Interviews with Scientists: Raphael Goutaudier
Raphael Goutaudier is a third year PhD student at the Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences in France. He is currently working on the physiopathology of motivation, motivated and emotional behaviours, and their associated pathologies such as alcohol addiction. He completed two Masters courses at Grenoble Alpes University and has presented at conferences in France, Switzerland and Romania. He is now looking for a postdoc role in the Geneva area.
We spoke to Raphael about his current research, his future career plans and the lessons he has learned so far...
Thanks for speaking with us, Raphael! Firstly, please tell us a bit more about your current role...
I'm currently finishing the third and final year of my PhD in S. Carnicella's team at the Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences. Our team’s focus is on the physiopathology of motivation with a particular interest in dopamine as well as motivated and emotional behaviors and their associated pathologies such as addictions. In addition to my scientific research, I also give lectures at the Faculty of Pharmacy.
What is the focus of your PhD research?
My research focus is on the implication of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway in motivated behavior as well as alcohol addiction. Using behavioral experiments and the DREADDs chemogenetic approach, we try to demonstrate that an alteration of this pathway could be responsible for some of the withdrawal symptoms that appear when people stop drinking such as apathy, depression or anxiety. We also try to demonstrate that an alteration of this pathway could be responsible for the development of compulsivity for alcohol that is one of the major hallmarks of alcohol addiction. It is an original approach because the nigrostriatal pathway is mainly known for its involvement in motor functions and neurologic disorders rather than motivational or emotional function and psychiatric pathologies.
What is it about your field of work that excites you most?
Alcohol addiction is now recognized as a major public health problem, yet it is a legal drug and many of us consume it without becoming addicted or compulsive. Faced with this problem, what excites me the most in this field of research is to try to understand the origin of this pathological behavior and what we could do to help people suffering from this pathology. As long as the origin of the problem remains poorly understood, it seems to me extremely difficult to treat it.
Did you always want to work in science when you were younger, and if so, why?
No, when I was young I wanted to become a soccer player. However, after a serious knee injury, I gave up this idea. I started a degree in biology, and it was during the final year that I really discovered the field of neuroscience. At that moment, I knew I wanted to work in this field. Concerning the theme of addiction, it was during my first master internship that I discovered it, and it was so interesting to me that I wanted to continue to work on this pathology during my second internship and then during the PhD.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
It depends. Right now, I have to finish my behavioral experiments, but I also have to write my thesis. So, the day starts at 8am with administration of pharmacological compounds, then we do the behavioral experiment in the morning. The afternoon is dedicated to writing my thesis or to histology experiments at the bench!
What is your biggest achievement in science so far?
I think it is the publication of my first scientific paper. Indeed, it is the moment when you realize that you are not just working alone in your corner but that your work and your experiments are being recognized, analysed and discussed.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing life scientists today?
I think the biggest challenge today is the mistrust that is starting to develop about science. Before, this mistrust was reserved for other areas such as politics. But today I have the impression that, on the one hand, people don't believe in scientific results but, on the other hand, they jump on the first information that comes out of social networks, whether it is true or not.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your research?
The pandemic made me lose 4 months of work. As we are working with a transgenic line, obtaining a large number of animals takes time and the exceptional situation induced by COVID resulted in the loss of these and the total stop of my experiments for 3 months. Fortunately, I took advantage of this period to start writing my thesis.
Are there any aspects of the pandemic that have been unexpectedly positive for you?
The pandemic has accelerated the digital development of scientific research. The number of virtual conferences has exploded, which makes it easier to combine lab experiments with the communication of results. From a personal point of view, the pandemic has allowed me to begin the writing of my thesis manuscript and to acquire a deeper knowledge of the literature. During a PhD, time passes extremely quickly and the experiments often take precedence over the bibliographical research. However, the understanding of theoretical concepts is extremely important to understand the results obtained.
You are currently looking for a postdoc position. What would be your dream postdoc role & where?
I am looking for a postdoc position in the Geneva area. The subject could be related to addiction or not, but I would really like to apply the techniques I’ve developed during my thesis.
What’s the most important lesson you have learned in your career so far?
I have learned that you must always persevere and never give up. If the experiment doesn't work, try again. If the results are negative, try to understand why. I think that is science. And even if, despite everything, you feel desperate, talk to your colleagues or your mentor! I think that even if everyone goes their own way for their own experiences, the people around you in the lab are extremely important to help you take a step back and move forward!
What advice would you give to a younger scientist at the start of their career?
As a PhD student, I am not the best person to give advice to young scientists starting their careers! However, I can tell students who want to make a successful career in this field that it takes a lot of work and a lot of time. I would also advise them to be careful not to get sucked into their projects and to keep a good stock of time for themselves, even if they have the pressure of a thesis, a scientific publication or a boss depending on the team when they start their career!
If you weren’t working in science what do you think you’d be doing instead?
I don't know, maybe a career as a chef because I love food. It must be said that in France we are rather lucky to have some great restaurants!
Outside of your career, what do you enjoy doing most?
One of my biggest passions is sport, especially ice hockey and soccer. Even though ice hockey is not well known in France, we do have a very good team in Grenoble. Regarding football, it's the sport I've been playing since I was a kid and I still play today with my friends or after work with my colleagues.
What do you think is the greatest scientific discovery of all time?
I don't know if this is the greatest scientific discovery but I think that the discovery that the earth was round is a good illustration of what science is all about and how difficult it can be to attack a dogma. The global thinking, scientific, religious or social, is sometimes so strong that it takes a lot of effort to prove a truth, even if the evidence is well founded.
And finally, what’s your favorite science quote?
“A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.” ― Marie Curie
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Thank you so much for a fantastic interview, Raphael! We wish you all the best with your PhD and with your search for a suitable postdoc role in Geneva. Connect with Raphael:
Twitter: @GoutaudierRaph1
LinkedIn: Raphael Goutaudier
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