Since I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by nature, environment, and ecology. Therefore, I started studies in biology at University of Liège. During my studies, I developed interest in Eco-morphology and Evolution which brought me in the lab of Prof. Eric Parmentier to realize my master thesis which aimed to understand the correlation between in vivo bites forces and functional properties of the cranial muscles in anoles from the Greater Antillean Islands and Central and South America. To gather data, I had the great opportunity to work 5 months in collaboration with Prof. Anthony Herrel in the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris.
In September 2014, after being graduated I obtained a Léonardo grant from University of Liège which gives the opportunity to a brand-new scientist to get a 6-months professional experience out of the Belgian borders. As my master thesis results were promising, I got back in the Anthony Herrel labs to keep investigating the same correlation and publish my very first paper as first author: “Proximate determinants of bite force in Anolis lizards”. In addition, I’ve helped in the supervising of undergraduate students for the practical courses and master thesis labs manipulation.
These great experiences helped me to realize that science is not only fundamental or applied research, but is also teaching our knowledge to less experimented scientists. And so far, the necessity for me to work on both side (research and teaching) became obvious. This is why I was very excited by the post of teaching assistant in the URBE unity of Namur University. I have the responsibility of teaching animal biology while improving my skills in evolution and environment in a doctoral research.
My teaching work mainly focuses on practical works for the first and second year of animal biology at the University of Namur. I find it very gratifying to somehow participate in the development of new scientists, and to be able to get them as fascinated as I am in a particular field of interest.
My PhD’s work is under the supervision of Prof. Frederic Silvestre in the lab of Evolutionary and Adaptive Physiology. My work aim to better understand the impact of environment on the bridge between epigenetic and phenotype using the killifish as a model of study. “What is the proportion of flexible mechanisms regulating the epigenome versus the proportion of heritability from both parents?” and “How do fluctuate those proportions faced to a extremely variable environment” will be the main questions that will arouse my curiosity for the next few years.
Contact: antoine.wittorski@unamur.be