November 10, 2016
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Institut Pasteur scientist recognized by the 2016 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science French Fellowship program and selected as a finalist for the 2016 ASCB Kaluza Prize
Since 2007, through the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science French Fellowship program, the L'Oréal Foundation, in partnership with the French Academy of Sciences and the French National Commission for UNESCO, has been committed to recognizing today's outstanding women scientists who confront prejudice and inspire vocations.
On October 12 at the Institut Pasteur, a special "Generation of Young Women Scientists" day was held during which 30 young women scientists selected from more than 1,000 applicants were given the opportunity to present their research to a huge audience.
Daria Bonazzi, a post-doctoral fellow at the Institut Pasteur in the "Pathogenesis of vascular infections" team led by Guillaume Duménil, was one of the women selected for a grant under the 2016 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program. She was chosen in recognition of her research on the reorganization of the host cell surface induced by meningococcal adherence to blood vessel walls. As part of her research, she is developing a method that combines controlling cell morphology and analyzing quantitative images during interactions between pathogens and their host cells.
Daria Bonazzi was also one of ten finalists for the 2016 ASCB Kaluza Prize for Excellence in Graduate Research in October. Daria defended her PhD thesis, completed under supervisor Nicolas Minc at the Institut Jacques Monod (CNRS/Paris Diderot University), in March 2015. Her multidisciplinary PhD research focused on the development of cell shape and polarity in fission yeast spores. She will receive a travel grant to enable her to take part in the upcoming ASCB Annual Meeting in San Francisco from December 3 to 7, 2016, where she will also have the opportunity to present her thesis findings in a mini-symposium.