BORNARD Isabelle

CAREER PATH AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

After studying biology at university in Lyon, I started my career at the joint electron microscopy centre on the Doua campus in Villeurbanne. The 6 years I spent at the CTµ enabled me to acquire know-how in various microscopy technologies as well as expertise in a wide range of sample types (animal, plant, microbial, materials).
I then joined Rhodia's research centre where I developed my skills in cryomicroscopy techniques adapted to the fields of polymers and speciality chemistry during 3 years in the private sector.
I joined INRA in 2004 to take charge of the microscopy department at the Avignon research centre within the Plant Pathology unit.

Today, I'm in charge of the microscopy unit at the INRAE centre in Avignon (µA). I welcome and support all users who call on the centre for photonic and/or electron microscopy analysis projects, whether they come from public or private research laboratories, at regional, national or international level. I train new users on the various equipment and support them during their observation and analysis sessions. I provide research services in a wide range of scientific fields and for different objects of study (chemical, animal, plant, microorganisms, pathogens, etc.).

My twenty years' experience as a microscopist in the Plant Pathology unit have given me recognised expertise, particularly in the field of viral diagnostics.

Since 2024, via the Microscopy division, I have been contributing this experience to the unit's PROPHYLE platform, which focuses on plant aetiology and protection.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Coordinator of the INRAE microscopists' network (RµI) since 2022
• Member of national trade networks:
  • RIME (Electron microscopy imaging network)
  • RµI (INRAE microscopists network)
• Member of the steering committee of the PROPHYLE platform
• Member of the Scientific Committee of Users of the microscopy platform at ISC PlantBIOs (Sophia-Antipolis)
• Member of a Hitachi CryoMET working group
• Organiser of the "Journées patho scientifiques et techniques" (JPST): an annual internal communication day for the unit, set up in 2006.