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Project: Age-dependent gut-brain interactions in mice: modulation by physical activity
Nationality: French
Supervisor / Co-Supervisor: Dr. Christiane Frahm / Prof. Dr. Ina Bergheim
Host Organisation: University Hospital Jena, Germany
After high school, I did my 5 years of university at La Rochelle Université in France. Indeed, I started with a first year of biology but the health sciences attracted me much more. That's why I decided to continue my bachelor’s degree in a health sciences program. After graduating, I decided to improve my knowledge with a first year of master in biochemistry. However, as the university offers an European master's degree in applied blue biotechnology only taught in english and in collaboration with other universities (Valencia, Zadar, Porto, Stirling), I found it interesting to have knowledge in this innovative field. After obtaining my master's degree, I decided to research a thesis in biomedical sciences to help to better understand, to better diagnose or to find a new way to treat a disease.
What is your project/research about? What would you like to find out?
The SmartAge network allows several teams to work on the Gut-Brain Axis in order to take the gut microbiota as a target to try to improve cognition in the elderly. My thesis project is to study how physical activity can modulate age-dependent interactions between the gut and the brain in mice. As this topic has not been hugely explored, we hope to see an impact on the gut microbiome, barrier function and inflammation. Moreover, we would like to observe that through physical activity, the cognition of mice would be improved.
Why did you apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN and especially this project?
I must admit that at the beginning of my PhD research, I was focusing on offers in my country, France. However, after a discussion with my research supervisor during my master internship, he extolled the merits of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN thesis. Indeed, this training of excellence and prestige allows to have many collaborations in Europe thanks to its unique network linking university and industry. I found this very attractive and decided to apply to the SmartAge project because I believe in the potential and importance of research on age-related decline in cognitive functions and the role that the gut microbiome has in this. The techniques used for the ESR4 also attracted me a lot. Thus, this opportunity can only help me grow, both professionally and personally.
What is so fascinating for you on research in general?
I have always been interested in the sciences, but especially in health sciences because it is important for this world to have people ready to work in the field of research. Indeed, research is so rich and unlimited that there is many subjects to work on in order to help the biggest number of people by understanding their diseases, their causes, how to treat them, prevent them, diagnose them etc. It is impossible to get tired of working in this field because each scientific discovery we make can stimulate us again and again.
What do you do in your free time? Do you have special interests/hobbies?
I love discovering new places and cultures: food (I love eating!) and especially visiting (villages, museums, nature and mostly architecture). During my studies I also played a lot of badminton and I hope to do it again in Jena! Although I have a lot of progress to make, I also draw since I was young. Moreover, in my free time I spend a lot of time watching movies and series, having a drink with friends, playing board games but also listening to music and especially rock/metal.
What are your plans for your future? Where/what you will be in 5 years?
After my PhD I would like to continue to work in biomedical research and why not link my two fields of training, i. e. neurodegenerative diseases and blue biotechnologies.