education
Yaëlle Wormser wins the National Final of “My Thesis in 180 Seconds”
On May 28, 2026, in Lille, Yaëlle Wormser, a PhD student at Institut Pasteur and Université Paris Cité, won the 1st Jury Prize at the national final of My Thesis in 180 Seconds. After receiving the Alumni Prize at the local final, followed by both the Public Prize and the 3rd Jury Prize at the regional final, Yaëlle brilliantly represented Institut Pasteur on the national stage alongside 20 other finalists selected from more than 600 PhD candidates across France.
- Research explained with creativity and passion
Yaëlle is conducting her PhD within the Bacterial Cell Cycle Mechanisms Unit (Institut Pasteur / CNRS UMR 3528 / Université Paris Cité), under the supervision of Stéphanie Petrella, who has supported and encouraged her since the very beginning of this scientific and science communication journey.
Her research topic: “Corynebacterium glutamicum as a model system to study the DNA gyrase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
To present her work, Yaëlle transformed the stage into a true scientific fashion show: “haute couture” antibiotics, model bacteria, and molecular corsets allowed the audience to discover complex scientific issues related to tuberculosis through humor and pedagogy.
This award highlights the talent of young researchers who make science accessible to wider audiences and reminds us how important it is to strengthen the dialogue between science and society.
Watch the national final replay (in French):
- A collective adventure supported by the Pasteurian community
Throughout the competition, many teams and colleagues across the Institute mobilized to support Yaëlle: sharing communications, voting during the finals, sending encouraging messages, and rallying both on campus and online.
A support that Yaëlle deeply felt throughout every stage of the competition.
“It is an indescribable feeling and a wonderful recognition of the work I do in science communication. It encourages me to continue alongside my research, to make science more accessible and inclusive, and to pursue both research and knowledge sharing.” — Yaëlle Wormser
Huge congratulations to Yaëlle Wormser, Stéphanie Petrella, the training and science communication teams, Université Paris Cité, CNRS, and the Pasteurian community that supported her throughout this adventure.
Congratulations as well to all finalists and award winners of the 2026 edition, who rose to the challenge of sharing their research with passion, creativity, and pedagogy
- Interview with Yaëlle Wormser
As for my preparation, I was fortunate to be mentored by Cécile Drai and Samia Serri, instructors in communication and science communication at Paris Cité University, as well as by Fabienne Berriaud-Pahud for the theatrical aspects and on-stage presentation. Alongside the other candidates from the Alliance Sorbonne Paris Cité, we received training in science communication and public speaking to learn how to make our research topics accessible, clear, and engaging for a non-specialist audience.
The preparation then involved a significant amount of writing and rewriting. I spent a lot of time simplifying my speech, eliminating scientific jargon, finding relevant analogies, and crafting a narrative that was understandable, fluid, and captivating. The goal was not only to convey accurate scientific information but also to spark the audience’s interest in research and keep them engaged with the story I was telling.
Don’t miss the Fête de la Musique on June 19, where you can discover Yaëlle’s latest track, *Impostor*, alongside many pasteurian artists who will be performing on the day.