Nicolas Rouhier, Holder of the 2024-2025 International Francqui Chair at the University of Liège

The University of Liège is honoured to welcome Professor Nicolas Rouhier from the University of Lorraine as the holder of the 2024-2025 International Francqui Chair. This prestigious programme aims to promote scientific excellence through interdisciplinary and international collaborations. Professor Nicolas Rouhier is renowned for his significant contributions to plant biochemistry, particularly in the field of redox biology.

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he inaugural lecture, entitled “Multidisciplinary approaches to study thiol and metal-dependent processes in photosynthetic organisms”, will take place on Tuesday, 4 February 2025, at 4:30 PM at the Château de Colonster. This event will mark the beginning of a series of exchanges and lectures that will enrich both Belgian and international scientific research.

An Outstanding Scientific Career

Professor Nicolas Rouhier is recognised for his remarkable contributions in the field of redox biology, particularly in the structure-function analysis of proteins in the glutaredoxin and thioredoxin families. By controlling numerous post-translational modifications of partner proteins, these enzymes participate in various metabolic pathways and signaling or cellular response pathways associated with the response and adaptation of plants to biotic and abiotic constraints. Furthermore, the biochemical and functional study of glutaredoxins has revealed an important role in the biogenesis mechanisms of iron-sulfur centers, which has led Prof. Rouhier to pursue the study of the synthesis and insertion of these metal cofactors within various proteins that are important for cellular bioenergetic mechanisms (photosynthesis, respiration and fermentation), offering some promising prospects for biotechnology.

The research of Nicolas Rouhier explores complex and conserved cellular mechanisms using an interdisciplinary approach that combines in particular biochemistry, structural biology and physiology.

Nicolas Rouhier has been awarded the Prix de la Chancellerie des Universités de Lorraine (2005), the Suzanne Zivi Prize from the Académie Stanislas (2011), the Gay-Lussac Humboldt Prize (2014), has been nominated as a junior member of the “Institut Universitaire de France” (2010-2015), and is currently a senior member of this Institute (2024-2029).

International Francqui Chair

The International Francqui Chair provides a unique platform to introduce Professor Rouhier to Belgium and strengthen national and international collaborations. With the support of partner universities – Hasselt, Namur, Brussels, Ghent, and Louvain – this hybrid programme (combining in-person and virtual sessions) will bring together a broad network of researchers focusing on redox biology and interdisciplinary sciences.

This nomination to the Francqui International Chair highlights the importance of fostering innovative and collaborative approaches in scientific research.