Gilles Courret, born on January 2, 1966, is a Swiss physicist and engineer. He earned an engineering degree in Materials Physics from INSA Lyon (France) in 1988, followed by a PhD in Applied Physics from EPFL, where his doctoral research focused on advanced daylighting systems for buildings.
In 1999, he joined the School of Engineering and Management Vaud (HEIG-VD) in Yverdon-les-Bains as a research engineer. He initially worked within the Institute of Thermal Engineering (IGT), where he led numerous industry-cofunded research and development projects in indoor climate control, energy efficiency, and energy systems. In 2004, he joined the Institute of Micro- and Nanotechnologies, where he initiated and directed several research programs in plasma engineering and advanced lighting technologies. In 2013, he was appointed Associate Professor at HEIG-VD and became affiliated with the Institute of Energy and Electrical Systems (IESE), extending his activities to both energy-related research and engineering education. A long-standing contributor to energy research at HEIG-VD, he has been a member of the Institute of Energy (IE) since its establishment in 2023 through the merger of the Institute of Thermal Engineering (IGT) and the Institute of Energy and Electrical Systems (IESE).
Among his principal scientific contributions are the demonstration and modeling of the influence of ultrasonic excitation on the optical emission of high-pressure molecular plasmas, as well as the discovery of plasma ball formation in microwave-excited sulfur lamps. He subsequently contributed to the development of theoretical models describing plasma confinement through acoustic resonance and thermodynamic non-equilibrium phenomena, thereby advancing the understanding of acoustically sustained plasma structures. His work has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications, several patent applications, and the development of innovative sulfur-plasma lighting technologies.
Since 2013, he has taught general physics and engineering sciences to undergraduate students in the Department of Industrial Technologies at HEIG-VD. In parallel, he leads applied research projects in plasma engineering, measurement science, and data analytics. His research interests include advanced lighting technologies, cold atmospheric plasmas for disinfection, nanosecond-pulsed plasma processes, ground-test facilities for hypersonic aerothermodynamics, and plasma-based approaches to the molecular recycling of plastic waste.
Throughout his career at HEIG-VD, he has initiated, secured, and successfully managed numerous collaborative research and innovation projects with industrial and institutional partners. These activities have generated more than CHF 2 million in competitive external funding, resulted in several patent applications, and contributed significantly to technology transfer and applied engineering research. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of GESO (Groupement Électronique de Suisse Occidentale) and participates in the H2 network of the Normads Foundation.
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