Moustafa Bensafi is a CNRS Research Director at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, where he leads pioneering research on the psychology and neurobiology of olfaction. His research bridges neuroscience, cognitive sciences, and clinical applications, addressing a critical gap in understanding how the brain interprets smells and their emotional significance. He earned his PhD on the affective processing of odors under the supervision of André Holley and Catherine Rouby, and further expanded his expertise during a post-doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley, before joining the CNRS in 2004. In 2008, Moustafa Bensafi was awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal, recognizing his outstanding early-career contributions to neuroscience. He is the author of over 150 scientific publications and the book "Brain and Smell". From 2021 to 2025, he coordinated the European ROSE project, a multidisciplinary effort to develop the first proof of concept for an olfactory prosthesis. He is a leading figure in olfactory cognition research, with a career marked by innovation, leadership, and a commitment to both scientific discovery and societal impact.
