Dominique Bazin

Dominique Bazin, Research Director at the CNRS Institute of Physical Chemistry in Orsay (Ile de France), studied solid state physics at the Université Paris XI, Orsay, where he obtained his 3eme Cycle thesis in 1985 on the characterization of nanometer scale metallic clusters. He was appointed CNRS researcher in 1985 in the solid state physics group at LURE (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation du Rayonnement Electromagnétique, Laboratory for Electromagnetic Radiation Applications) to develop in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy characterization of supported nanometer scale metallic clusters used in reforming, Fischer-Tropsch, and postcombustion, industrial processes. In 1991, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship in Professor Dale Sayers’ group in Raleigh at NCSU (North Carolina State University) for 14 months to develop AWAXS (Anomalous Wide Angle X-ray Scattering) data analysis. He was appointed director at CNRS in 2001, and in 2004 moved to LPS (laboratoire de Physique des Solides), Université Paris XI in Orsay, to develop the characterisation of pathological calcifications, PCs, such as kidney stones. To characterise the first steps in the pathogenesis process and to develop new diagnostic tools, several techniques including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy, as well as techniques specific to synchrotron radiation such as XAS or X-ray Scattering have been applied. In 2012 he moved to LCMCP (Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris) at the Collège de France to develop the application of soft chemistry concepts, developed by Prof. J. Livage, to advance understanding of PC physicochemistry. Finally in 2018 he moved to the Institute of Physical Chemistry at Université Paris Saclay to develop PC characterization using nanoIR spectroscopies such as AFMIR (a combination of atomic force microscopy and IR spectroscopy) and OPTIR (Optical PhotoThermal IR). His current research interests include the different kinds of PC occurring in kidney, prostate, breast, thyroid, and skin. Rationalising this diversity of origin is of primary importance in understanding details of the relevant pathogenic mechanisms and their relationship to either homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation. All this research is underpinned by close collaboration with clinicians, resulting in several new medical diagnostic tools, for example in primary hyperoxaluria and kidney infection diseases.