Dr. Bertrand Mennesson received his Ph.D. in Astrophysics and Space Techniques from Paris Diderot University in 1999, before joining JPL in 2001. His expertise is in the design, assembly and scientific exploitation of high-contrast high-resolution optical systems – coronagraphs, interferometers and starshades- used for astronomical imaging. His main scientific focus is on the direct detection and spectroscopy of exoplanetary systems, ultimately leading to the search for life on Earth-like exoplanets, through the use of new instruments and data reduction techniques. Dr Mennesson is the author or co-author of ~ 300 publications in specialized journals and at professional conferences.