Younès Messaddeq

Younès Messaddeq began his academic career in 1994, as a professor at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil. In 2010, he moved to Canada to head the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Photonic Innovations. The Chair is based at Université Laval in Quebec City where Professor Messaddeq is a faculty member at the Department of Physics, Physical Engineering and Optics.

A world-renowned leader in the study and development of materials for optics and photonics, Messaddeq leads a research team of graduate students, full-time scientists and technicians involved in pushing the boundaries of knowledge in ultra-low loss mid-infrared glasses, microstructured and multi-functional optical fibers and nanostructured materials for applications in health, environment, communications and defense & security.

A firm proponent of international collaboration, Professor Messaddeq has spearheaded various research and training initiatives that have resulted in the establishment of synergistic partnerships. One such partnership is the International Joint Unit with the University of Sao Paulo (UNESP) in Brazil, of which he is Director. Another is the International Associated Laboratory on light-matter interactions that brings together researchers at the CNRS and Université de Bordeaux in France and at Université Laval and INRS in Canada. He is also the Director of this initiative.

Professor Messaddeq has authored over 500 publications (Google Scholar, H index: 60) detailing his innovative research on new glass materials. In addition, he holds more than 20 patents. In 2013, he was recognized by Université Laval for his involvement in four patent applications. He has also made an immense contribution to the training of the next generation of photonic material scientists having supervised and co-supervised some 80 graduate students and post-docs.