Lydéric BocquetProfessor

My research is at the interface between condensed matter, fluid dynamics and nano-science. It is mostly curiosity driven. We combine experiments, theory, and molecular simulations to explore the intimate mechanisms of the dynamics of fluid interfaces from the macroscopic down to the molecular level, with applications in the fields of micro- and nano- fluidics, material science, complex fluids, etc.
My main research interest is about nanofluidics, the study of fluid and ionic transport at nanoscales. A key objective is to explore the unexpected fluid transport behavior occurring at the nanoscales in order to design and fabricate artificial “nanoscale ionic machines” based on emerging properties and capable to reproduce the amazing functionalities of biological systems. Such artificial nanofluidic building blocks allows designing simple computation architectures based on ions rather than electrons, showing elementary ‘learning’ functionality using the nanofluidic circuitry.
Anonther goal is to take benefit of the sometimes 'exotic' fluid transport behavior occurring at the nanoscales to propose new routes for energy harvesting and desalination. This fundamental research led to the creation of three start-up companies on these topics, "Sweetch-Energy", "Hummink" and "Altr".

Awards
ERC Avdanced Grant of the European Research Council (2018)
2018 Hinshelwood Lecturer, University of Oxford
Silver Medal of the CNRS (2017) (award for the research career of a senior researcher)
Maurice Couette Award of the Groupe français de Rhéologie (2015)
Chair of excellence PSL* (2014)
Ancell condensed matter prize of the Société Française de Physique (2011)
ERC Avdanced Grant of the European Research Council (2010)
Scientific prize of the french Academy of Sciences, Jean Protas (2008)
International award, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel of the Alexander von Humboldt foundation (2007)
‘palmes académiques’ award (national award for accomplishments towards education, 2007)
awarded member of the Institut Universitaire de France (2005)
Young Researcher award of the city of Lyon (2003)