Manuel A. Pouchon

Manuel A. Pouchon is a Maître d'enseignement et de recherche at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Basic Sciences (SB), the Institute of Physics (IPHYS), and the Laboratory of Reactor Physics and Systems Behaviour (LRS). He is also a senior researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), where he serves as Head of the Laboratory for Nuclear Materials (LNM) and Leader of the Advanced Nuclear Materials (ANM) Group. His work bridges academic research and national laboratory innovation in nuclear science.

His educational background includes a PhD in Interdisciplinary Sciences from the University of Geneva (1999) focusing on zirconia-based nuclear fuels for plutonium utilization in light water reactors, and a physics diploma from ETH Zurich (1996) on photorefractive effects in waveguides. His academic journey began as a PhD student at PSI in 1997, followed by an International Fellowship at Japan’s JNC (now JAEA) from 2000 to 2002.

Manuel Pouchon's research focuses on the development and characterization of nuclear fuels and structural materials for advanced nuclear reactors. Key areas include radiation damage mechanisms, sample miniaturization techniques, thermal conductivity, sintering behavior, and mechanical interactions in ceramic fuel beds. He employs finite element modeling to simulate material behaviors and has led projects such as the FUJI project and the Inert Matrix Fuel Project, involving international collaborations with JNC (Japan) and NRG (Netherlands). Recently, he has initiated research on particle fuel production and application.

His teaching at EPFL includes graduate-level courses such as Nuclear Fuels and Materials, Advanced Topics in Nuclear Reactor Materials, Effects of Radiation on Materials, and Fusion and Industrial Plasma Technologies. He has supervised multiple PhD theses, including those of Bhattacharya Shaileyee, Cavaliere Andrea, Choi Kwanghoon, and others, reflecting his strong mentorship in nuclear materials science.

• Head, Laboratory for Nuclear Materials (LNM), PSI (2015–present)
• Leader, Advanced Nuclear Materials (ANM) Group, PSI (2012–present)
• Materials Scientist, PSI (2008–present)
• International Fellow, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) (2000–2002)

He has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards. His research leadership includes directing major programs in nuclear fuel development and radiation effects, contributing to both national and international nuclear energy research agendas. He is not part-time, not retired, and remains an active academic and research leader.