Jump to content

Draft:Nathalie Rochefort (neuroscientist): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 16: Line 16:
Nathalie grew up in Paris, France. Her educational journey began at a local state school where a majority of the students were first- or second-generation immigrants. As a child, Nathalie harbored aspirations of becoming an astronaut and, more specifically, an astrophysicist. Nathalie's local state school was regarded as a priority school, meaning that it received specialized funding aimed at developing and enriching education. This supportive educational environment provided her with unique opportunities for academic growth. She also benefited from dedicated teachers who fostered an environment of educational enrichment. The experience of having influential mentors at a young age instilled in Nathalie a strong academic drive and a sense of the importance of mentorship.
Nathalie grew up in Paris, France. Her educational journey began at a local state school where a majority of the students were first- or second-generation immigrants. As a child, Nathalie harbored aspirations of becoming an astronaut and, more specifically, an astrophysicist. Nathalie's local state school was regarded as a priority school, meaning that it received specialized funding aimed at developing and enriching education. This supportive educational environment provided her with unique opportunities for academic growth. She also benefited from dedicated teachers who fostered an environment of educational enrichment. The experience of having influential mentors at a young age instilled in Nathalie a strong academic drive and a sense of the importance of mentorship.


In high school, Nathalie encountered a more conventional approach to learning, contrasting with her earlier experiences. Here, she became aware of societal pressures that influenced academic choices, such as the gendered expectations surrounding certain fields of study. Despite these pressures, Nathalie pursued her interest in mathematics, although she noted the disparities in how subjects were encouraged based on gender: boys being more commonly steered towards mathematics, while girls, including herself, were advised to pursue studies in medicine and biology.
In high school, Nathalie encountered a more conventional approach to learning, contrasting with her earlier experiences. Here, she became aware of societal pressures that influenced academic choices, such as the gendered expectations surrounding certain fields of study. Despite these pressures, Nathalie pursued her interest in mathematics and physics, although she noted the disparities in how subjects were encouraged based on gender: boys being more commonly steered towards mathematics, while girls, including herself, were advised to pursue studies in medicine and biology.


== Education ==
== Education ==
Nathalie Rochefort pursued her undergraduate studies at University Paris-Cite in Paris, France where she ultimately earned her Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences in 1997. Her decision to study biology at the university level stemmed from her strong interest in mathematics and physics during high school. Following her undergraduate career, she pursued and received two Masters' degrees. In 2000, she received her Master's in Biology and Biochemistry from Sorbonne University and École Normale Supérieure in Paris, France. In 2001, she received her Master's in Epistemology and History of Sciences from University Paris-Cite.
Nathalie Rochefort began her undergraduate studies in 1995 at the University Paris-Cite in Paris, France where she then earned her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences after 2 years in 1997. After receiving her undergraduate degree in 1997, she began a 3-year Magistere program in Biology and Biochemistry at both Sorbonne University and École Normale Supérieure in France. Starting in 2000, she used her third year of the Magistere program to pursue a Master's degree in Epistemology. Thus, by 2001, she had received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and Biochemistry, as well as a Master's degree in Epistemology.


During her undergraduate and early Master's studies, Nathalie did not initially consider a career in research. However, her perspective shifted during her Master's program in Epistemology, where she discovered a passion for research through her work as a journalist for a magazine focused on renowned mathematicians in France in the 1920s. She would visit these mathematicians to collect pictures and anecdotes about their careers. During these visits, Nathalie was motivated and inspired by the amount of passion these mathematicians had for their work, even during the turbulent periods of World War I and II. By interviewing them, she realized that she wanted to be like them: producing science rather than just writing about it.
During her early studies, Nathalie did not initially consider a career in research. However, her perspective shifted during her Master's program in Epistemology, where she discovered a passion for research through her work as a journalist for a magazine focused on renowned mathematicians in France in the 1920s. She would visit these mathematicians to collect pictures and anecdotes about their careers. During these visits, Nathalie was motivated and inspired by the amount of passion these mathematicians had for their work, even during the turbulent periods of World War I and II. By interviewing them, she realized that she wanted to be like them: producing science rather than just writing about it.


The pivotal moment in Nathalie's educational journey came during visits to various research labs as part of her Master's program. Experiencing the diverse topics and vibrant research environments, including the study of locomotion of the locust and the mechanisms underlying LTP, ignited her interest in pursuing a research career in neuroscience.
The pivotal moment in Nathalie's educational journey came during visits to various research labs as part of her Master's program. Experiencing the diverse topics and vibrant research environments, including the study of locomotion of the locust and the mechanisms underlying LTP, ignited her interest in pursuing a research career in neuroscience.


Following the completion of her Master's thesis on color vision, Nathalie was determined to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. To secure funding for her doctoral studies, she embarked on a second Master's program and eventually applied for a Ph.D. scholarship. Despite initial setbacks, she was accepted into a European program, leading to her acceptance into a Neuroscience PhD program conducted between Sorbonne University in France and Ruhr-Universität-Bochum in Germany.
Following the completion of her Master's thesis on color vision, Nathalie was determined to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. To secure funding for her doctoral studies, she embarked on a second Master's program in Neuroscience and eventually applied for a Ph.D. scholarship. Despite initial setbacks, she was accepted into a European program, leading to her acceptance into a Neuroscience Ph.D. program conducted between Sorbonne University in France and Ruhr-Universität-Bochum in Germany.


== Career and Research ==
== Career and Research ==
=== '''PhD Research''' (2002 - 2007) ===
=== '''PhD Research''' (2002 - 2007) ===
While pursuing her PhD from 2002 to 2007, Nathalie focused on studying the visual cortex, conducting research in two different labs: the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at Ruhr-Universität in Bochum, Germany, and the Laboratory of Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action at CNRS/Collège-de-France in Paris, France. In her early work with cats using the Hubel and Wiesel preparation, she investigated stimulus-response associations. Cats were anesthetized and paralyzed, ensuring no movement or learning interfered with the study. Neuronal activity in the visual cortex was recorded while the cats were shown various stimuli on a computer screen. This allowed her to understand how neurons in the visual cortex responded to different visual inputs.
While pursuing her Ph.D. from 2002 to 2007, Nathalie focused on studying the visual cortex, conducting research in two different labs: the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at Ruhr-Universität in Bochum, Germany, and the Laboratory of Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action at CNRS/Collège-de-France in Paris, France. In her early work with cats using the Hubel and Wiesel preparation, she investigated stimulus-response associations. Cats were anesthetized and paralyzed, ensuring no movement or learning interfered with the study. Neuronal activity in the visual cortex was recorded while the cats were shown various stimuli on a computer screen. This allowed her to understand how neurons in the visual cortex responded to different visual inputs.


Moving on to mouse models, Nathalie employed optical imaging of intrinsic signals to study the mouse visual cortex. This method involved illuminating the surface of the brain with light and measuring changes in light absorption from blood, which highlighted active regions. However, the resolution of this technique was limited to about 250 micrometers, making it challenging to study individual neurons within the activated regions. To address this limitation, she combined imaging with anatomical tracer injections. By injecting an anatomical tracer into a region of interest and then reconstructing the axonal connections, she could map the activity of individual neurons within the activated regions. This allowed her to study how connections between the left and right hemispheres integrate visual information. However, the technique had limitations in tracing functional connections and understanding the nature of these connections, leading to a desire for more advanced techniques, such as two-photon imaging.
Moving onto mouse models, Nathalie employed optical imaging of intrinsic signals to study the mouse visual cortex. This method involved illuminating the surface of the brain with light and measuring changes in light absorption from blood, which highlighted active regions. However, the resolution of this technique was limited to about 250 micrometers, making it challenging to study individual neurons within the activated regions. To address this limitation, she combined imaging with anatomical tracer injections. By injecting an anatomical tracer into a region of interest and then reconstructing the axonal connections, she could map the activity of individual neurons within the activated regions. This allowed her to study how connections between the left and right hemispheres integrate visual information. However, the technique had limitations in tracing functional connections and understanding the nature of these connections, leading to a desire for more advanced techniques, such as two-photon imaging.


=== Postdoctoral Research (2007 - 2012) ===
=== Postdoctoral Research (2007 - 2012) ===
Line 43: Line 43:


=== Professor at the University of Edinburgh (2022 - Present) ===
=== Professor at the University of Edinburgh (2022 - Present) ===
As a Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Rochefort's role is closely tied to her research, allowing her to delve deeper into understanding how the brain works. This position also gives her the opportunity to mentor students and researchers, a role she values greatly. Dr. Rochefort believes that adults, especially experts and teachers, can significantly influence individuals' desires and ambitions. She feels a sense of responsibility to give back by mentoring others, particularly inspiring them to see that a career in science is achievable. Reflecting on her own journey, she understands the importance of having role models and mentors who can provide support and guidance. Dr. Rochefort hosts "women of science" club meetings, inviting female speakers to share their experiences and discuss the barriers they have faced in their careers. She believes that meeting these speakers in person can help others see themselves in successful scientists and find diverse role models to relate to. Dr. Rochefort emphasizes the importance of having multiple role models, as everyone's journey in academia is unique, and different personalities may resonate more with different individuals.
As a Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Nathalie Rochefort's role is closely tied to her research, allowing her to delve deeper into understanding how the brain works. This position also gives her the opportunity to mentor students and researchers, a role she values greatly. Nathalie believes that adults, especially experts and teachers, can significantly influence individuals' desires and ambitions. She feels a sense of responsibility to give back by mentoring others, particularly inspiring them to see that a career in science is achievable. Reflecting on her own journey, she understands the importance of having role models and mentors who can provide support and guidance. Nathalie hosts "women of science" club meetings, inviting female speakers to share their experiences and discuss the barriers they have faced in their careers. She believes that meeting these speakers in person can help others see themselves in successful scientists and find diverse role models to relate to. Dr. Rochefort emphasizes the importance of having multiple role models, as everyone's journey in academia is unique, and different personalities may resonate more with different individuals.


=== Rochefort Lab (Present) ===
=== Rochefort Lab (Present) ===

Revision as of 19:42, 23 April 2024

Nathalie Rochefort
File:Rochefort for wiki.jpg
Born
Paris, France
Alma materUniversity Paris-Cite

Sorbonne University

École Normale Supérieure
Scientific career
FieldsNeuroscience
InstitutionsUniversity of Edinburgh
Websitehttps://rochefortlab.co.uk/

Nathalie Rochefort is a renowned neuroscientist whose research focuses on how brain neuronal networks process visual information in health and disease. She is a Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Edinburgh, a prestigious public research university in Scotland. At the University of Edinburgh, she runs the Rochefort Lab which utilizes methods such as two-photon calcium imaging and electrophysiological recordings in awake-behaving mice to collect sensory and non-sensory information. Throughout her professional career, she has been granted several awards, the most recent being the EMBO Young Investigator (YIP) award in 2019, for her remarkable research contributions.

Early Life

Nathalie grew up in Paris, France. Her educational journey began at a local state school where a majority of the students were first- or second-generation immigrants. As a child, Nathalie harbored aspirations of becoming an astronaut and, more specifically, an astrophysicist. Nathalie's local state school was regarded as a priority school, meaning that it received specialized funding aimed at developing and enriching education. This supportive educational environment provided her with unique opportunities for academic growth. She also benefited from dedicated teachers who fostered an environment of educational enrichment. The experience of having influential mentors at a young age instilled in Nathalie a strong academic drive and a sense of the importance of mentorship.

In high school, Nathalie encountered a more conventional approach to learning, contrasting with her earlier experiences. Here, she became aware of societal pressures that influenced academic choices, such as the gendered expectations surrounding certain fields of study. Despite these pressures, Nathalie pursued her interest in mathematics and physics, although she noted the disparities in how subjects were encouraged based on gender: boys being more commonly steered towards mathematics, while girls, including herself, were advised to pursue studies in medicine and biology.

Education

Nathalie Rochefort began her undergraduate studies in 1995 at the University Paris-Cite in Paris, France where she then earned her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences after 2 years in 1997. After receiving her undergraduate degree in 1997, she began a 3-year Magistere program in Biology and Biochemistry at both Sorbonne University and École Normale Supérieure in France. Starting in 2000, she used her third year of the Magistere program to pursue a Master's degree in Epistemology. Thus, by 2001, she had received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and Biochemistry, as well as a Master's degree in Epistemology.

During her early studies, Nathalie did not initially consider a career in research. However, her perspective shifted during her Master's program in Epistemology, where she discovered a passion for research through her work as a journalist for a magazine focused on renowned mathematicians in France in the 1920s. She would visit these mathematicians to collect pictures and anecdotes about their careers. During these visits, Nathalie was motivated and inspired by the amount of passion these mathematicians had for their work, even during the turbulent periods of World War I and II. By interviewing them, she realized that she wanted to be like them: producing science rather than just writing about it.

The pivotal moment in Nathalie's educational journey came during visits to various research labs as part of her Master's program. Experiencing the diverse topics and vibrant research environments, including the study of locomotion of the locust and the mechanisms underlying LTP, ignited her interest in pursuing a research career in neuroscience.

Following the completion of her Master's thesis on color vision, Nathalie was determined to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. To secure funding for her doctoral studies, she embarked on a second Master's program in Neuroscience and eventually applied for a Ph.D. scholarship. Despite initial setbacks, she was accepted into a European program, leading to her acceptance into a Neuroscience Ph.D. program conducted between Sorbonne University in France and Ruhr-Universität-Bochum in Germany.

Career and Research

PhD Research (2002 - 2007)

While pursuing her Ph.D. from 2002 to 2007, Nathalie focused on studying the visual cortex, conducting research in two different labs: the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at Ruhr-Universität in Bochum, Germany, and the Laboratory of Physiologie de la Perception et de l’Action at CNRS/Collège-de-France in Paris, France. In her early work with cats using the Hubel and Wiesel preparation, she investigated stimulus-response associations. Cats were anesthetized and paralyzed, ensuring no movement or learning interfered with the study. Neuronal activity in the visual cortex was recorded while the cats were shown various stimuli on a computer screen. This allowed her to understand how neurons in the visual cortex responded to different visual inputs.

Moving onto mouse models, Nathalie employed optical imaging of intrinsic signals to study the mouse visual cortex. This method involved illuminating the surface of the brain with light and measuring changes in light absorption from blood, which highlighted active regions. However, the resolution of this technique was limited to about 250 micrometers, making it challenging to study individual neurons within the activated regions. To address this limitation, she combined imaging with anatomical tracer injections. By injecting an anatomical tracer into a region of interest and then reconstructing the axonal connections, she could map the activity of individual neurons within the activated regions. This allowed her to study how connections between the left and right hemispheres integrate visual information. However, the technique had limitations in tracing functional connections and understanding the nature of these connections, leading to a desire for more advanced techniques, such as two-photon imaging.

Postdoctoral Research (2007 - 2012)

From 2007 to 2012, Nathalie served as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute of Neuroscience, Technical University Munich, Germany, where she worked on two-photon calcium imaging. During her postdoctoral research, she focused on developing this technique to visualize individual neurons' activity in vivo during stimulation. This advancement allowed for a deeper understanding of how neurons encode visual information. However, a significant challenge was working with anesthetized mice due to technical limitations and the complexity of processing large amounts of data. This limited the ability to study neuronal activity in awake animals and integrate behavioral parameters with neural activity. The field has since evolved, enabling researchers to conduct similar imaging recordings in awake animals. This advancement, coupled with computational tools, has enabled the study of hundreds to thousands of neurons simultaneously, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of neural activity and its relationship to behavior.

Chancellor's Fellowship (2013 - 2022)

After obtaining her Ph.D., Nathalie joined the University of Edinburgh as a Chancellor's Fellow at the Centre for Integrative Physiology. Her research focused on the activation of neuronal networks in specific spatial and temporal sequences, contributing to the understanding of neural processes underlying sensory perception and action.

Sir Henry Dale Fellowship (2014 - 2021)

Following her Chancellor's Fellowship, Nathalie continued her research at the University of Edinburgh as a fellow for the Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, funded by the Wellcome Trust and Royal Society. Her work explored biomedical research topics within the Center for Discovery Brain Sciences, particularly focusing on neural circuitry related to visual perception and action.

Professor at the University of Edinburgh (2022 - Present)

As a Professor of Neuroscience, Dr. Nathalie Rochefort's role is closely tied to her research, allowing her to delve deeper into understanding how the brain works. This position also gives her the opportunity to mentor students and researchers, a role she values greatly. Nathalie believes that adults, especially experts and teachers, can significantly influence individuals' desires and ambitions. She feels a sense of responsibility to give back by mentoring others, particularly inspiring them to see that a career in science is achievable. Reflecting on her own journey, she understands the importance of having role models and mentors who can provide support and guidance. Nathalie hosts "women of science" club meetings, inviting female speakers to share their experiences and discuss the barriers they have faced in their careers. She believes that meeting these speakers in person can help others see themselves in successful scientists and find diverse role models to relate to. Dr. Rochefort emphasizes the importance of having multiple role models, as everyone's journey in academia is unique, and different personalities may resonate more with different individuals.

Rochefort Lab (Present)

Nathalie established her own laboratory, the Rochefort Lab, within the Center for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. The lab's research, funded in part by the Simon's Initiative for Developing Brain Center, focuses on understanding neural networking processes in visual information processing and their implications for disorders such as intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.

Awards and Honors

  • 2019: EMBO Young Investigator (YIP) award
  • 2017: The Physiological Society’s 2017 R Jean Banister Prize Lecture
  • 2014 - 2019: Sir Henry Dale fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society
  • 2014 - 2018: Marie Curie Career Integration Grant, European funding
  • 2014: Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship for Career Development for the post-doctoral fellow, Dr Janelle Pakan
  • 2013 - Present: Chancellor's Fellow, University of Edinburgh, UK.
  • 2013: Schilling Research Award of the German Neuroscience Society 2013
  • 2011: Bernard Katz Lecture Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
  • 2006: Research Grant from the French National Federation for the Blind and Visually Disabled People (FAF)
  • 2002 - 2005: 3-Year Ph.D. Scholarship from the French Ministry of Research and Education
  • 2002: DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarship for Studying in Germany

References

[1][2][3][4]

  1. ^ Ribic, Adema (2024, March 22). "Episode 23: Nathalie Rochefort, PhD". Conjugate: Illustration and Science Blog. Retrieved 2024-04-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Prof Nathalie Rochefort". The University of Edinburgh. 2022, October 17. Retrieved 2024-04-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Chancellor's Fellows". The University of Edinburgh. 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  4. ^ "Dr. Nathalie Rochefort". Network of European Neuroscience Institutes (ENI-NET). Retrieved 2024-04-21.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Nathalie_Rochefort_(neuroscientist)&oldid=1220438756"