Quentin Foucault

I am a molecular ecologist primarily interested in combining population genomics and ecological investigation to unravel and study the mechanisms that shaped the biodiversity.

Vita

During my undergraduate studies I developed a strong experimental background by pursuing a bioengineering degree where I acquired a certain interest in natural sciences. I therefore pursued a cursus in biology in Marseille University where I obtained my Bachelor and Master of Science with an emphasis on biodiversity and ecology where I developed an interest for biology and genomic of populations.

I then pursued a PhD in Molecular Ecology in Mainz University under the supervision of Pr. Markus Pfenninger. During this project I have studied how chironomids could cope and genetically adapt to different thermal regimes on short time scale, using experimental evolution as well as natural populations sampling and time series genome sequencing. My current research focuses on the evolution of methylation pattern during different stages of embryogenesis in avian species, especially on specie possessing an additional germinal chromosome (GRC). I am investigating the impact of those germlines’ methylation patterns on the development of birds and the possible evolutive implications, using DNA seq, RNA seq and Proteomics analyses on various GRC and non GRC bird species.

2023 EvoGen Lab (PI Gossmann).