We’re excited to kick off a brand-new season of the SFRR-E ECR webinar series “Emerging Leaders in Redox Biology”!
This series is all about giving early-career researchers a stage to share their fresh perspectives and innovative work in the redox field. We’re thrilled to welcome you back after the summer break, and we can’t wait to learn, connect, and spark new discussions together. The first webinar of the series will take place on September 2nd, 2025, at 15:00 CET, diving into the fascinating topic of “Redox regulation in cellular aggregates” with two outstanding speakers, Avilien Dard and Thibaut Vignane.
Unveiling redox-regulation of protein phase separation during heat stress
Avilien Dard, PhD
Center for Plant Systems Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Ghent University, Belgium
My journey in plant sciences integrates plant adaptation to environmental stress, redox mechanisms, and epigenetics. Trained at the University of Perpignan Via Domitia and the University of Toulouse Paul Sabatier in France, I developed expertise in molecular biology and genetics, laying the foundation for my research career. In October 2019, I commenced my PhD under Dr. Jean-Philippe Reichheld's supervision at the Laboratory of Plant's Genome and Development in Perpignan, France. Our research revealed redox mechanisms' significance in plant adaptation to heat waves and their impact on chromatin regulators, including histone deacetylases HDA6 and HDA19. After defending my thesis successfully in May 2023, I began my first postdoc in Prof. Dr. Frank Van Breusegem's lab at VIB-Ugent Center for Plant System Biology in Ghent, Belgium. My initial project focused on uncovering redox-sensitive proteins in the nucleus using redox proteomics. In April 2024, I secured the prestigious MSCA postdoc fellowship to initiate my independent research within the same team. This project involves developing new tools like genetically encoded redox proteomics probes and biosensors to investigate the role of redox regulation in stress granule formation during heat stress.
Protein thiol alterations drive pathologic liquid-liquid phase separation in the aging brain
Thibaut Vignane, PhD
Institute of Molecular Systems Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany
My scientific focus lies at the intersection of redox regulation, cellular stress, and aging, with a particular interest in how redox control shapes protein condensates. After completing my Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Bordeaux, I moved to Germany in 2020 to pursue a PhD in Prof. Milos Filipović’s group (ERC – Sulfaging) at the University of Cologne and ISAS Dortmund. My doctoral research revealed how age-induced imbalances in cysteine-based post-translational modifications, especially sulfenylation and persulfidation, disrupt protein phase separation and can promote pathological aggregation. Following the defense of my thesis in December 2024, I joined Prof. Christina Münch’s lab at the Institute of Molecular Systems Medicine in Frankfurt am Main for my first postdoctoral position, where I continue to study redox signalling in the context of mitochondrial stress.
Don’t miss this great start to the series! Mark your calendars, spread the word, and join us online for an inspiring session! We look forward to seeing you there and to another season of exciting science and lively discussions with the SFRR-E ECR community.
Want to know more about what we do? You’ll find all the info about the ECR Subcommittee on the SFRR-E website.
For regular updates, follow us on Instagram (@sfrr_ecr), Bluesky (@sfrre-ecr.bsky.social) Twitter/X (@SFRR_Europe), and LinkedIn (SFRR-E).
Got a question, idea, or just want to say hi? Drop us an email at
How can I join the webinar?
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86469731540?pwd=cQW0yK5sNCPXO5sSOcaoBHaZPy2Tu8.1
Passcode: 433382
The ECR Subcommittee Team
SFRRE ECR webpage