I have always been interested in factors influencing nature diversity, and particularly in understanding what could drive evolutionary changes. I am therefore really interested in every question that can give insight about mechanisms shaping our natural world. My PhD project is directed towards understanding mating-systems evolution in flowering plants. In particular, I aim to understand the transition from obligate outcrossing to facultative self-fertilization, using the perennial herb Linaria cavanillesii, which is endemic to south-eastern Spain. In this species, most populations possess a molecular self-incompatibity mechanism that prevents selfing, whereas other populations are self-compatible. My project aims to determine what might have caused a transition between these two contrasting strategies, as well as what its effect has been on the mating system, the pollination biology, and patterns of population genetic variation.
Linaria cavanillesii grows on shaded, north-facing limestone cliffs in south-eastern Spain
Born in 1988 in Cahors,
France
2012-present:
PhD: “Loss of self-incompatibility in the toadflax Linaria cavanillesii” (University of Lausanne, Switzerland; supervision: John Pannell)
2010/2011:
MSc in “Behavior, Evolution and Conservation of the Biodiversity” (University of Lausanne, Switzerland).
MSc project: “ Effects of brood size manipulation and common origin on phenotype and telomere lengths in nestling collared flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis” (supervision: Pierre Bize).
2009:
• “Tropical Biology Association” course for tropical ecosystem conservation in Kirindy forest, Madagascar
Project: “The impact of distance on the level of between colony aggression in the ant Aphaenogaster swammerdami in Kirindy Forest, Madagascar”
• Volunteer environmental internship in AMECAA association, Togo
2008/2009:
License 3 Erasmus studentship: Department of Ecology, Lund University, Sweden.
2006/2008:
License 1 and License 2 option “Biology of Organisms, Populations and Ecosystems”: University Paul-Sabatier Toulouse III, France.
