Thierry Dufour

Thierry Dufour is an Associate Professor at Sorbonne University and heads research activities at the Laboratory of Plasma Physics (LPP, UMR 7648), a joint research unit of Sorbonne University, CNRS, and École Polytechnique. He is affiliated with the Low Temperature Plasma team at the LPP, located at Sorbonne University's Pierre and Marie Curie Campus in Paris.

Dr. Dufour earned his PhD in Plasma Physics from the University of Orleans in 2009, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Brussels in 2010. He was appointed as Associate Professor at Sorbonne Université in 2015 and received his HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) accreditation in 2016.

His research spans multiple interdisciplinary fields where plasma technology intersects with life sciences and fundamental physics. Plasma Medicine constitutes a major focus, particularly in developing cold plasma treatments for solid tumors including cholangiocarcinomas and non-small cell lung carcinomas. His work extends to clinical engineering applications, notably cold plasma endoscopy for biliary duct treatments. In Plasma Agriculture, Dr. Dufour investigates seed decontamination, dormancy release, and stimulation of seedling growth across various crops including maize, barley, and lentils. His research in Evolutionary Biology examines extremophiles like tardigrades and halobacteria. Additionally, he conducts Fundamental Plasma Physics research on guided streamers and self-organization phenomena, along with expertise in plasma-material interactions and plasma gas processing for CO2 valorization.

Dr. Dufour's scientific contributions include 47 peer-reviewed articles, 12 conference proceedings, and 6 patents as of 2024, with an h-index of 23 (Google Scholar). His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward translational research, bridging fundamental plasma phenomena with practical applications in medicine and agriculture. His work shows particular strength in developing plasma-based solutions for cancer treatment and agricultural improvement, with increasing focus on understanding the underlying biological mechanisms.

Dr. Dufour actively contributes to the academic community through his membership on the LPP Council and the Plas@Par Steering Committee. He co-heads the "Initiative Physique des Infinis" research program at Sorbonne University and participates in several collaborative networks including the GDR Happybio under CNRS, and the PLASTHER and PLAGRI COST Actions. His research has been supported through various grants enabling interdisciplinary collaborations across physics, biology, and medical fields.

As a dedicated educator, Dr. Dufour teaches courses in fundamental physics as well as specialized plasma applications. He has also co-founded and served as CEO of Auxoway SAS, demonstrating his commitment to translating academic research into practical applications.