RESUME
Degrees
University Queen Mary of London, United Kingdom
2015-2019
PhD in Biology - Department of Experimental Psychology
University Paris 11, France
2013-2014
Master 2 Neurosciences and Signalling
University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France
2012-2013
Master 1 Neurosciences, Behaviour and Cognition
University Valparaiso, Chile
2011-2012
Magistere of Neurosciences (semester 1)
University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France
2008-2011
Licence in Behavioural Ecology (Biology of Organisms, Populations and Ecosystems)
Research experience
Post-doctoral fellow - Macquarie University, Biology department, Prof. Barron's laboratory
2022 (Nov) - Now
How bees use active vision to solde complex visual problems?
Neuroscience (electrophysiology), free-flying experiments, micro CT-technique, 3D reconstruction of the eye's visual field, modelling, supervision, and more.
Post-doctoral fellow - Stockholm University, Sweden, Zoology department, INSECT laboratory
2020 (April) - 2021 (Nov)
Impact of temperature change on visual behaviour and visual anatomy of pollinators (butterflies and bumblebees)
Neuro-ecological techniques, morphometrics, anatomy, micro CT-technique, AMIRA 3D reconstruction of eyes and brains, tunnel and sensory experiments, PhD supervision, teaching (psychophysics).
Lab manager - Stockholm University, Sweden, Zoology department, INSECT laboratory
October 2019 - April 2020
Supervising research projects, perform lab techniques, manage reporting, monitoring, resources and personnel, set up the laboratory, creates websites and schedules, assess issues and risks.
PhD student - University Queen Mary of London, United Kingdom, Bee Sensory and Behavioural Ecology Laboratory
2015-2019
Active vision in insects
Behavioural tests (bees and humans – eye-tracking), software programming, 2D/3D tracking, data analysis, statistics.
C.N.R.S. Research engineer - Research Center on Animal Cognition, University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France
2014
Study of the role of AmDOP2 in shock responsiveness in the honeybee Apis mellifera.
Micro-injections, brain dissections and extractions, Nanodrop use, qPCR, behavioural tests, statistical analysis.
C.N.R.S. Research internships - Research Center on Animal Cognition, University Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France and Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias - Universidad de Buenos Aires.
Supervision: Prof. Giurfa (1,2,3), Dr. de Brito Sanchez (1,2,3) and Dr. Walter Farina (3)
2012-2014
(1) Aversive taste conditioning in the honeybee: neuronal mechanisms and pathways.
Behavioral tests, injections of aminergic blockers, optical imaging, data analysis.
(2) Role of Neuropeptide F in the Ingestion of harmful substances in the domestic honeybee.
Abdominal injections of RNAi, Physiological measurements, Nanodrop use, qPCR.
(3) Influence of insulin injections on olfactory and gustatory sensitivity during development in Apis mellifera.
Behavioral tests: olfactory and gustatory, abdominal injections of insulin, beekeeping.
Research internship - Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaiso – University of Valparaiso, Chili
Supervision: Dr. Whitlock
2011-2012
Study of adult neurogenesis in the olfactory circuits of honeybee queens Apis mellifera.
Bibliography, protocol design, technics in molecular and cellular biology, microscopy, image and results processing, statistics.
Technical skills
Informatics: Pack Office, Statistics and modelling (R, Statistica, Sigma Plot, MATLAB, SPSS, Python - basics), AMIRA, Image J, graphics (Wacom tablet) - illustration, use of 3D printer and related softwares.
Scientific skills: Development and implementation of behavioral tests, conditioning protocol, using
pharmacological tools, physiological measurements (hemolymph extraction, glucose concentration), Nanodrop use, statistical analysis of data, imaging techniques (Image J), Immunohistochemestry and immunohistofluorescence (basics), DNA, RNA extraction and purification (basics), quantitative analysis (qPCR) (basics), 2D/3D visual analysis, anatomical drawings, micro-CT, anatomical and physiological measures (respirometer, morphometrics), tunnel experiments, sensory ecology and more.
Professional skills: Science communication, webpage design and network management, problem-solving skills, organizational capabilities, rigor and autonomy, collaboration, initiative, adaptability, responsiveness, teamwork, mentorship, pedagogy among other things.
Websites I created:
Languages
French (mother tongue), English (fluent),
Spanish (fluent),
Catalan (basics),
Swedish (basics)
Grants and prizes
Marie Curie M.S.C.A. - Seal of excellence (2021)
Diamond Light Source - synchrotron : 2 grants awarded for projects (2019 and 2020)
Local grants for equipment
Travel grant A.S.A.B. conference 2018
Edition & Review
Guest editor (2022) - Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience
Reviewer (2019-now) - Journal of Experimental Biology
Reviewer (2018-now) - Frontiers
Teaching and science popularization
Collège Victor Hugo, Lavelanet, France - Biology teacher
2022 (March - July)
Teaching: Biology, Geology and more for 11-15 y/o. Creation of course materials, games (Immunity-based Role Play game, Prisonner's dilemma), creative projects, Q&A sessions. Microscope observations & dissections.
Outreach projects: Science club, botanics, Psychology 101 classes on consent, non-violent communication and personal growth.
Stockholm University, Sweden, Zoology department, INSECT laboratory - Post-doctoral fellow and lab manager
2019-2020
Teaching: psychophysics
Supervising: Master students (4), PhD students (2).
Citizen science project: from design to development Pollinators Of Sweden (P.O.S) https://www.invismo-project.com/outreach
Queen Mary University of London, UK - PhD student
2015-2019
Teaching: experimental psychology, research methods, neuro-psychology, statistics, project management, molecular and cellular biology, evolution, practical biology, ecology, behavioural ecology, neurosciences, animal behaviour (and more).
Supervising: PhD students (2), Master students (3), 3rd year students (3), Nuffield placements students (5)
Citizen science project: Save London's bees https://www.savelondonbees.co.uk
Seminar organising: School of Biological and Chemical Science
Outreach: Middle school conferences (Olympe de Gouges, Montauban)
Museum of Natural History of Toulouse, France - Scientific and cultural guide
2010-2011 (part-time job)
Teaching, science popularization, live demonstrations, scientific and game workshops, exhibition visits, peer training.
Toulouse, France - Private teacher
2009-2010
Teaching mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, english, spanish, french for students between 11-17 y/o.
Scientific
communications
Twitch, Nature'N Clic - Les abeilles
May 2022
Talk, French, science popularisation
Tovetorp field station, Sweden - Bloodbath conference
October 2019
Talk
Royal Holloway College, Egham, United Kingdom - 10th Conference on Animal Navigation (Royal Institute of Navigation)
April 2019
Talk with Vince Gallo
University of Plymouth, United Kingdom - A.S.A.B. conference (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour)
April 2018
1st prize for best talk
Beekeeper Central Association, United Kingdom - (https://www.cabk.org.uk/event/spring-meeting-2018/)
February 2018
Talk
School of Biological and Chemical Science, United Kingdom -
2015-2018
1st year talk, 2nd year poster, 3rd year talk
Queen Mary University, United Kingdom - A.V.A. (Applied Vision Association Conference)
December 2016
Talk
French Research Network in Ethology, Tours, France
October 2014
Poster presentation
International Union for the Study of Social Insects (I.U.S.S.I.), Cairns, Australia
July 2014
Poster presentation by Prof. Giurfa
15th French Conference on invertebrate Neurobiology, Toulouse, France
July 2014
1st prize for best poster presentation (F1000).
