• Geomechanics (soil, rock, rock mass, lithosphere)
    • Numerical modeling (Discrete Element Method)
    • Multi-Physics (Thermo-Hydro-Mechanics)
    • Micromechanics and upscaling (granular media)

  • Career :

    • 2026 – Co-Principal Investigator of the Geo4Auv research chair from Fondation UCA.
    • 2022 – in charge of the Master’s program « Géoressources, Géorisques, Géotechnique » of Ecole de l’Observatoire de Physique du Globe / Université Clermont Auvergne
    • 2021 – Associate Professor – Université Clermont Auvergne / Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont Ferrand / Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans
    • 2019 – Vice Director of the International Affairs – École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie
    • 2017 – Visiting Researcher – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory / Energy Geosciences Division (Berkeley, USA)
    • 2012 – Associate Professor – Université de Lorraine / École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie / Laboratoire GeoRessources (Nancy, France)
    • 2012 – Postdoctoral fellow – Laboratoire 3S-R (Grenoble, France)
    • 2010 – Postdoctoral fellow – CSIRO / Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (Brisbane, Australia)
    • 2009 – Postdoctoral fellow – Institut de Recherche en Génie Civil et Mécanique (Saint-Nazaire, France)

    Education :

    • 2008 – PhD, Mechanics – Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble / Laboratoire 3S-R (Grenoble, France)
    • 2005 – Master, Mechanics – Université Joseph Fourier (Grenoble, France)
    • 2003 – Bachelor, Mechanics – Université Blaise Pascal (Clermont-Ferrand, France)

  • Supervision :

    • 11 PhDs: V. Bonilla-Sierra, INPG/3SR (2012-2015), E. Papachristos, INPG/3SR (2013-2017), A. Hajjar, UL/GeoRessources (2014-2017), S. Moosavi, UL/GeoRessources (2015-2018), A. Mostafa, UL/GeoRessources (2019-2022), M. Huber, UL/CRPG/GeoRessources (2019-2022), M. Galarraga, UCA/Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (2023/2026), P. Boymond, UPC/IPGP (2020-2023), A. Allemand, UPC/IPGP (2023-2026), O. Larkem, UL/GeoRessources (2024/2027), A. Diwedi, UPC/IPGP (2025-2028)
    • 6 postdoctoral fellows: J. Wu, UL/GeoRessources (2015-2016), O. Dinç, UL/GeoRessources (2016-2017), T. Chauve, UiO/UGA (2018-2020), L. Zhang, UGA/ISTerre (2018-2020), K. Eldursi, UL/GeoRessources (2020-2021), H. Nho Gia Nguyen, UL/GeoRessources (2020-2021)

    Collective Actions :

    Research Projects:

    • Geo4Auv (2026-2030): Characterization of geothermal reservoirs in Auvergne
    • ANR SLIDE (2025-2029): Assessing the contribution of slow moving landslides to erosion in the Himalayas
    • ERC BE_FACT (2025-2029): Boxing Earthquakes and Faults in Active Tectonics (PhD of A. Diwedi)
    • ANR Earth-Beat (2024-2028): Transient thermo-hydro-mechanical couplings in geothermal systems (PhD of O. Larkem)
    • REGALOR (2018-2022): Multi-scale hydro-mechanical modeling of coalbed methane recovery (PhD of A. Mostafa)
    • ANR HydroGeoDam (2017-2021): Numerical investigation of local damage mechanisms and characterization of macroscopic laws (postdoc of L. Zhang)
    • DEEPSURF (2017-2021): Micro-Hydro-Mechanical behavior of faults in the context of CO2 geological storage (postdoc of H. Nho Gia Nguyen)

  • Teaching

    • Geomechanics (soil and rock mechanics)
    • Geomaterials (physical and mechanical properties)
    • Geotechnics (dimensioning of foundations and retaining walls, slope stability analysis)
    • Geological Engineering (case study and back analysis)
    • Structural Geology (field measurements and analysis, rheology of rocks)

  • Full list on Google Scholar

    13 publication(s) | Article scientifique au 06/06/2026
    • Fuchs M., Blum P., Blöcher G., Scholtes L. (2025) . Permeability evolution and gouge formation during fracture shearing. GRL (Geophysical Research Letters) . vol.52, p.E2025gl117217, DOI
    • Boymond P., Feuillet N., Thinon I., Scholtes L. , Zaragosi S., Leroy S., Lemoine A. (2025) . En échelon rifting and origin of the volcanism in the comoros. G3 (Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems) . vol.26, p.011576, DOI
    • Angelidaki V., Boschi K., Brzezinski K., Caulk R.A., Chareyre B., Andrés del Valle C., Duriez J., Gladky A., van der Haven D.L.H., Kozicki J., Pekmezi G., Scholtes L. , Thoeni K. (2024) . Yade an extensible framework for the interactive simulation of multiscale, multiphase, and multiphysics particulate systems. COMPUTERPHYSICSCOMMU (Computer Physics Communications) . vol.304, p.109293, DOI
    • Huber M., Scholtes L. , Lavé J. (2024) . Stability and failure modes of slopes with anisotropic strength: insights from discrete element models. GEOM (Geomorphology) . vol.444, p.108946, DOI
    • Mostafa A., Scholtes L. , Golfier F. (2023) . Pore scale hydro mechanical modeling of gas transport in coal matrix. FUEL (Fuel) . vol.345, p.128165, DOI
    • Eldursi K., Scholtes L. , Conin M., Golfier F., Ledru P., Mercadier J., Collon P., Chemillac R. (2023) . 3 d hydromechanical simulation of intersecting faults: influences on fluid circulation and formation of oriented orebodies. JOURNOFSTRUCT (Journal of Structural Geology) . vol.171, p.104864, DOI
    • Jiao L., Tapponnier P., Donzé F.V., Scholtes L. , Gaudemer Y., Xu X. (2023) . Discrete element modeling of southeast asia's 3d lithospheric deformation during the indian collision. JGR (Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth) . vol.128, DOI
    • Jiao L., Chan C.H., Scholtes L. , Hubert-Ferrari A., Donzé F.V., Tapponnier P. (2022) . Discrete element modeling of a subduction zone with a seafloor irregularity and its impact on the seismic cycle. ACTAGEOLSINC (Acta Geologica Sinica) . vol.2, p.776–790,
    • Jiao L., Klinger Y., Scholtes L. (2021) . Fault segmentation pattern controlled by thickness of brittle crust. GRL (Geophysical Research Letters) . vol.48, p.e2021GL093390, DOI
    • Zhang L., Scholtes L. , Donzé F.V. (2021) . Discrete element modeling of permeability evolution during progressive failure of a low permeable rock under triaxial compression. ROCKMECH (Rock Mechanics Rock Engineering) . DOI
    • Nguyen H.N.G., Scholtes L. , Guglielmi Y., Donzé F.V., Ouraga Z., Souley M. (2021) . Micromechanics of sheared granular layers activated by fluid pressurization. GRL (Geophysical Research Letters) . vol.48, DOI
    • Donzé F.V., Klinger Y., Bonilla-Sierra V., Duriez J., Jiao L., Scholtes L. (2021) . Assessing the brittle crust thickness from strike slip fault segments on earth, mars and icy moons. TECTO (Tectonophysics) . vol.805, p.228779, DOI