LSU researcher honored

Professor Eric Ravussin, an award-winning scientist known for his research examining the genetic and molecular causes for obesity, was unanimously named a Boyd Professor by the LSU Board of Supervisors, an LSU spokesperson said Friday.

The recognition is LSU’s top academic honor.

Ravussin, 62, chief of health and performance enhancement at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, becomes the 69th Boyd Professor since the professorship was created in 1953, according to a Pennington news release.

The Lausanne, Switzerland, native has generated more than $25 million in research rewards and published nearly 400 peer-reviewed articles during his career as a clinical researcher, the release says.

His work in recent years has focused on understanding how energy expenditure, fat oxidation and certain nervous system activity affect obesity.

A Boyd Professorship is awarded on a nominee attaining national and international recognition for research, teaching or other achievements.

Ravussin is now one of 19 active Boyd Professors in the LSU system, the release says.