After training as a forestry engineer, I defended a PhD thesis on the topic of Plant Biotechnology (specializing in cell physiology) in 1993 at the University of Provence. In 2013 I presented the habilitation thesis to direct research in the specialty Ecophysiology at Aix-Marseille University.
Following my appointment as a lecturer at the University of Provence in 2000, I was led to develop research axes mainly focused on phytochemistry and functional ecology in terrestrial environment. I have thus taken part in the co-supervision of 10 theses, 5 of which were defended abroad. Since my recruitment I have been involved in several national (3 ANR) and international (Europe-Canada) projects while developing skills in biophysics, ecophysiology and ecogenomics with the aim of better understanding the functioning of Mediterranean plants in response to environmental constraints at various spatial scales of their organization: from the leaf to the global scale.

My research activities since my appointment are mainly divided into two main areas:
Axis 1: 2000-2004: Phytochemistry and pharmacognosy.
The objective of this work was to explore the chemical diversity of plants for conservation purposes and also with a particular interest in volatile oils and their applications as antibiotics or antioxidants.
Axis 2: 2004 - present: Ecophysiology-Plant Molecular Physiology
At IMBE, I first sought to understand how secondary metabolites affect plant-plant interactions. My current work focuses on the question of the impact of global changes on Mediterranean vegetation. Among the variables considered is the decline in rainfall predicted for the coming decades. In order to address this question, I am using several levers:
–  Biophysics: The fluorescence of chlorophyll a. This is the visible part of the functioning of the photosynthetic machinery. Through a PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) type tool, I have been able to understand the dynamics of photosynthesis according to exogenous (environmental stresses) and endogenous (chlorophyll deficient mutants) constraints. Thus, our understanding of the mechanisms of large-scale photosynthesis is a prerequisite to assess the involvement of vegetation in the global carbon cycle and to accurately predict climate change at the end of the 21st century. The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning the launch in 2022 of a satellite for mapping global vegetation based on the chlorophyll fluorescence signal (FLEX mission; FLuorescence Explorer). I thus participated in the AtmoFLEX project (ESA) to try to understand the relationships between the measurements of the fluorescence signal at the leaf scale (Active Fluorescence) and those acquired by remote sensing (Passive Fluorescence).
–  Functional imagery. At the sub-cellular scale, I try to understand the oxidative pressure undergone by plants due to the lack of water. The tool used is confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSM) with fluorophores specific to reactive oxygen species (ROS).
–  Transcriptomics/Metabolomics. This molecular approach of the understanding of plant physiology was made possible thanks to the stay carried out in 2010 within the Research Chair in Forest Genomics (IBIS Institute) of Laval University (Canada) as a visiting professor. By coupling these two “omics” technics, my work aims at a better characterization of the metabolic pathways involved in plant resistance to climate aridification.
Ultimately, the understanding of the functional mechanisms involved will allow, on the one hand, to promote the selection of elite specimens assisted by molecular markers and, on the other hand, a better estimation of the dynamics of vegetation and its involvement in carbon sequestration on a global scale.
Project leader:
2016: TRANS-C3 - The pubescent Oak TRANScriptome in response to Climate Change. Eccorev project.
2018: SIG2 - Implementation of a GIS on the CLIMED site, an observatory of the Garrigue. Project Eccorev.

2012-2018. L2 Licence SV. co- responsible of the course EU BI317, reproduction: cycles and genetic determinism. Semester 3. Bachelor of Biology. Course BOE-SVT
2012-2018. L2 SNTE Licence. Responsible at Saint Charles location of the course on Animal Physiology / Plant Physiology. Semester 3.
2012-2018. L3 Licence SV. Responsible at Saint Charles location of the course UE BI611: Biotechnology and plant genomics. Semester 6.
Since 2012. L2 Licence SV. Responsible at Saint Charles location of the course UE Metabolism and Bioenergetics.
Responsible for the management of the Plant Biology practical works rooms: Bât 5 Bloc B St Charles.

2017 : A. Ungaro, N. Pech, J.F. Martin, R. J. Scott McCairns, J.P. Mevy, R. Chappaz, A. Gilles. Challenges and advances for transcriptome assembly in non-Model species. PLOS ONE. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185020.

2018 : K. Sakowska, G. Alberti, L. Genesio, A. Peressotti, G. Delle Vedove, D. Gianelle, R. Colombo, M. Rodeghiero, C. Panigada, R. Juszczak, M. Celesti, M. Rossini, M. Haworth, B.W. Campbell, J.P. Mevy, L. Vescovo, M. P. Cendrero-Mateo, U. Rascher, and F. Miglietta. Leaf and canopy photosynthesis of a chlorophyll deficient soybean mutant. Plant Cell and Environment. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13180

2018 : A.Saunier, E. Ormeño, M. Havaux, H. Wortham, B. Ksas, B. Temime-Roussel, J.D. Blande, C. Lecareux, J.P. Mevy, A. Bousquet-Mélou, T. Gauquelin. C. Fernandez. Resistance of native oak to recurrent drought conditions simulating predicted climatic changes in the Mediterranean region. Plant Cell and Environment. doi : 10.1111/pce.13331.

2020 Ormeño E, Viros J, Mévy JP, et al. Exogenous Isoprene Confers Physiological Benefits in a Negligible Isoprene Emitter (Acer monspessulanum L.) Under Water Deficit. Plants (Basel). 2020 ;9(2):159. Published 2020 Jan 28. doi:10.3390/plants9020159.

2020 : Mevy JP, Loriod B, Liu X, et al. Response of Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) to Climate Change : Transcriptome Assembly, Differential Gene Analysis and Targeted Metabolomics. Plants (Basel). 2020 ;9(9):E1149. Published 2020 Sep 4. doi:10.3390/plants9091149.

2020: J.P. Mevy, F. Guibal, C. Lecareux, F. Miglietta. The decline of Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl in a Mediterranean salt meadow: Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements in long-term field experiment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 247 (2020) 107068. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2020.107068.

2022: J.P. Mevy, C. Biryol, M. Boiteau-Barral, F. Miglietta. The optical response of a Mediterranean shrubland to climate change: hyperspectral reflectance measurements during spring. Plants (Basel). doi.org/10.3390/plants11040505.

2023 : A. Marteau, M. Fourmaux and J.P. Mevy. The role of Gorse (Ulex parviflorus Porr. Schrubs) in a Mediterranean shrubland undergoing climate change. Approach by hyperspectral measurements. Plants (Basel). doi.org/10.3390/plants12040879.

–  Scientific manager of the CLIMED (Climate change effects on Mediterranean biodiversity and consequences for ecosystem functioning) observation site. 90 control and rain exclusion devices (4x4x2 m) on 2 ha of guarrigue.

–  Scientific co-animation of the DFME team