ABOUT ME
After getting my Bachelor of Sciences (option Integrative and Evolutive Biology) at the University François Rabelais (Tours, France), I integrated the master "Behavioural Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity" at the same university.
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During the second year of my master's degree, I had the idea to use the refine sense of smell of ants to detect human cancer. This idea was proposed to Prof. Patrizia d'Ettorre (LEEC), and I started an internship with her and Dr. Jean-Christophe Sandoz (EGCE, CNRS, France) as collaborator.
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Later, we proposed this idea as a PhD project, and I started my thesis on september 2017 with both Prof. Patrizia d'Ettorre and Dr. Jean-Christophe Sandoz as advisors.
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On the 5th of March 2021, I defended my thesis publicly.
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Currently, I am a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany.
Education
2017 - 2021
Ph.D • Olfactory detection of human cancer by ants
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Villetaneuse, France
2015 - 2017
Master’s degree (magna cum laude)
Behavioural Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity University François Rabelais, Tours, France
2012 - 2015
Bachelor of Sciences (cum laude)
Integrative and Evolutive Biology, University François Rabelais, Tours, France
Research Experience
2022 - Today
Postdoc - Brood Care in the Clonal Raider Ants (Ooceraea biroi)
Yuko Ulrich lab
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Lise Meitner Research Group Social Behaviour, Jena, Germany
2022
Postdoc - Utilisation of urine as biomarkers for the detection of tumour bearing individuals
Patrizia d'Ettorre lab
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Villetaneuse, France
2021
Postdoc - Utilisation of urine as biomarkers for the detection of tumour bearing individuals
Patrizia d'Ettorre lab
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Villetaneuse, France
2017 - 2021
Ph.D thesis - Olfactory detection of human cancer by ants
Advisors: Prof. Patrizia d’Ettorre & Dr. Jean-Christophe Sandoz
​Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Villetaneuse, France
2017
Master’s internship second year - Associative appetitive learning in an ant species (Formica fusca): memory and extinction
Advisor: Prof. Patrizia d’Ettorre with the collaboration of Dr. Jean-Christophe Sandoz
Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée (LEEC), UR4443, University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), Villetaneuse, France
2016
Master’s internship first year - Morphologic characterization of six populations of a thermophilic ant, Aphaenogaster iberica, regarding the altitude
Advisors: Ph.D Cristela Sanchez & Pr. Raphaël Boulay
CNRS - Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte (IRBI), University François Rabelais, Tours, France.
Conferences attended
Invited talks at national conferences
Piqueret, B. Olfactory detection of human cancer by ants. Bio-medical engineer days. French association of the bio-medical engineer. Lille, France.
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2022
Invited talks at international conferences
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. (2018) Appetitive associative memory is highly resistant in Formica fusca ants. International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects IUSSI. Guaruja, Brazil.
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2018
Talks | international conferences
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Ants learn fast and do not forget: olfactory associative learning and memory extinction in Formica fusca. Behaviour 2019. Chicago, USA.
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Piqueret, B., Montaudon, É., Devienne, P., Leroy, C., Marangoni, E., Sandoz, J.-C., & d’Ettorre, P. Ants act as olfactory bio-detectors of tumours in patient-derived xenograft mice. International congress for the Union of the Study of Social Insects IUSSI. San Diego, USA.
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2019
2022
Talks | national conferences
Piqueret, B., Mechta-Grigoriou, F., Bourachot, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Ants are able to detect the odour of cancer cells. Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects IUSSI – French Section. Avignon, France.
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Appetitive associative olfactory memory is highly resistant in Formica ants. Médiation chimique dans l’environnement – Ecologie Chimique (MediatEC), GDR 3658 - CNRS. Rennes, France.
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Associative and appetitive learning within a specie of ant (Formica fusca): memory and extinction. Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects IUSSI – French Section. Paris, France.
2019
2017
2018
Poster presentations | national conferences
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Are Formica fusca the perfect student? Club de Neurobiologie des Invertébrés. Versaille, France.
2018
Poster presentations at student conferences
Piqueret, B., Mechta-Grigoriou, F., Bourachot, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Ants are able to detect the odour of cancer cells. International Student Course in Behavioural Biology, organised by the Institut Francilien d’Ethologie (IFE). Villetaneuse, France.
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Olfactory detection of human cancer by ants. Annual PhD day, organised by the Doctoral School “Sciences, Technologies, Santé – Galilée”. Bobigny, France.
Piqueret, B., Sandoz, J-.C., d’Ettorre, P. Associative and appetitive learning within a specie of ant (Formica fusca): memory and extinction. International Student Course in Behavioural Biology, organised by the Institut Francilien d’Ethologie (IFE). Villetaneuse, France.
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2019
2018
Seminars for the general public
Piqueret, B. L’animal, meilleur ami de l’Homme ? Savante Banlieue. Villetaneuse, France.
Piqueret, B. L’animal, meilleur ami de l’Homme ? La science se livre. Sceaux, France.
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Piqueret, B. Détection olfactive du cancer humain par les fourmis / Olfactory detection of human cancer by ants. Annual PhD day, organised by the Doctoral School “Sciences, Technologies, Santé – Galilée”. Bobigny, France. Format: My thesis in 180s
Martinez, V., Verjat, A., Piqueret, B. “Parcours excellence” for the pupils of the college Jean Vilar. Villetaneuse, France.
Martinez, V., Verjat, A., Piqueret, B. “Science Ouverte à Paris 13” for the Open Science Association, Drancy, France.
Piqueret, B. Des rongeurs, des hommes… et des insectes ! Savante Banlieue. Villetaneuse, France.
2019
2018
2017