I joined the laboratory of Claude Desplan in December 2016.The laboratory is interested in understanding the stochastic choices in development as well as how neural diversity is generated during the development. Drosophila visual system has proved useful model to study how neuronal diversity is generated and to explore the wiring of neuronal cells. In 1989, Fischbach and Dittrich described the morphology and projection of a large number of neuron cell types within the fly adult visual system. The medulla, which is the most complex ganglion, connects with the other neuropils lobula and lobula plate through transmedullary (Tm and TmY) neurons. Distal medulla (Dm) neurons and medulla intrinsic (Mi) neurons connect different layers of the medulla, and C neuron axons project into the medulla and the lamina. Although a huge variety of specialized neurons innervate the optic lobe, they all terminate in the appropriate neuropil layer, following a consistent neuronal topology, a process called retinotopy. However, the molecular cues involved in the proper targeting to their final site remain unknown.My project focuses on a particular cell type connecting the medulla, the lobula and the lobula plate. While very few is known about this cell type, they interestingly present a similar morphology to another cell type connecting the medulla to the lobula, and for which some neurons have been described to be involved in motion vision. My goal is to characterize in details this neuron cell type and to determine the genetic program underlying their pathfinding from early development, as well as their function.

I worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the IRB Barcelona in the Development and Growth Control Laboratory (Marco Milán). I was interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control the invasive ability of tumorigenic tissues as well as the impact of genomic instability in the development of the tumour. For that purpose, we used the Drosophila wing disc as a model for cancer.

Tutor for the 2016 Crazy About Biomedicine Programme

RESEARCHI studied the role of the intracellular trafficking in the regulation of Notch signaling pathway, using Drosophila as a model system. Particularly, I identified the AP-1 complex as a novel regulator of Notch pathway. (Roland Le Borgne's laboratory, UMR6061-IGDR, Rennes, France)- Drosophila genetics- Cell Biology : Notch signaling, intracellular trafficking, asymmetric cell division- Developmental Biology; Drosophila sensory organ formation, Drosophila oogenesis- Microscopy : Spectral confocal microscopy, time-lapse, Conventional transmission and epifluorescence microscopy- Molecular BiologyScientific communication to the general public

TEACHING- Preparation of Sciences classes- Teaching of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the University : Theoretical and Practical classes

Study of the role of Fringe in differentiation and morphogenesis during Drosophila oogenesis (Muriel Grammont, PhD, CGMC-CNRS UMR5534, Lyon, France)

Study of genes expression under the influence of the v-erbA oncogene in chicken erythrocytic progenitors: from SAGE data to the validation of the differential expression of LOC129881, TGFβ1, RNF13 and EIF2B2 genes by RT-PCR (Sandrine Gonin-Giraud, PhD, CGMC, Lyon, France)

"Identification of new genes involved in Drosophila oogenesis using the enhancer-trap technique" (Muriel Grammont, PhD, CGMC-CNRS UMR5534, Lyon, France)