Did you pursue your PhD in a traditional academic lab setting?

No. During the first year of my PhD at the University of Paris, I had the opportunity to do research with the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of a collaboration between my mentor and the team leader there. I spent a year in Geneva learning molecular-biology techniques, such as working with transgenic mice, to understand the dynamics of neurodegeneration better.

Were you tempted by a career in industry?

It was a great experience, but I have always wanted to do academic research. My time at GSK reinforced for me that a scientist needs to be at the frontier of basic research to contribute to any significant progress in terms of applied research. This was a high-profile lab at GSK doing fundamental research on apoptosis and neurodegeneration. Seeing first-hand how basic findings drive therapeutic development pushed me even more to pursue basic science. Once mechanisms are discovered, they can help to direct therapeutic research efforts. That said, if you want to explore a subject deeply and do long-term research, the pharmaceutical sector is perhaps not the best destination because research priorities can shift quickly.

What has been your most pivotal career decision?

Studying with Nathaniel Heintz during my postdoc at Rockefeller University in New York. Once I had earned my PhD, I knew I wanted to dissect the molecular biology of brain connections to understand how the brain is built. At the time, tools to modify specific neurons in mice were just being developed in Heintz's lab, among others. He was the type of person I wanted to learn from — an innovative researcher eager to explore the mechanisms of biology. If I hadn't done that postdoc, I don't know that I would have got this award. That is where I learned to pursue innovative science.

How long did it take to develop the synaptic-protein profiling approach for which you won the award?

It took five years, because each of the many technical steps had to be developed from beginning to end. We combined genetic modification of the mouse with biochemical approaches to dissect the signalling pathways that underlie the formation of specific brain connections. Our approach let us purify a single type of synapse from the mouse cerebellum and, subsequently, identify specific synaptic proteins at work. Using mass spectrometry analysis, we identified about 60 different candidate proteins at this particular synapse. It was important that my mentor supported me for the time it took to do all the necessary experiments.

Has your success led you outside your comfort zone?

Yes. I found that once I had experienced the adventurous feeling that comes from exploring new areas of research, I really liked it. I learned much at Rockefeller by following the credo that if you have to do something new to do good science, just do it. For example, I did a bit of electrophysiology although I wasn't trained in it. Now I know that anything is possible if I put in the energy and time.

Why did you apply for this award?

The award offers €25,000 (US$32,000) in funding for research projects. Because I was already writing grant applications, I thought, “Why not?” As an early-career researcher, I need as much financial help as possible. I was surprised and happy to receive the award, especially because it will help to equip my lab at my new destination, the Collège de France in Paris, from January. The award also represents important encouragement. It validates the hard work I have done, which makes me want to continue doing innovative research.

Why take the new post?

I have my own group in someone else's team at the National Center for Scientific Research, but I am not yet totally independent. When this interesting institute put out a call for applications, I was pleased to get a position because it is exactly the type of research environment I prefer. The Collège de France has labs with different teams pursuing everything from neurobiology to cardiovascular disease to the biology and genetics of development. I learned at Rockefeller that this type of environment fosters innovative research when groups from distant fields learn from one another.