Making perception an object of engineering by revealing how physical and sensory structures shape lived experiences and mental and emotional states.

Scientific background and positioning

Dr Muriel Jacquot is Associate Professor (HDR, Hors Classe) at ENSAIA (University of Lorraine) and holds a PhD from the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine.
Her research is situated within the field of Perception Engineering, a transdisciplinary approach aimed at understanding, modelling and designing perceptual experiences through the causal relationships linking physical structures, sensory signals, and cognitive, emotional or behavioural effects.

For more than twenty years, she has developed an original research programme at the interface of physico-chemistry, neuroscience, cognitive science and data science, with a particular focus on complex perceptual systems, their temporal dynamics, and their ecological validity, that is, their functioning under real-world conditions of use and exposure.

Research activities and scientific axes

Dr Jacquot’s research investigates the relationships between material structures (molecules, lipid nanovectors, sensory signals, environments), perceptual mechanisms, and measurable effects on human experience (emotions, well-being, stress, attractiveness, decision-making).

Her work is organised around several complementary axes:

• the study of multisensory interactions and sensory illusions as experimental tools to uncover underlying perceptual and cognitive mechanisms;
• the design and evaluation of sensory environments capable of influencing mental states such as well-being, stress or engagement;
• the development of causal and explainable frameworks, integrating artificial intelligence and data science, to relate physical structures, perceptual signals and human responses;
• the analysis of structure - activity - perception relationships across multiple scales, from lipid nanovectors to complex sensory systems, notably through meta-analysis and causal modelling approaches.

Overall, this work aims to move beyond a purely descriptive view of perception, towards robust, auditable and transferable frameworks, applicable to both fundamental research and industrial innovation.

Research, innovation and industrial chair

In 2014, Dr Jacquot founded MYRISSI, the first company to develop an AI-based sensory translator linking olfactory compositions, colours and emotions. This technology led to the acquisition of MYRISSI by Givaudan in 2021.

After serving as Neuroscience Development Manager at Givaudan, she returned to the University of Lorraine in 2024, where she continues her academic research while remaining a scientific consultant for industry.

She currently holds the FRAGRANCESYN Industrial Chair (2025–2030), dedicated to the engineering of perceptual systems integrating fragrances, sensory signals and emotions, within a framework that closely links academic research, industrial innovation and education.

Academic and educational responsibilities

Dr Jacquot is actively involved in the institutional life and educational missions of ENSAIA. She is:

• a member of the ENSAIA International Committee,
• an elected member of the School Council,
• a member of governance bodies in charge of industrial partnerships,
• co-head of a third-year specialisation in Packaging and Conditioning.

Through these roles, she contributes to the development of educational programmes that integrate research, innovation and industrial challenges, in close connection with student projects, socio-economic partners and research laboratories.

Keywords

Perception engineering, complex perceptual systems, multisensory interactions, sensory illusions, causal modelling, explainable artificial intelligence, neuroscience of perception, data science, fragrances and emotions, mental well-being and sensory environments, ecological validity, structure–activity–perception relationships, research–education–industry integration, FRAGRANCESYN industrial chair.

ORCID - LINKEDIN