Career Path
EDUCATION
- 2012 : Ph.D. Structural Biochemistry – CNRS, Marseille, France
- 2009 : M.Sc. Bioinformatics, Structural Biology and Genomics – Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- 2007 : B.Sc. Biochemistry – Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 2022 – present : CNRS Researcher (CRCN) – Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille UMR 7313, Marseille, France
- 2018 – 2021 : CNRS Researcher (CRCN) – Institut de Chimie & Biologie des Membranes & des Nano-objets, UMR 5248, Bordeaux, France
- 2014 – 2017 : Humboldt Post-doctoral Research Fellow – Max Volmer laboratorium, Institut für Chemie Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Mentor Prof. Dr. Peter Hildebrandt
- 2013 – 2014 : FEBS Post-doctoral Research Fellow – Max Volmer Laboratorium, Institut für Chemie Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Mentor: Prof. Dr. Peter Hildebrandt
- 2013 : Post-doctoral research – Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering, UMR 7281 – CNRS, Marseille, France. Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Lojou
- 2009 – 2012 : Ph.D – Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering, UMR 7281 – CNRS, Marseille, France. Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Lojou
Distinctions
- 2022 : Bourse d'installation de la ville de Marseille
- 2014 : Alexander von Humboldt Post-doctoral Fellowship
- 2013 : FEBS Short-term Post-doctoral Fellowship
- 2012 : Ph.D Thesis prize awarded by Aix-Marseille Université-AMU
- 2012 : Price of Innovating Techniques for Environment, awarded by ADEME and POLLUTEC
Research
Within the BiosCiences group, our research seeks to uncover how Nature orchestrates complex catalytic and redox reactions that underpin essential processes such as biomass degradation, cellular respiration, and energy conversion. At the heart of these transformations are metalloenzymes—large, metal-containing proteins—that exhibit peerless catalytic efficiency and specificity. These biological catalysts not only play crucial roles in energy metabolism and possibly the origin of life, but also serve as models for the development of bio-inspired and biotechnological applications.
To achieve a deeper understanding of these systems, we employ an integrated methodological approach combining advanced spectroscopic techniques (such as Surface-Enhanced InfraRed Absorption - SEIRA), electrochemistry, and protein engineering. This allows us to investigate the structure-function relationships, dynamics, and redox behavior of metalloenzymes at the molecular level. Ultimately, our goal is to harness and engineer the exceptional properties of these natural biocatalysts to design artificial biohybrid systems for use in areas such as sustainable catalysis and bioenergies.
Funded projects
• 2023 : MITI-CNRS – 24 months (60k€):
• 2023 : Région Sud – PhD co-funding (50k€)
• 2023 : ANR-JCJC (ANR-22-CE29-0012) Coordinator– 48 months (280k€)
• 2022 : PROCOPE – 24 months (12k€)
• 2022 : IM2B – 12 months (10k€)
• 2022 : iSm2 – 12 months (10k€)
• 2020 : MITI-CNRS – 24 months (52k€):
• 2018 : IdEx Emergence – 18 months (30k€):
Collaborations
French Collaborations
Dr. Cyrille HAMON, Laboratoire de physique des solides, Université Paris-Saclay
International Collaborations
Jun.-Pr. Patrycja KIELB, Clausius Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Bonn Universität (Germany)
Administrative positions
Office member of the Plinius cursus doctoral program
Outreaches
« Wie ein winziges Bakterium Kohlendioxid reduziert »TU-intern, Décembre 2014, A. Ciaccafava, C. Petersen
« Une Biopile qui a les Watts ! », Lettre de l’AMU, Janvier 2013, E. Lojou, S. Louarn.
« Biopile à combustible H2/O2 pour le développement durable », E. Lojou, C. Clicquot de Mentque, Magazine Green News Techno Novembre 2012, N°82.