Electrical engineering alumnus Mounir Laroussi (PhD ’88) was awarded the 2026 Will Allis Prize for the Study of Ionized Gases by the American Physical Society (APS).
Established in 1989, the biennial award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the APS Division of Plasma Physics and honors exceptional achievements in the study of partially ionized plasmas and gases.
Laroussi, a professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at Old Dominion University and a pioneer in plasma medicine, was cited by the APS “for seminal contributions to the physics and diagnostics of low-temperature plasma jets and guided ionization waves, and for conducting pioneering work on their biomedical applications.”
The prize, which is sponsored by AT&T, General Electric, IBM, Intel Corporation, and others, carries a $10,000 honorarium and will be formally presented to Laroussi at the APS meeting later this year.
“This prize is very meaningful to me. These are my peers telling me that my scientific work has had an impact and contributed something of value to our scientific knowledge,” Laroussi said. “As importantly, my work and that of my students and collaborators has been translated to practical, real-world applications. Cold plasma is now used in dermatology, wound healing, etc., helping people going through tough health challenges. This not only makes me feel good but tells me that all these long years of dedication and hard work are bearing their fruits and contributing something positive to human welfare.”
Laroussi’s fascination with plasma began in the early 1980s while pursuing his doctorate at the University of Tennessee in electrical engineering. A lecture by the late professor Igor Alexeff sparked his interest in ionized gases and led him to volunteer in Alexeff’s lab. That formative experience launched a career spanning more than four decades and nearly 200 scientific publications.
“I feel very lucky to have been part of the UT Electrical Engineering Department at one time,” Laroussi said. “I had as role models outstanding faculty members, such as Dr. Ralph C. Gonzalez, Dr. Bimal Bose, and Dr. Igor Alexeff. These three individuals inspired me to aim for excellence.”
One of Laroussi’s most notable innovations is the plasma pencil, a handheld device that generates a gentle jet of plasma to safely target bacteria for medical, dental, and dermatological use. Laroussi’s work has been featured by National Geographic, the History Channel, and the Smithsonian Channel.
Laroussi was named a Fellow of the APS in 2023 and is a Fellow of IEEE and the International Plasma Chemistry Society. He has received the IEEE Millennium Medal, and the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society Merit Award.
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu)