People

After doing my PhD on the biology of tumor induction by mammalian retroviruses, I went to study plant biology and Arabidopsis thaliana in the laboratory of Chris Somerville at Michigan State University and Carnegie Institution at Stanford (USA). I joined the University of Lausanne in 1995 where I am heading the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology.

I joined the Department in April 2003. I participate in both research themes of the laboratory, with more emphasis on the PHA project. I use my skills in molecular biology to generate and analyse transgenic plants and yeast. Coming to the lab has brought me further knowledge in biochemistry that enable me to investigate the metabolism of lipids and fatty acids, and the biosynthesis of the PHA polymer. Finally, I am in charge of creating and updating our website.

I did my PhD at Montpellier Supagro and finished in 2008. I was curious about the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in rice and focused my researches on the study of the role of HKT transporters in rice. I joined the group in september 2009. The main objective of my postdoc project is to develop a novel and innovative molecular genetic tools allowing the control of both phytate and phosphorus, specifically in rice seeds.

For my PhD study, I studied on plant responses and signaling under low nutrient conditions in Washington University in Saint Louis and Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in USA. In July 2012 I entered the lab of Prof. Yves Poirier. My research goal is to understand the modes of action and regulation of PHO1 in Arabidopsis.

After completing my Msc, I worked on micro RNAs involved in Medicago truncatula root development and symbiotic interaction, in Martin crespi's lab (ISV, CNRS, Gif/Yvette, France).
I entered Yves Poirier's lab as a PhD student in April 2011 to elucidate the role of PHO1 gene family in Arabidopsis.
 

I developed a strong interest for research during my undergraduate studies in Agricultural Science. I did my masters degree in Prof. Richard Bélangers biocontrol laboratory working with heterologous silicon transporters in A. thaliana. I joined Prof. Yves Poirier laboratory for my Ph.D. in June 2011, were my work will focus on the regulation of the PHO1 gene in A. thaliana.

After MSc work on NAD-biosynthesis (1987), and obtaining a PhD on alkane degradation by Pseudomonas putida (1992), I built up and headed a group working on alkane oxygenase diversity and applications at the ETH Institute of Biotechnology. From 2005 to 2007, I investigated the status and prospects of current research in the biopolymer field in the framework of the EPOBIO project: Realising the full potential of sustainable resources - bioproducts from non-food crops. Since early 2008, I'm involved in the FP7 project: EU-based Production and Exploitation of Alternative Rubber and Latex Sources (EU-PEARLS). For more information: see my private website (http://www.vanbeilen.com/).

Research was always the road I wanted to follow in my life. After my BSc studies, plants captured my whole interest and after studying them mainly in the molecular level, I felt that I would also like to deepen my knowledge in Plant Physiology and while combining it with molecular biology and genetics, acquire a full picture of the Plant Kingdom. I joined Yves Poirier group for my PhD, in July 2012, because studying the role of PHO1 and PHO1;H1 genes in phosphate homeostasis in different plant tissues is a very interesting project that could combine not only basic research but also applications.

Already during my studies I developed a strong interest in plant science. For my Master thesis, I worked on flower development and evolution in the basal eudicot Eschscholzia californica. After I graduated, I decided to move to France to work on nitrate transport in Arabidopsis and the structure and function of CLC proteins.
I joined the Poirier group in March 2011 to continue my research on nutrient transporters. I want to investigate which structures in the PHO1 protein are responsible for which function, like mediating phosphate transport or signaling, and if they interact with other protein partners in the cell.

After my PhD research in GA biosynthesis and modification, I joined the group in July, 2008. My research interest is the control and cross talk of the metabolic flux in the upstream of isoprenoids biosynthetic pathway. Now, I focus on how to increase and detect the carbon flux of MVA pathway localized in cytosol and provide more basic five carbon units for rubber biosynthesis with the main approaches of biochemistry and molecular biology.