Fluid Physics and Plasma Physics

Several internship topics (L3, M1, M2) and thesis topics are available in the various areas listed below: please feel free to contact me if you are interested in joining our research group.
See the list of publications for more details on our recent work.

Plasma Physics

Flow, instabilities, and control in magnetized plasma columns.
Project initiated in 2013 with an ANR JCJC grant. ANR PRC grant in 2024: “Centrifugal instabilities in plasmas: from laboratory plasmas to Jupiter's magnetosphere.”

PhD students:

V. Désangles (2015-2018 - now ONERA Palaiseau researcher),
S. Vincent (2018-2021 - now EPFL postdoc),
F. Pagaud (2021-2024 - now ETH Zurich postdoc),
V. Desages (2024--);

Postdocs

G. Bousselin (2013-2016 - now RD Safran engineer),
A. Poyé (2015-2017 - now IR CNRS at PIIM)

Fluid-structure interactions

Dynamics of pendular systems in turbulence, aerodynamics of flapping flight in degraded conditions (flight of butterflies in confinement and in parabolic flight conditions), and aerodynamics of drones in confined environments. In local collaboration with M. Bourgoin.
ANR PRC grants in 2022 “Turbcab,” and in 2023 “Bucolyc,” and CNES grants since 2021.

PhD students:

A. Gayout (2019-2022 co-supervised with M. Bourgoin - now independent post-doc in Groningen),
F. Schweitzer (2023-- co-supervised with M. Bourgoin),
S. Bera (2023-- co-supervised with M. Bourgoin),

Post-doc

D. Bao (2023-- with M. Bourgoin)

Dynamics of inertial particles in turbulence

Modification of effective gravity by applying magnetic forces and in the free-fall drop-tower at Portland State University. Neuromorphic approaches. In local collaboration with M. Bourgoin and R. Volk, who are the projects leaders.

PhD students:

F. Cabrera (2018-2021 co-supervised with M. Bourgoin - now Assistant Prof. U. Reno USA),
J. Auzoux (2024 - in collaboration with Portland State University) no direct supervision

Morphogenesis through phase change: melting and sublimation of ice

Analysis of patterns formed on alpine glaciers and frozen lakes. In local collaboration with N. Taberlet, who is the project leader.

Post-doc:

M. Hénot (2020-2021 with N. Taberlet - CEA Saclay researcher).

Dynamo instability and magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

VKS collaboration

Self-excitation of a magnetic field in a turbulent flow of liquid sodium
CEA/DSM, CNRS, ENS Paris, ENS Lyon collaboration, operated at CEA Cadarache

Magnetohydrodynamics: turbulence, instabilities, and innovative instrumentation

Induction and turbulent MHD in liquid gallium
Maturation project PULSALYS magnetic distortion probes: from the laboratory to industrial conditions (2016) with G. Bousselin.

PhD students:

G Verhille (2007-2010 co-supervised with J.F Pinton - now CR CNRS at IRPHE),
S. Miralles (2010-2013 co-supervised with J.F Pinton - now MCF at LMFA)

PhD Thesis: Stability and electrical structure of an inductive discharge in electronegative gas

Laboratory of Plasma Physics and Technology - Ecole Polytechnique
Under the supervision of P. Chabert and J. Perrin


Link to the archive of L'école des Houches 2011 (Dynamics and turbulent transport in plasmas and conducting fluids)
Link to the archive of L'école des Houches 2015 (Turbulence, magnetic fields and self organization in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas)


Teaching, Popularization, and Arts/Sciences

Teaching at ENS de Lyon

Supervision of the ENS de Lyon team at the French Physicists' Tournament and International Physicists' Tournament.
  1st in 2016, 2017, and 2019, 2nd in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024 at the national level.
  1st in 2016 and 2023, 2nd in 2019, and 4th in 2017 at the international level.
  See the list of publications for publications related to IPT topics.
Master level: Magnetohydrodynamics: plasmas and conductive fluids - (2008-2015)
Master level: Fluid Mechanics (2018-2021)
Master level: labs

Teaching assistant at the Palais de la Découverte

School and public presentations: Electromagnetism, Electrostatics, Heat, Fluids, Magnetism (2003 - 2006) .

Assistant Professor at the Ecole Supérieure Ingénieurs de Beyrouth - Coopération S.N.

Faculty of Engineering - Saint Joseph University – Beirut - LEBANON (2000-2002)

Arts and Sciences

Collaboration with digital artist Alex Andrix as part of Physical Variations for the creation of virtual reality works and large-format paintings


Collective committments

Head of the Waves, Flows, Fluctuations team (23 permanent staff, 65 members) since 2019.
Head of technical services at LPENSL since 2025.
Member of the Scientific Council of the ENS de Lyon (2019-2020).
Member of the National Scientific Research Committee, section 02, term 2021-2025.