Dr. Lucie Sauzéat
Isotope Geochemist - Medical & Environmental Applications
Current position:
Researcher at Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV) & Institut de Génétique, Reproduction et Développement (iGReD) - IRD - Université Clermont Auvergne
My short biography
I first studied Geology at Grenoble University (Joseph Fourier University, UJF) where I received my MSc degree with honors in 2014 with a specialization in Geochemistry. After working for a year as an assistant researcher at the University of Maryland (USA), I received in 2018 a PhD in Isotope geochemistry, Medical Applications entitled "Aging & Neurodegenerative diseases: New constraints from the metallomic" at the ENS of Lyon. My PhD research was mainly focused on the measurement and high-precision isotopic analysis of essential elements (e.g., copper, zinc & iron) in a biomedical context via liquid ion chromatography (LC) - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICPMS/MC-ICPMS) techniques. This research was carried out in collaboration with biologists and doctors from various laboratories including EPFL Lausanne, IGFL Lyon and the CHU of Lyon and aims at (1) providing new insights into human aging and (2) developing new approaches for diagnosis and prognosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
I then worked for a year as a postdoctoral fellow in Environmental Geochemistry at ETH Zürich. Based on analytical development work, my research interests focused on the environmental cycle of selenium (Se) in order to, in a more global approach, preserve human health and prevent environmental pollution.
Since January 2020, I am continuing my research career at Clermont-Ferrand in collaboration with the Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV) & the Institut de Génétique, Reproduction et Développement (iGReD) where, after getting a postdoctoral fellowship (PI), I am working as a researcher (IRD).
My current research interests, deeply integrated in a sustainability science and interdisciplinary approach, lie at the interface between human health and environmental risks. Mainly focused on natural environmental pollutants such as metal-rich volcanic particles, I try to quantify their entire body-scale health impacts following chronic exposure.
To address this major health burden, I use a systemic approach combining in-vivo biological experiments performed on rodents with innovative isotope analyses coupled with histological, metabolomic, proteomic and transcriptomic measurements.
A brief look at my research in picture
Current Research Focus
After interdisciplinary research focusing on the quantification of chemical and isotopic variability in various samples (rocks, plants, organic tissues) in order to better understand a range of geological, environmental and biological processes, my current research interests lie at the interface between human health and environmental risks and are mainly focused on the study of natural disasters, in particular the volcanic risk.
The sanitary risks associated with natural pollution including metal-rich volcanic particles are currently neglected and underestimated, mainly due to our lack of knowledge regarding the toxicity they can cause at the entire-body scale. To address this ubiquitous and major health burden, I use a systemic approach combining state-of-the art isotopic measurements, in-vivo assays and biological analyses.
Past Research Interests
Education,Professional Experiences & Scientific Responsibilities
Analytical Skills
