Denis Allemand is biologist, specialized in the comparative physiology of marine organisms, more particularly reef-building corals. He obtained his PhD in 1986 from the University of Montpellier II (France) in Endocrinology and Pharmacological Sciences. He is a Professor of University and Scientific Director of the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, the scientific agency of the Principality of Monaco.
Prof Denis Allemand is a specialist of Coral Physiology with a particular emphasis on both biomineralization process and symbiosis. He is interested in the mechanism of formation of coral skeleton and more particularly on the physiology of skeletogenesis and effects of environmental changes such as ocean acidification. He is also interested in the mutual adaptation of both partners (animal host and zooxanthellae) of the coral symbiotic association to the symbiotic state, and more particularly to the physiological, molecular and genomic relationship between zooxanthellae and their host. He is the co-author of 140-refereed papers and numerous book chapters. He has supervised 12 PhD students.
He is member of the Scientific and Technical Committee of the Foundation Prince Albert II, member of the Scientific Committee of the École Pratique des Hautes Études, member of the Scientific Committee of IFREMER, member of the Administration Council of the Observatoire Océanologique de Villefranche-sur-Mer, member of the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities. For a complete biography and list of publication see: www.centrescientifique.mc