Noam Mouelle has been elected as Cambridge Men’s President for the 2026 season. The Paris native told us about his journey through rowing and his Boat Race plans for this year… as well as atom interferometry!

Tell us about Société Nautique du Perreux, on the Marne on the eastern side of Paris. What was the atmosphere at the club?

When I first joined the club as a kid, there wasn’t yet a strong tradition of winning national championships, but there was a solid sporting culture. The coaches placed a lot of emphasis on values like commitment to the team, consistent training, and punctuality. I was fortunate to be part of a generation with many strong athletes and we ended up winning championships at both junior and senior levels, and several of us went on to represent the national team. Since then, the club has continued to build on that momentum.

How did it feel having the Olympic rowing regatta nearby last summer?
Having the Olympic regatta at home was definitely special. I’ve had many memorable races there, and it’s very close to where my parents live. Actually, I hosted some CUBC guys for the occasion and we had a great time watching rowing and other sports all around Paris.

Winning in 2025 in the seventh-fastest time ever must have felt satisfying. What was the best moment last year?
Winning in any scenario feels satisfying I guess. It’s hard to pick a best moment as we had an amazing group of guys which made for a great season overall, but if I had to choose one I’d maybe say winning the HOCR.

What keeps pulling you back to trial for a Boat Race every winter?
I just genuinely like the sport, I like spending time in boats, in the gym, seeing the guys, loading trailers, everything! The setup we have here at CUBC is the best I’ve had the chance to experience, I wouldn’t want to miss out on it.

What have you learned from the CUBC Presidents who have come before you?
One thing I’ve learned is that there isn’t a right way of being president. It’s pretty much up to you to choose what the role means, which is both exciting and somewhat daunting.

How will you lead the squad this year?
During my time at CUBC I’ve been part of squads where everyone pushes each other hard, and try their best to become better rowers. I want to do everything I can to support the guys in achieving this.

Can you sum up the implications of your PhD in one sentence that a lay person could understand, and what do you hope to do next?
I work on atom interferometry. Within quantum mechanics, matter particles, like atoms, behave like waves. Atom interferometers make atom waves interfere in tightly controlled experimental conditions. The interference gives us highly precise information about the atom’s trajectories and interactions, which can be used for a variety of applications: inertial navigation, fundamental physics, gravimetry… I’m particularly interested in applications to gravitational wave detections and dark matter searches. After my PhD I hope to find a research position somewhere in Europe or America.

And finally, tell us something about yourself that nobody else knows.

I started as a cox.