His current research interests are in the field of multi-objective optimization, parallel algorithms, metaheuristics, combinatorial optimization, cluster and grid computing, hybrid and cooperative optimization, and application to logistics/transportation and bio-medical.

Professor Talbi has to his credit more than 150 publications in journals, chapters in books, and conferences. He is the co-editor of 5 books. He was a guest editor of more than 15 special issues in different journals (Journal of Heuristics, Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing, European Journal of Operational Research, Theoretical Computer Science, Journal of Global Optimization). He is the head of the INRIA Dolphin project and was the director of the bioinformatics platform of the Genopole of Lille. He has many collaborative national, European and international projects.