My Ph.D. thesis focused on microbial eukaryotes (protists) in Canadian Arctic lakes, where I discovered the fascinating world of mixoplankton, unicellular organisms capable of both photosynthesis and predation. This dual lifestyle is particularly advantageous during polar winters when the absence of light makes photosynthesis challenging. Some mixoplankton can switch between nutritional modes in response to environmental changes, such as light availability, nutrients or prey. This adaptability makes them versatile players within the aquatic food web and unpredictable sources or sinks of carbon dioxide for the atmosphere.

During multiple postdocs in Europe (Germany, Denmark and Sweden) and New York (American Museum of Natural History and Columbia University), I accumulated broad expertise in microbiology and molecular biology. My current research focuses on mixoplankton physiology and ecology in both freshwater and marine systems. In my lab, we use molecular biology tools such as DNA and RNA extractions, PCR, genome and transcriptome sequencing, along with microscopy and flow cytometry, to study these fascinating organisms and their mysterious behaviors.