Amel Latifi | Quantitative Research | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Amel Latifi | Quantitative Research | Research Excellence Award

Aix-Marseille Université-CNRS | France

Amel Latifi is a Professor of Microbiology at Aix-Marseille University, where he leads the research team focused on Differentiation, Evolution, and Adaptation in Cyanobacteria and directs the Master programs in Microbiology. He earned his PhD in Cellular Biology with a specialization in Microbiology in 1996, investigating mechanisms regulating virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following postdoctoral research in Lausanne and academic appointments in Grenoble and Marseille, he established a research program centered on gene regulation, cell differentiation, and stress-response mechanisms in cyanobacteria, with additional contributions to bacterial genetics, oxidative-stress responses, and biohydrogen production. Over his career, he has coordinated multiple funded research projects, including FunDate, Otolhyd, and Cyanhy, advancing understanding of prokaryotic signaling and metabolism. His extensive publication record reflects long-standing collaborations in microbial genomics, environmental microbiology, and synthetic biology. Latifi has served in elected roles within national academic committees and university governance, contributing to scientific training and educational policy. His work has supported advancements in sustainable biotechnology, microbial physiology, and cyanobacterial metabolism. Overall, his career integrates fundamental microbial science with applied research aimed at environmental and energy-related challenges.

Profiles : Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

Independence of a Marine Unicellular Diazotroph to the Presence of NO₃⁻, Microorganisms, 2021 — S. Rabouille, B. Randall, A. Talec, P. Raimbault, T. Blasco, A. Latifi, A. Oschlies

Stress Signaling in Cyanobacteria: A Mechanistic Overview, Life, 2020 — R. Rachedi, M. Foglino, A. Latifi

 

Eva Ternon | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Eva Ternon | Environmental Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

CNRS/Laboratory of Oceanography of Villefranche | France

Dr . Eva Ternon is a chemical oceanographer and natural‑products chemist whose work spans atmospheric deposition, seawater biogeochemistry and the chemical ecology of harmful microalgae. After obtaining her PhD on atmospheric deposition in the Mediterranean Sea at the Laboratory of Oceanography of Villefranche (LOV), she held positions in France, the USA and Monaco, working on topics such as algicidal compounds, benthic organism chemistry and toxin‑producing dinoflagellates. In October 2024 she secured a permanent CNRS researcher position at LOV after ranking 1st/120 in the national contest for the “Science to Society” section. Her current research focuses on the chemical ecology of toxic dinoflagellates (particularly Ostreopsis cf. ovata), aerosols of phycotoxins, mucus‑mediated microalgal interactions and discovery of novel toxin families. She has published around 27 peer‑reviewed documents (14 as 1st or 2nd author), been cited ~493 times by ~402 documents, and holds an approximate h‑index of 13. She leads major projects including a MSCA Global Fellowship and H2020 CHEMICROS. Her discoveries of two new toxin families earned her the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropole Entrepreneurship Award in 2022, and she was among the interviewees for an ERC CoG call in 2024. With her dual expertise and interdisciplinary trajectory, she is advancing our understanding of how external drivers and chemical interactions shape harmful algal blooms and air‑sea toxin transfer.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Alexander, K. L., Naman, C. B., Iwasaki, A., Mangoni, A., Leao, T., Reher, R., Petras, D., Kim, H., Ternon, E., Caro-Diaz, E. J. E., et al. (2025). “Fatuamide A, a Hybrid PKS/NRPS Metallophore from a Leptolyngbya sp. Marine Cyanobacterium Collected in American Samoa.” Journal of Natural Products.

Ternon, E., Dinasquet, J., Cancelada, L., Rico, B., Moore, A., Trytten, E., Prather, K. A., Gerwick, W. H., & Lemée, R. (2024). “Sea-Air Transfer of Ostreopsis Phycotoxins Is Driven by the Chemical Diversity of the Particulate Fraction in the Surface Microlayer.” Environmental Science & Technology.

Fleming, L. E., Landrigan, P. J., Ashford, O. S., Whitman, E. M., Swift, A., Gerwick, W. H., Heymans, J. J., Hicks, C. C., Morrissey, K., White, M. P., et al. (2024). “Enhancing Human Health and Wellbeing through Sustainably and Equitably Unlocking a Healthy Ocean’s Potential.” Annals of Global Health.

Lanceleur, R., Gémin, M.-P., Blier, A.-L., Meslier, L., Réveillon, D., Amzil, Z., Ternon, E., Thomas, O. P., & Fessard, V. (2024). “Toxic Responses of Metabolites Produced by Ostreopsis cf. ovata on a Panel of Cell Types.” Toxicon.

Skelton, Z. R., McCormick, L. R., Kwan, G. T., Lonthair, J., Neira, C., Clements, S. M., Martz, T. R., Bresnahan, P. J., Send, U., Giddings, S. N., et al. (2024). “Organismal Responses to Deteriorating Water Quality during the Historic 2020 Red Tide off Southern California.” Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.