About

Dr Adrien Chauvet is an interdisciplinary Muslim scientist dedicated to exploring the interplay between science and religion. He is the founder of the Burhan Institute of Research, which is dedicated to providing activities on the theme of Science and Religion. These activities aim to make faith relevant in our technological societies.

His research expertise bridges across the fields of physics, biology, chemistry and engineering. He studied fundamental physics in Strasbourg (France) and pursued a PhD in biophysics at Purdue University (USA, 2012). He then worked as a Marie-Curie fellow in bio-photonics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland) and at the University of Geneva (Switzerland). In 2016 he was appointed assistant professor of physical chemistry at the University of Sheffield. In his research, Dr Chauvet develops and applies novel laser-based spectroscopies and imaging techniques to characterise and assist the synthesis of novel functional materials; be it solid materials, single molecules, molecular complexes, polymers, and whole living organisms.

Within the University of Sheffield, he is board member of the cross-faculty Energy Institute, for which he leads the development of early career researchers by upholding the equality, diversity and inclusion ethos. He is also part of the Institute for Sustainable Food as well as an active member of the University’s Muslim chaplaincy.

In parallel to his scientific training, Adrien studied Arabic and the fundament of classical Islamic sciences with local scholars. He was introduced to the fields of ‘Aquida, Tafsir, Fiqu and Usul al-Fiqu with Sheikh Tewfik Choukri, Indianapolis, USA. He was then exposed to Islamic spirituality through Imam Abdulwahid Kort, Lausanne, and Dr. Hani Ramadan, Geneva, Switzerland. He learned Arabic at university and through various intensive programs online as well as in person, locally and abroad.

Benefiting from his scientific and Islamic upbringing, Adrien is invested in the field of science and religion, and, for the past decade dedicated to researching, writing, delivering lectures, and organising events on the topic.