Guillaume Erard

Date of birth

13th April 1981

Nationality

French

Address

School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Telephone

Office: +353(0)17162343

Mobile: +353(0)851541259

Email

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web site

http://www.guillaumeerard.com

Education

2005 - present

PhD in Agriculture and Biological Sciences.

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions Group, School of Biology and Environmental Science UCD Dublin 4, Ireland.

Thesis: Characterisation of a novel trichotecene-responsive wheat gene.

Supervisor: Dr Fiona Doohan,

Funding: Science Foundation Ireland

Molecular techniques used during this work included Real-time quantitative PCR, RACE, molecular cloning, transformation of several organisms including S. cerevisiae, A. cepa and A. thaliana using techniques such as A. tumefasciens mediated transformation and biolistic particle delivery system, wide field and confocal fluorescent microscopy and in-vitro protein expression and purification.

2001 - 2004

Upper second class Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Microbiology.

Life Sciences Department, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS, UK

Thesis: PCR detection of the viral coat protein during infection of Abutilon striatum by Abutilon Mosaic Virus.

Supervisor: Dr Susan Smith

Diploma of professional skills with a distinction.

Twelve months (August 2002 – August 2003) placement at Rothamsted Research, Broom’s Barn research station, Higham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NP. United Kingdom.

Thesis: Characterisation of sugar beet libraries enriched for ESTs from genes that are differentially expressed during infection by the obligate root parasite, Polymyxa.

Supervisors: Dr Mike Asher, Dr Crawford Kingsnorth

Funding: BBSRC

1999 - 2001

Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie industries agro-alimentaire (2 years university diploma with a specialisation on food processing, food microbiology and biotechnologies).

Institut Universitaire de Technologie Génie Biologique, boulevard Dr Petitjean - BP 17867 - 21078 Dijon CEDEX, France

Thesis : Food contamination by Listeria monocytogenes and study on the French outbreak of 1999

Supervisor: Dr Pascal Piveteau

Four and a half months research internship

Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork. Ireland.

Thesis: Influence of Arginin on the acid resistance of Lactococcus lactis during growth at constant pH.

Supervisor: Pr Séamus Condon

1998 - 1999

Baccalaureat S (French equivalent of the British A Level with a specialisation in science)

Lycée Montchapet, 36, Boulevard François Pompon, 21000 Dijon, France.

Published abstracts

Doohan F*, Arunchalam C, Jiang S, Khan M, Egan D, Erard G, Walter S (2008) The wheat response to deoxynivalenol: does maintenance of hormone homeostasis and alleviation of oxidative stress play an important role in toxin tolerance? Cereal Res. Commun. 36:233-237

Erard, G. S., Jiang, S.*, Ansari, K. I., Ng, C. K., Egan, D. and Doohan, F. M. (2008) Characterisation of a novel mycotoxin-responsive wheat gene. In abstracts of the Irish Plant Scientists Association meeting, 26-28th March 2008, Maynooth (Ireland), p.36 (poster)

Erard, G. S.*, Ansari, K. I., Ng, C. K., Egan, D. and Doohan, F. M. (2007). Characterisation of a novel trichothecene-responsive wheat gene. In abstracts of the Postgraduate Seminar Day, 10 December 2007, Dublin (Ireland) meeting, p. 5

Erard, G. S.*, Ansari, K. I., Ng, C. K., Egan, D. and Doohan, F. M. (2007). Characterisation of a novel trichothecene-responsive wheat gene. Phytopathology 97(7): S33-S33.

Brennan, J. M., Ansari, K. I., Walter, S. Erard, G. S.*, Egan, D. and Doohan, F. M. (2006). Functional genomics of the wheat response to the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Phytopathology 96(6): S16-S16.

Erard, G. S., Rocha, O., Chanemougasoundharam, A.* and Doohan, F. M. (2006). DON inhibits HR-like programmed cell death in wheat: a mycotoxin effect or a host response? In abstracts of the Irish Plant Scientists Association meeting, 10 – 12 April 2006, Galway (Ireland), p.16

Erard, G. S. *, Ansari, K. I., Egan, D. and Doohan, F.M. (2006). Characterisation of a novel mycotoxin-responsive wheat gene. In abstracts of the Irish Plant Scientists Association meeting, 10 – 12 April 2006, Galway (Ireland), p.36 (poster)

Work Experience

September – November 2009

Teaching assistant for undergraduate students in the Information Skills and Computer Applications module at UCD Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 (Ireland).

June - September 2008

UREKA Program Site Administrator for the School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4 (Ireland).

August 2002 - August 2003

Twelve month placement at Rothamsted Research, Broom’s Barn Research Centre, Higham (England) as part of my BSc degree.

April 2001 - August 2001

Eighteen weeks research project in the microbiology department of the University College of Cork (Ireland) as part of my DUT diploma.

July 2000 - August 2000

Quality control technician at Dijon Céréales, main cereals cooperative in the Burgundy region (France).

Languages

French

Native language

English

Fluent

Japanese

Passed the Beginners Level 1 examination at UCD Applied Language Centre

Skills

Teaching

Tutor for several final year project students and demonstrator within the School of Biology and Environmental Science in modules such as Environmental Biotechnology, Cell Signalling in Plants, Information Skills and Computer Applications.

Aikido instructor at the Dublin Aikikai. Creation of various teaching material (technical booklets and instructional videos).

Journalism

For over a year, I was editor in chief for the most important French language online magazine about Aikido with more than 30,000 visitors each month.

I regularly write articles about Aikido, Japan, music and science and publish them on my own website or for other magazines. Several of these reached over 3000 readers.

Management

As the chief editor of Aikidoka Magazine, I coordinated a team of over 30 corresponding authors.

I am a member of the board of directors of the Dublin Aikikai and of the examinations board. I also founded and managed my own Aikido school and organised several Aikido related events, including the biggest course ever to take place in Ireland.

Site administrator for the UREKA 2008 program at the University College Dublin.

Computer

Windows and Mac OS (Microsoft Office, Sigma Plot, SPSS, Minitab), regular internet user for research (Pubmed, BLAST, FASTA, Clustal…). Advanced skills in Web design (HTML, CMS) with the creation of several websites.

Driving

Full European driving license

First Aid

First aid qualification in 2005

Experience abroad, travels and conferences

2008

Two stays in Tokyo (Japan) for intensive daily Aikido training

2007

San Diego (California) for the American Phytopathology Society annual meeting

2006

Quebec City (Quebec) for the American Phytopathology Society annual meeting

2005 - 2009

Resident in Ireland while undertaking my PhD research

2001 - 2004

Undergraduate studies in England at the Nottingham Trent University

2001

Four and a half-months training period in Cork, Ireland

Other

Regular trips to continental Europe and the United States

Notable achievements and volunteer work

September 2007

I founded an Aikido school in Foley Street, Dublin 1 for which I am also head instructor.

August 2007

I was the recipient of the Zahir Eyal Student Travel Award at the American Phytopathological Society’s annual meeting in San Diego, California.

June 2007

I organised in UCD the most important Aikido course ever to take place in Ireland with an attendance over 140 people, many from overseas.

2006-2008

Editor in chief for Aikidoka Magazine, the biggest web based magazine about Aikido published in French language.

1999-2001

Member of the student union staff.

1996-1999

Advisor for the social and cultural student association of the Lycée and creation of a music and performing arts association.

Other interests

Music

Composing, playing (guitar, bass, keyboards) and listening to music. I performed in numerous live and studio projects.

Sports

I spent six years playing Water polo at regional and national level. I regularly practice jogging and squash.

I have been training in Japanese martial arts (Judo, Aikido and Karate) for over 15 years. I have traveled several times to Japan in order to study Aikido daily at the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo and was awarded the 3rd degree black belt in June 2009.

Reading

My favourite authors are Pr Richard Dawkins, Douglas Adams, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, William Gibson, and Yoshikawa Eiji.

Culture

I have great interest for science, reason and their communication to the public. I am also very fond of Japanese culture and civilisation, in particular the medieval period.

References

Dr Fiona Doohan

Senior Lecturer, School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Science Centre West, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland. Phone: +353 1 7162248. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr Carl Ng

Lecturer, School of Biology and Environmental Science, UCD Science Centre West, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland. Phone: +353 1 7162250. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pr Frederic Debeaufort

Lab Food Process Engineering and Biotechnologies, ENSBANA, 1 Esplanade Erasme, University of Burgundy, 21000 Dijon FRANCE. Phone: +33 3 80396843. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it