Boris Cheval
A few words about me
My research focuses on understanding the socio-economic and neuro-behavioral mechanisms that drive physical activity behaviors to improve health. I am the author of more than 150 articles and one book.​ After completing my initial academic training in France in the field of exercise and sport sciences (University Grenoble Alpes), I embarked on a postdoctoral research position in the Methodology and Data Analysis Group (University of Geneva) to further develop my statistical expertise. During subsequent postdoctoral positions at the University Hospitals of Geneva and the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research LIVES, I deepened my investigations on physical activity, with a particular focus on health and socioeconomic inequalities.​In 2019, I received a competitive grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to advance his research at the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (University of Geneva). In 2023, I joined the École normale supérieure de Rennes as an associate professor. Here, I continue my research on the neuropsychological factors influencing physical activity, while training students in research methods in the humanities and social sciences. I have received a Chaire de Recherche Rennes Métropole to study the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie affective response during physical effort.​More details about my education and position are presented below
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Curriculum vitae and track record
EDUCATION AND KEY QUALIFICATIONS
05/11/2024 Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) : Accreditation to supervise research – École normale supérieure de Rennes, France.
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04/07/2014 PhD in Engineering for Health, Cognition and Environment
University Grenoble Alpes, France
Supervisor: Prof. Philippe Sarrazin
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2010 Master in Movement, Performance, Health, & Engineering
Université Grenoble Alpes, France.​
CURRENT POSITION​
2023–present Associate Professor – Department of Sport and Physical Education, École normale supérieure de Rennes, France.​
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
​2022–2023 Assistant Professor – Department of Sport and Physical Education, École normale supérieure de Rennes, France.
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2023–2023 Assistant Research Professor Non-Tenure Track
ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
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2019–2023 Senior Researcher Associate II (SNSF Ambizione PI)
Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (CISA), University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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2013–2019 Post-doctoral fellow
Institute of Demography and Socio-Economy, University Hospital of Geneva (2016-2019, 50%)
Quality of care Unit, University Hospital of Geneva (2016-2019, 50%)
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva (2013-2016)
MAJOR GRANTS & DISTINCTIONS
​Grants:
2025–2029 Co-Investigator – Horizon Europe (€10 M total; €500 K ENS Rennes)
2026–2028 Co-Investigator – ETIK Projects – Research and society, Rennes University (€91 K)
2025–2027 Principal Investigator – Foundation Sandrine Castellotti (€40 K)
2025–2027 Co-Investigator – IRIS-E, Rennes University (€244 K)
2024–2028 Principal Investigator – Rennes Métropole Research Chair (€308 K)
2024–2027 Co-Investigator – ANR (€348 K)
2019–2023 Principal Investigator – SNSF Ambizione (€700 K)
Awards:
2025 National PhD Prize for “Open Science” (supervised thesis: Layan Fessler)
2024 Grenoble PhD Prize (supervised thesis: Silvio Maltagliati)
2024- Top 2% Scientist, Standford Ranking (2024 & 2025)
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Shortlisted Grants (interview stage):
2022 SNSF Eccellenza Grant (evaluation process modelled after ERC PI schemes).
INVITED KEYNOTES AND INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC LECTURES
Keynote:
2025 ACAPS Conference, general public keynote, Poitiers, France
2025 Physical Activity, Health, and Academic Success Symposium, Sorbonne, Paris, France
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2025 Journée Réso Pédia : Comment cultiver le goût de l'effort chez les jeunes ?
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2024 ICAMPAM Conference – Effort Minimization and Physical Activity Engagement, Rennes,
France
Invited Lectures
2023 Affect and Health-Related Behaviors (2-day lecture series), Ghent, Belgium
2022–2025 LIVES Doctoral Program – Multilevel Models, Structural Equations, and Longitudinal Data, Geneva, Switzerland
2019 International Graduate Summer School (1 week) Conceptual, Theoretical, and
Methodological Advances in Exercise Motivation Research: Automaticity and Affect,
Potsdam, Germany
SUPERVISION & MENTORING
I have supervised three PhD students to completion, and I currently mentor five doctoral students and two postdoctoral researchers. Many of these students have secured academic positions.
Postdoctoral Supervision:
In progress (n = 2)
2025 Anne Le Cunuder, mental health in elite athletes, ENS Rennes, Rennes.
2024 Huiyun Ding, health epidemiology, ENS Rennes, Rennes.
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Doctoral Supervision:
In progress (n = 5)
2026 Florent Desplanques (with Prof. L. Gottsmann), ENS Rennes, Rennes.
2025 Henri Moncanis (with Prof. N. Hauw), IFEPSA, Anger
2025 Simon Hudo (with Prof. G. Kermarrec), Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest.
2025 Sedat Ozturk (with Prof. A. Le Faucheur), ENS Rennes, Rennes.
2024 Nicolas Matynia (with Prof. A. Le Faucheur), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble.
Completed (n =3)
2021–2024 Dr. Layan Fessler – Current position: post-doc at Université de Lille.
2020–2023 Dr. Ilyes Saoudi – Current position: Physical Education Teacher.
2020–2023 Dr. Silvio Maltagliati – Current position: Assistant Professor, Université Bretagne
Sud.
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Master supervision:
From 2013 37 Master students – Université Grenoble Alpes, University of Geneva, University of Lyon, ENS Rennes, East China University.
REVIEWING ACTIVITIES
Panel member:
2025–2026 Served as a scientific reviewer for a national funding agency. Responsible for evaluating and ranking research grant proposals. Specific agency and panel details remain confidential.
Grants:
2025 Paris Region PhD 2025, France (€600 K)
2025 Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), Belgium
2025 Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (€440 K)
2024 European Research Council (ERC) – Advanced Grant (€2.5 M)
2023 UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (€700 K)
2021 VIDI Programme, The Netherlands (€800 K)
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Ad-hoc reviewer (n > 100, 2012 – present):
Ad-hoc reviewer for numerous international journals, including Cerebral Cortex, Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Health Psychology, International Journal of Epidemiology, International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Neuropsychologia, and Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
Also, an active reviewer for community-based open platforms such as Communications in Kinesiology, Peer Community In Neuroscience, and Peer Community In Health & Movement Sciences.
Editorial Board
From 2023 Peer Community In Health & Movement Sciences
From 2023 International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
From 2019 Psychology of Sport and Exercise
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