mintova has led to numerous scientific breakthroughs, high-impact publications, patents, and large-scale projects. She is the Research Director of the Sino-French International Laboratory “Zeolites”, coordinating research between leading institutions in France and China.

Awards & Honors:

In 2025, she was awarded Knight of the National Order of Merit (Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite) by French President Emmanuel Macron for outstanding scientific achievements and dedication to zeolite research in France. Other distinctions include Les Étoiles de l’Europe, Normandy (2024); Flanigen Award, Honeywell UOP (2024); ERC Advanced Grant (2022); Donald W. Breck Award, IZA (2016); Baron Axel Cronstedt Award, FEZA (2014); and Top 10 Breakthrough in Science (2011).

Research Output & Impact:

Author of 410 papers (Science, Nature, Nature Materials, Angew. Chemie, JACS, Chem. Soc. Rev.), 23 patents; >20.951 citations, h-index 72. Delivered over 100 invited, 81plenary and keynote lectures. Projects funded by ANR, ERDF, TOTAL, UOP-Honeywell, ExxonMobil, EC (FP6, FP7, INTERREG), and the Region of Normandy.

Leadership & Service:

The first female President of the European Zeolite Association FEZA; The first female President of the International Zeolite Association; ERC Starting Grant Evaluation Committee; CNRS National Evaluation Commission; ANR Evaluation Commission. Editor, Chemical Engineering Journal Green & Sustainable(Elsevier); Editor, Microporous and Mesoporous Materials (Elsevier) and Associate Editor, Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers (RSC).

Mentorship & Legacy:

Mentor to 50+ PhD and postdoctoral researchers, now in academia (10 Full Professors, 5 Associate Professors) and industry (ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Johnson Matthey, Clariant, Air Liquide, Arkema). Numerous trainees received international awards, including the FEZA Young Researcher Award, Denise Barthomeuf Prizes, CAS Scifinder Future Leaders, etc.