Joséphine Hajj from PEnTE Master gets the I2EN 2026 prize
On March 24, 2026, the I2EN 2026 Prize was awarded to Joséphine Hajj, a graduate of the PEnTE Master’s program (class of 2025) and a Training Engineer in Nuclear Safety and Quality at the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant. The award was presented by Vincent Berger, the High Commissioner for Atomic Energy, and Jan Van der Lee, the Executive Director of I2EN (photos 1 and 2).
This distinction recognizes Joséphine Hajj’s exceptional journey. Originally from Lebanon, she arrived in France in 2020 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in physics and went on to earn her master’s degree in September 2025.
Jean-François Georgis (Head of the PEnTE Master’s program, 2014–2025, President of the Regional Branch of the Société Française d’Energie Nucléaire),Joséphine Hajj (2025 graduate of the PEnTE Master’s program, Training Engineer in Safety and Quality at the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant),Jan Van der Lee (Expert in Environment, Energy & Nuclear Technologies, Executive Director of I2EN).
During her master’s program, which she completed with distinction through an apprenticeship at CEA Marcoule within the INB 148 facility, Joséphine Hajj developed strong expertise in nuclear safety, particularly in R&D related to the backend of the fuel cycle. This accomplishment led to an immediate job offer from CEA. However, she chose to join the EDF Group.
This prize highlights the quality and relevance of the PEnTE Master’s program (Physics of Energy and Energy Transition), which combines academic rigor, international openness, and close ties with the industrial world. Established in 2014 in partnership with the EDF Group, the PEnTE Master’s program was accredited by I2EN during the World Nuclear Exhibition 2021 to affirm the role of nuclear energy in the energy transition. In 2021, the program also joined EDF’s prestigious “Sciences & Enseignement” initiative, supported by the Institut de France – Académie des sciences. Finally, in 2025, the PEnTE Master’s program was recognized as a training program tailored to the needs of the nuclear industry by the Université des Métiers du Nucléaire, which awarded it the “Passeport Nucléaire +” certification. This distinction fosters privileged connections with companies in the French nuclear sector, facilitating internships, apprenticeships, and job opportunities for students.
At LAERO, Jean-François Georgis (AQUIET team) has been overseeing the PEnTE Master’s program since its inception in 2014. He also serves as the president of the regional branch of the Société Française d’Energie Nucléaire.
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