I obtained a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Université de Nancy I in 1991. The same year, I obtained a faculty position (so called maître de conférences) at the UFR de mathématiques et informatique of Université de Nancy II. Until 1996, I did my research with CRIN-CNRS and INRIA-Lorraine (now called LORIA).

I moved to Université d'Artois in 1996, where I obtained the habilitation à diriger des recherches in 1997 and a position of Professeur
des Universités in 1998.