Physicist, Irène Nenner started her career in research in CEA Saclay in France in fundamental chemical physics to prepare her Thesis (3rd cycle in 1972). Then during a three-year stay at Yale University in the USA, she prepared her PhD, obtained in 1975 when she returned to France. Recruited by CEA, she has been involved in the domain of UV and X radiation-molecular interaction, using synchrotron radiation.
She then worked in the LURE laboratory, “National Laboratory for Synchrotron radiation use” under the supervision of CNRS, CEA and the Ministry of Research. From 1980, she has also been involved in the instrumentation for the use of synchrotron radiation and has participated in the accelerator-based synchrotron sources (SuperACO), then in the ‘90s in the SOLEIL project.

Irène Nenner has valuable management experience in research, especially in the physics and chemical physics domains in CEA with CNRS, or often in partnership with universities. She has vast experience in the management of research infrastructures.

Her main positions were :

2000-2005 : Deputy director of the Physical Science Division of CEA (Saclay/Grenoble/Cadarache) – 2300 scientists and technical staff including 450 researchers from CNRS/universities/Engineering schools/EURATOM – vice-President of the Steering committee of the Synchrotron SOLEIL Company.

1998-1998 – Head of the « Département de Recherches sur l’Etat Condensé, les Atomes et les Molécules » in CEA Saclay – 330 scientists and technical staff from CEA – 150 scientists from CNRS

1995-1998 - Head of the Laboratory “Photons, Atomes et Molécules” in CEA/Saclay – 80 scientists and technical staff from CEA

1992-1995 - Deputy Director of the LURE Laboratory (CNRS/CEA/Ministère de la Recherche) on the Paris XI University campus – 220 technical staff , 70 scientists from CNRS/University and CEA.

She has been also involved in the training of senior managers and in strategic management, on the board of the program called "Cycle de Formation Supérieure" attached to the General Supervisory Board of CEA.

She has also been involved in numerous assessment tasks in France, Europe, USA and Japan, on scientific councils, expert committees and audits.

She created the Nenner.conseil business at the end of 2005. She is acting as a consultant in management for Research and Higher Education. More recently, as a member of the “Association Française des Fundraisers”, she is offering her help in fundraising assistance for non governemental associations or institutions in the same area.

Irène Nenner has been a member of the Conseil Supérieur de la Recherche et de la Technologie (CSRT) since 2005 attached to the « Ministère de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche» in France. She has participated in numerous studies and prepared many recommendations and reports http://www.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/conseil/csrt/cpjo15mai.htm.

She is an “ Officer” of the Order of the Legion of Honor and “Chevalier” in the Order of “Palmes Académiques”

She has participated in the writing of the white paper GENNESYS (Grand European initiative on Nanoscience and nanotechnology, using NEutron and SYnchrotron radiation Sources) – 2009 – edited by the Max Planck Society in Germany http://www.mf.mpg.de/mpg/websiteMetallforschung/english/veroeffentlichungen/GENNESYS/index.html

She was a partner of the ERIDWATCH project (2006-2008) : http://www.eridwatch.eu : A coordination action supported by the 6th European PCRDT, which aims to improve the common policy of Member States for increasing the efficiency of investment in research infrastructure and for developing the associated public-private partnerships.