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Quentin obtained his degree in Chemistry and Biology in 2018 and then pursued a Master's in Integrative Structural Biology at the Université Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France). During his Master's, he completed an internship focused on studying a bacterial membrane protein involved in the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) under the supervision of Prof. Franck Fieschi at the Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS, Grenoble, France). This first experience in a laboratory purifying and studying a protein reinforced his decision to pursue a PhD. He had the opportunity to do so at the IBS in the Electron Microscopy and Methods group under the co-supervision of Dr. Guy Schoehn and Dr. Hélène Malet. During his PhD, Quentin studied a viral protein involved in the replication and transcription of the viral genome (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) belonging to the Bunyaviruses. Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), he was able to describe the structure of this protein in different key active states, allowing the refinement of mechanisms involved in its function. His doctoral research, supported by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM), has been featured in Nature Communications and PLOS Pathogens. Since 2024, Quentin has joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany) as a postdoc in order to expand his knowledge in the field of electron microscopy and to study protein/DNA interactions within our cells. What was your reaction when you won the award? It was a complete surprise! I was in my new lab, in a new office, with a colleague when I received the email. It was one of those unexpected, end-of-the-week good news moments. I was really happy—proud, actually—to be recognized with this award. It means a lot, and I was looking forward to the moment I could hold it in my hands. Could you tell me a little about the research that led to the award? I'll do my best! During my PhD, I studied a group of relatively unknown viruses called Bunyaviruses. They're somewhat close to viruses like influenza, but they've been much less studied. Unfortunately, many of them can be harmful to humans, animals, and plants—and for most, there are no available treatments or vaccines. Our focus was on one particular virus from the Hantavirus family. We studied a specific protein called the polymerase, which copies the virus's genetic material that is composed of RNA, similar to DNA in other organisms. Our goal was to solve the structure of this protein and to understand how it works. To do that, we used cryo-electron microscopy, which allows us to observe proteins and to obtain their structure at near-atomic resolution. We were able to get the structure of this polymerase, allowing us to describe it as well as structures in different key active states. This helps us understand how the virus replicates and could eventually inform the development of treatments. Who has inspired you the most in your research career? The first was Hélène. She offered me the opportunity to do a PhD during a casual conversation in the canteen while I was doing an internship. It was one of those unexpected moments—she saw potential and said, “If no one else offers you a position, I have a project and funding.” Sometimes life takes surprising turns, and that was one of them. Hélène also sparked my passion for the subject and the scientific questions we were exploring. She gave me the motivation to dive deep into the research. My second supervisor was Guy, the director of the group where I did my PhD. He worked incredibly hard to give us access to advanced techniques and instruments—especially the microscopes, which are expensive and technically demanding to maintain. Thanks to his efforts, we were able to use some of the most powerful and cutting-edge machines available. So, between Hélène's passion and mentorship and Guy's dedication to creating a strong technical foundation, I had the best possible environment to do my PhD. It's a bit of a shame that the award I received only recognizes the PhD student, because I always try to highlight the contributions of both my supervisors. I wouldn't have achieved this without them. What are your favourite pastimes outside of research? Now that I've moved from France to Germany for my postdoc, I've been spending a lot of time discovering this new environment. Each day feels like an opportunity to explore a different world—getting to know the culture, meeting new people, and slowly overcoming the language barrier. I really enjoy immersing myself in this experience, learning how things work in a new country, and adapting to a different way of life. It's not just about settling in—it's about embracing the change and growing through it.