Trained as a materials scientist, Patrick Cordier works mostly in the field of mineral physics. His research interests are related to the mechanical properties of minerals with a special focus on continental crust and mantle rheology. Specialist of transmission electron microscopy he has pioneered the application of Large Angle Convergent Beam Electron diffraction to defect characterization in minerals and now Precession Electron Diffraction. Patrick is past President of the Société Francaise de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (2008-2009) and of  International Mineralogical Association (IMA, 2019-2020). He is visiting professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, and a Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France. He has been elected a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America and of the American Geophysical Union, and was awarded the Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America in 2016. Patrick is a member of Academia Europaea, elected in 2022.