BSc in Life and Earth Sciences – Plant Biology

Faculty of Sciences, Angers | 2019 – 2022

Overview

The curriculum began with a multidisciplinary common core in Life and Earth Sciences, which included mandatory coursework in Geology during the first semester. From the second semester onwards, I directed my studies exclusively toward Biology, culminating in a specialized track in Plant Biology. This degree provided me with a robust understanding of living systems, from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem interactions.

Core Scientific Competencies

Cellular, Molecular & Genetic Foundations

A significant portion of my training focused on the microscopic mechanisms of life.

• Genetics: I acquired a deep understanding of heredity through Formal Genetics (Mendelian inheritance patterns) and Molecular Genetics (gene structure, expression, and regulation).
• Cellular & Molecular Biology: Biochemistry (Metabolism and Enzymology), Cell Biology, and Microbiology (Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology).

Organismal Biology, Ecology & Evolution

On a macroscopic level, I studied the dynamics of populations and ecosystems.

• Evolutionary Biology: Key focus on Population Genetics to understand allele frequency changes and evolutionary pressures.
• Ecology & Biodiversity: Fundamental and Bacterial Ecology, Systematics, and Zoology (animal diversity and classification).
• Comparative Physiology: Study of anatomical structures and physiological functions across animal and plant kingdoms.

Methodological & Analytical Tools

• Applied Mathematics and Statistics for biological data analysis
• Introduction to programming fundamentals with R
• Physics and Chemistry (Organic and Solution) as foundational sciences

Specialization: Advanced Plant Sciences

During my final year, I focused specifically on the complexity of the plant kingdom.

• Plant Physiology & Ecophysiology: I deepened my knowledge of how plants function, focusing on adaptation strategies to environmental challenges (abiotic stress) and the hormonal regulation of growth.
• Development & Pathology: I studied the complete lifecycle of Angiosperms, from the elaboration of plant biomass to reproduction. A significant portion of the curriculum was dedicated to Plant Pathology, analyzing plant diseases and defense mechanisms.
• Laboratory Techniques: Practical skills in microscopy, plant phenotyping, and biochemical and molecular biology techniques relevant to plant research.

Practical Work Examples

Throughout my degree, I developed strong laboratory skills and scientific writing capabilities. Here are some examples of practical work reports:

Practical Microscopy Training

Plant Stress Response: Cold Stress in Maize

Analysis of physiological and molecular responses of maize plants to cold stress conditions.

Bacteriology Practical Report

Comprehensive report on bacterial culture techniques, isolation, and identification methods. Focus on the importance of bacterial inoculum calibration for plant inoculation practices.

Mycology & Antifungal Resistance

Introduction to fungal growth measurement, antifungal resistance testing, and fungal identification techniques.

First Academic Research Experience (TER)

My degree culminated in a Supervised Research Project (Travail Encadré de Recherche), which served as my initiation into academic research methodologies and scientific synthesis.

Topic: Vernalization in Arabidopsis thaliana

I conducted an in-depth review of the physiological and epigenetic mechanisms of vernalization—the process by which prolonged cold exposure induces flowering. My research focused on the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana, analyzing how it integrates environmental cues to regulate its reproductive development.