[Portrait] Alice Mornet, Senior Lecturer in Private Law and Criminal Sciences at the LBNC

What is your research about? 

My research focuses on criminal law and procedure and the impact of the development of digital law and European Union law on these areas. To give just a few examples, I am interested in the use and protection of personal data in criminal proceedings, digital investigation techniques, the international circulation of digital evidence and the criminalisation of cybercriminal behaviour.

What are your current scientific activities?

Having defended my thesis two years ago, I am finalising its publication with Mare et Martin. I have also just finished writing an article on the construction of a common law of digital evidence, to be published in the journal Lexbase Pénal. I am also involved in collective scientific research. In particular, I am involved in the work of the future Banking Data Chair at the University of Avignon, under the direction of Ms Koumpli. Finally, in June 2023, I will be speaking at a conference on environmental criminal law organised by the University of Toulouse I Capitole.

Why did you choose to work in academic research?

My desire to work in university research was born in a lecture hall while attending the lectures of the professor who was later to become my thesis director. Teaching was therefore my first motivation and, even today, I cannot conceive of research without teaching, and vice versa. Subsequently, the intellectual freedom offered by the profession of teacher-researcher and the pleasure of being able to carry out in-depth research on a given theme reinforced my choice.

What advice would you give to people who want to do research?

When students come to me and tell me that they want to do research, I always say the same thing. First of all, I encourage them to be cautious: research is not the easiest path, especially as there are other, more lucrative professions in law... Then, if their motivation remains intact, I advise them to trust themselves, to believe in their ideas and, above all, to take pleasure in their research activities.

What object or image from your business best illustrates you?

A library, to illustrate both the place of work of the teacher-researcher in law and the immensity of the research topics available to him.