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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

Romain Fontaine at NMBU with the Thunder microscope from Leica

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

medaka oryzias latipes

Grants, Awards and prices

Students

fish facility of the laboratory from Prof. Finn-Arne Weltzien

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.