At Poxel, I am working in the pharmacology department, investigating the link between the cellular target of our main assets and their beneficial effect in metabolic diseases. The core activity is to manage pharmacology studies (in vitro and in vivo) performed by multiple partners (CRO or academic experts).My main achievement is my work in our rare disease program. I managed the non-clinical studies that demonstrated the potential benefits of our assets for X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy. This work was used to support the regulatory designations and the endorsement by clinicians to support the clinical trial plan. Besides the core activity of data interpretation and report writing, I really enjoyed being part of the team that wrote regulatory documents, and I was enthusiast to present the results to the management team and external experts.I am also involved in project evaluation, taking into account not only the scientific aspects but also the business opportunities, the competition and the development challenges.This position strengthened my skills of managing project in a biotech setup. I really like the “big picture” view by considering many aspects in drug development, which is a characteristic of translational biology.

I joined Erytech thanks to Alexander Scheer, the CSO at that time. The team wanted to understand more about the potential bioenergetics’ implication in the effect of their main asset. I was part of the “expertise team”, working in a transversal manner on several projects.This first position comforted my choice to pursue my career in the pharma industry.I learned how to manage projects without working at the bench! From that, I really appreciate the time you can spend on data analysis, and the ability to take a step back while interpreting the results. I worked with the technician team to implement a new method and I also interacted with CROs to perform studies.Erytech’ s setup gave me a flavor of what it is to work for a biotech in the pharma industry. It gave me the willing and the motivation to build my career in the pharma industry and also to broaden the scope of my activities.

During my postdoc I had the terrific chance to work with Martin D. Brand. He is one of the most cited researchers of my thesis manuscript and one of the scientists I admired the most (still true today!). I joined his lab at the Buck Institute in California working on a project funded by a biotech to identify the characteristics of their product. It was my first encounter with drug development related research, and it turned out to be a decisive moment for my career.The strength of this project was to thoroughly investigate mitochondrial function and putting back the results in the context of the meaning for a drug efficiency. I was in charge of the design and execution of the experimental plans. But what was new for me was to sustain the relationship with the biotech, to understand their needs and constraints.I also worked in Simon Melov’s lab, where I was able to broaden the scope of my animal work, by managing GMO colonies and also performing echocardiography on mouse.At the end of my postdoc, I was really motivated to join the pharma industry, to work on drug development.

During my PhD thesis, I investigated the role of mitochondria in metabolic adaptations of birds facing environmental constraints.In the course of these 3 years, I learned not only how to do science and perform experiments, I also learned how to build and execute a project on a long haul, managing schedules, budget and more exciting: scientific communication! I also really enjoy lay audience communication (check the link below, French only).I also realized that a transversal project is not a “one person work”. I learned new technics, but I also initiated collaborations for what I couldn’t do to add more value to my thesis.What I did during my PhD was “integrated physiology” meaning looking at physiological parameters from the whole animal to the sub-cellular level. Therefore, I took from this experience a broad view of all experimental constraints and requirements, for both in vitro & in vivo aspects.I had the tremendous chance to work on wild species by going back to the French scientific station Alfred Faure to study King Penguins (only 4 months this time) and to spend a summer at Ny-Ålesund, an international scientific station (most northern permanently inhabited territory on earth) studying black-legged kittiwake.Finally, I was part of the physiology teaching team. I was able to teach during practical lessons but also plenary lectures for master students. I also had to opportunity to mentor interns for their master laboratory internship.A PhD is an incredible experience where I managed my own project by performing specialized experiments to explore mitochondrial function, and also identifying people to collaborate with to enhance the project.

This was an incredible field work experience. I spent more than 16 months (499 days to be precise) on the Possession Island working at the French scientific station Alfred Fraure. I was in charge of the program "Ornitho-thermo" investigating King Penguin physiology. My project was centered on mitochondrial flexibility of King Penguin chicks facing food deprivation during winter. During this scientific mission, I learned how to perform lab experiments in a remote environment, without supply stores or technical assistance (only 4 boat-deliveries per year).What was also striking, was to study King Penguins in their own environment!I had the opportunity to help other scientific programs studying other impressive bird species (the famous Great Albatross) but also mammals, insects, plants.This journey was also a human adventure with only 50 people during the summer and 23 during the winter... At the end, you learn a lot on yourself and on relationships with others.