Function and Responsibilities:

GFZ Discovery Research Fellow within the working group 4.3.9 Geothermal Fluids

Research Interests:

My research interests focus on the fungal diversity and activity in extreme ecosystems. More specifically, I am interested to look at fungi present in various types of geothermal fluids used for electricity production, heat production and heat storage. These geothermal fluids are an environment that is extreme in terms of temperature, salinity and pressure. On one hand, my work focuses on the detection of fungal presence and activity through molecular techniques (genomics, transcriptomics). On the other hand, my work focuses on the assessment of the impact of fungal life on geothermal infrastructures through cultivation and laboratory experiments performed under geothermal conditions.

Career:

Since 04/2025 GFZ Discovery Research Fellow, Sec. 4.3 Geoenergy (main section), Sec. 3.2 Organic Geochemistry (secondary section), Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry (secondary section) and Sec. 3.6 Geomicrobiology (secondary section), (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)

03/2024 – 12/2024 Scientific collaborator, Laboratory of Microbiology (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

06/2024 – 08/2024 Laboratory technician, Center for Space and Habitability (University of Bern, Switzerland)

09/2022 – 10/2022 Visiting Research Scientist, Working groups: Geothermal fluids (Geoenergy), Organic Geochemistry (Geochemistry) (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)

09/2018 – 12/2024 Private mandates by the Laboratory of Microbiology, Expertises in Mycology, Cyanobacteria, Geothermal Waters (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

Education:

2019 – 2024 PhD in Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Thesis title: “Untapping microbial diversity in geothermal power plants”, Supervisor Pr Pilar Junier

2017 – 2019 MSc. Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Thesis title: “Endobacteria in fungi: a closer look at Fusarium and Trichoderma species”, Supervisor Pr Pilar Junier

2014 – 2017 BSc. Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Projects:

01/2023 – 12/2023 CRM-Geothermal (EU, Horizon Europe): Raw materials from geothermal fluids: Occurence, Enrichment, Extraction, Laboratory of Microbiology, Supervisor Pr Pilar Junier (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

01/2020 – 12/2022 REFLECT (EU, Horizon2020): Redefining geothermal fluid properties at extreme conditions to optimise future geothermal energy extraction, Laboratory of Microbiology, Supervisor Pr Pilar Junier (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

03/2024 – 12/2024 BRIDGE: CaOx: applying ecological theory in the fight against lung fungal pathogens, Laboratory of Microbiology, Supervisor Pr Pilar Junier (University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)

06/2024 – 08/2024 SenseLife: Exoplanets and Origins of Life, Center for Space and Habitability, Supervisor Pr Brice-Olivier Demory (University of Bern, Switzerland)

Research Boards and Committees:

2021 - 2023 PhD representative, CUSO-Microbiology Doctoral Program, Conférence Universitaire de Suisse Occidentale, Switzerland

2021 - 2023 PhD representative, Institute Board of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Awards:

2025 GFZ Discovery Fellowship (3 years research funding) for assessing the impacts of fungal life in geothermal systems

03/2023 Contest “Ma Thèse en 180 secondes (MT180)”, (i.e. My thesis in 180 seconds), Public price, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland

09/2022 Equality grant for a 5-week research stay at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany (Equality and Diversity Office, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland)