My research
RESEARCH FOCUS
With a PhD degree in Neurosciences, I am interested in the neuroendocrine regulation of the main physiological functions such as reproduction, growth and osmoregulation, and the role that the different environmental factors play in their regulation.
The overall scope of my research interests encompasses the physiology, genetics and development using aquatic organisms as model organisms, mainly zebrafish and medaka, but also aquaculture related species such as Atlantic salmon.
I am particularly interested in specific features that can be applied to medical, environmental or aquaculture programs
ONGOING PROJECTS
Plasticity of the teleost FISH pituitary
Investigation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms allowing the pituitary to change hormone production and secretion along the life cycle of an animal.
NEUROENDOCRINE REGULATION OF SEXUAL MATURATION
Study of the role of the brain in the regulation of pituitary cell activity and plasticity (proliferation and phenotypic conversion).
ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Investigation of the effects of environmental factors on reproductive physiology, and identification of the anatomical pathway involved in their integration.
Technical skills
- Histology (multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization and immunostaining)
- Imaging (confocal microscopy, 3D, live, calcium)
- Protein and RNA quantification (ELISA, qPCR)
- Electrophysiology (patch clamp)
- Transgenesis (fluorescent reporter lines, CRISPR/CAS9, Nitroreductase/metronidazol)
- Molecular biology (cloning, cell birthdating,...)
- Neuroanatomy
Grants, Awards and prices
- 2021-2022: Talent program at NMBU (30 k€, NMBU)
- 2020: Travel grant for attending the 9th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology in China (900 €, ISFE)
- 2019-2022: Grant for Ph.D. project in molecular endocrinology (1,8 M€, NMBU, Norway)
- 2011-2014: Ph.D. fellowship in Neuroscience (68 k€, Region IDF, France)
- 2011-2014: Monitorat grant (teaching grant, 12.2 k€, U-PSUD XI, France)
- 2012: Travel grant (5 k€, Region IDF, France)
- 2010: Fellowship for International program (1.5 k€, Region IDF, France)
- 2010: Fellowship for International program (5.2 k€, UPMC, France)
Students
- Elia Ciani (PhD defended in 2019)
- Susann Burow (PhD defended in 2019)
- Muhammad Rahmad Royan (PhD 2019-Now)
OUR LABORATORY
I am working at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in the laboratory established previously by Prof Finn-Arne Weltzien. Our lab is well equiped with a big fish facility and many important equipments such as in situ hybridization robots, advance fluorescent microscopes, and a setup for patch clamp and laser uncaging. Through NMBU, the lab has also access to other advance equipments such as confoncal microscopes.
The lab is currently composed by several researchers, post doc, PhD students and one engineer, all coming from different countries.