Amandine PILLONEL
Having worked as a laboratory technician for nearly 10 years, I split my activities between two laboratories at the University of Neuchâtel: the Soil Biodiversity Laboratory and the Functional Ecology Laboratory. My work at the university has allowed me to explore various themes, including the diversity of soil microbial species as well as the physical and chemical composition of the soil. Managing two laboratories has helped me develop skills in organization, planning, and communication. As a laboratory technician, I support researchers and students in their projects by ensuring that protocols are followed and that results are reliable and reproducible.
My background has allowed me to gain expertise in several key areas:
Training:
• Training apprentices: I have had the opportunity to train and mentor apprentices, guiding them throughout their three years of training by sharing my knowledge and experiences.
• Supervision of colleagues: I supervise and support my colleagues, whether they are master’s students, doctoral candidates, or post-doctoral researchers, in laboratory analyses, ensuring high-quality work.
Planning and Management:
• Planning experiments: I methodically plan experiments, organizing my work over several weeks using digital tools. This enables me to manage time and available resources effectively, ensuring the success of each project while anticipating potential complications.
• Management of orders and equipment maintenance: I manage orders and maintenance for all the equipment we have to ensure optimal functioning.
• Protocols and data sheets: I ensure that all protocols are up to date and oversee that data is entered on the appropriate data sheets. I create usage guides and visual aids to optimize the use of certain equipment in both French and English.
Laboratory Analyses:
• Safety correspondent: I prioritize the safety of my colleagues and the environment by adhering to protocols for the protection and disposal of chemical and biological products.
• Preparation of soil and plant samples: I handle sieving, grinding, and freeze-drying, which are essential steps to ensure precise and reproducible analyses.
• Physical and chemical analyses of soil: I perform various analyses such as pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), detection of chemical elements (CHNP), texture, and particle size distribution to evaluate soil quality.
• Biological activities of soil: I examine enzymatic reactions and biological dynamics that influence the soil ecosystem, such as the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient mineralization.
• Extraction of protists: I apply filtration techniques on soil, litter, or sphagnum samples to isolate protists, which I then observe under a microscope.
• Molecular biology: I use various molecular biology techniques on single cells of protists and on environmental samples, such as soils and sphagnum, to obtain unique genetic sequences or analyze diversity within a single sample.”
