When he graduated in 1943, he became a senior research fellow at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, while continuing his studies at the National School for Modern Oriental Languages.
In 1957, he became a full professor at the ENLOV (the above-mentioned Oriental Language School's new name).
Since 1950, he has also been the director of studies at the École pratique des hautes études (Section IV).
He was also a member of the International Union of Oriental and Asian Studies (of which he was formerly the treasurer, secretary general and vice-president), and the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres (elected 22 October 1993 to the chair Claude Cahen).
He was Vice-Chairman of the Societas Uralo-Altaica, and was president of the section of Oriental Languages and Cultures of the French National Centre for Scientific Research.