Event

Public thesis defense - Camille Morlighem

Essay topic Essays on the Empirical Analysis of Crypto-Assets: Market Efficiency, Peg Failures, and Financial Flights Composition of the Jury Promoter: Prof. Jean-Yves Gnabo (UNamur)Other jury members: Prof. Sophie Béreau (UNamur)Prof. Kris Boudt (UGent)Prof. Sarah Bouraga (EM Normandie)Prof. Jérôme Lahaye (Fordham University)Jury president: Prof. Corentin Burnay (UNamur)
See content
Article

Veterinary students plunge into the world of lambing

Rubber boots, overalls, the bleating of ewes, the smell of straw... The scene is set. On the farm of the Centre de Recherche Ovine, located in the Namur countryside, veterinary students live, for the space of a few days, to the rhythm of lamb births. An intense, formative experience, filled with technical gestures and emotions, supervised by veterinarians from the University of Namur.
See content
Page

2025 Graduation Ceremony | Registrations

Registration form La cérémonie aura lieu le vendredi 28 novembre dès 17h30 à l'auditoire PA01. Les inscriptions seront clôturées le vendredi 7 novembre (dernière limite).Cette diplomation rassemblera les étudiants qui ont réussi en juin et ceux qui ont réussi en septembre. Elle sera suivie d'une réception.Pour toute information complémentaire, veuillez contacter carolyne.heynen@unamur.be.  Nom Prénom Adresse e-mail privée Pas l'adresse "student.unamur" Téléphone Vous participez à la cérémonie Oui ( optional ) Non ( optional ) Vous participez à la réception Oui ( optional ) Non ( optional ) Vous serez accompagné de 1 personne ( optional ) 2 personnes ( optional ) Uniquement pour les étudiants Lorsque vous soumettez ce formulaire, les données complétées sont transmises à l’UNamur et utilisées pour donner suite à votre demande. Pour en savoir plus sur la protection de vos données et sur vos droits This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See content
Event

Public defense of doctoral thesis in Biological Sciences - Aishwarya Saxena

Abstract Primarily described as an alarmone, secondary messenger (p)ppGpp, when accumulated, binds to many targets involved in DNA replication, translation, and transcription. In the asymmetrically-dividing a-proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus, (p)ppGpp has been shown to strongly impact cell cycle progression and differentiation, promoting the non-replicating G1/swarmer phase. Mutations in the major subunits of transcriptional complex, b or b' subunits, were able to display the (p)ppGpp-related phenotypes even in the absence of the alarmone. We identified that the transcriptional holo-enzyme, RNA polymerase (RNAP) is a primary target of (p)ppGpp in C. crescentus. Furthermore, mutations that inactivate (p)ppGpp binding to RNAP annihilated the (p)ppGpp-related phenotypes and phenocopied a (p)ppGpp0 strain. Our RNAseq analysis further elucidated the changes in the transcriptional landscape of C. crescentus cells displaying different (p)ppGpp levels and expressing RNAP mutants. Since the DNA replication initiation protein DnaA is required to exit the G1 phase, we observed that it was significantly less abundant in cells accumulating (p)ppGpp. We further explored its proteolysis under the influence of (p)ppGpp. Our work suggests that (p)ppGpp regulates cell cycle and differentiation in C. crescentus by reprogramming transcription and triggering proteolytic degradation of key cell cycle regulators by yet unknown mechanisms. In Part II, we identified two σ factors belonging to the ECF family that might be involved in this (p)ppGpp-accompanied phenotypes. In Part III, we propose an overlapping role of the ω subunit, RpoZ, and the heat shock subunit, RpoH, in carbon metabolism.JuryProf. Gipsi LIMA MENDEZ (UNamur), PresidentProf Régis HALLEZ (UNamur), SecretaryDr Emanuele BIONDI (CNRS-Université Paris-Saclay)Prof. Justine COLLIER (University of Lausanne)Dr Marie DELABY (Université de Montréal)
See content
Event

Public defense of doctoral thesis in Biological Sciences - Nathalie Leroux

Abstract Estrogens originating from human and animal excretion, as well as from anthropogenic sources such as cosmetics, plastics, pesticides, detergents, and pharmaceuticals, are among the most concerning endocrine-disrupting compounds in aquatic environments due to their potent estrogenic activity. While their effects on fish reproduction are well documented, their impact on development, particularly metamorphosis, remains poorly studied. This hormonal transition, mainly controlled by the thyroid axis, is essential for the shift from the larval to the juvenile stage in teleosts.The effects of two contraceptive estrogens on zebrafish (Danio rerio) metamorphosis were evaluated: 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic reference estrogen, and estetrol (E4), a natural estrogen recently introduced in a new combined oral contraceptive formulation. Continuous exposure from fertilization to the end of metamorphosis allowed the assessment of morphological changes, disruptions of the thyroid axis, and modifications of additional molecular pathways potentially involved in metamorphic regulation.EE2 induced significant delays and disturbances in metamorphosis, affecting both internal and external morphological traits, confirming its role as an endocrine disruptor of concern. In contrast, E4 did not cause any detectable morphological alterations even at concentrations far exceeding those expected in the environment, indicating a limited ecotoxicological risk. Molecular analyses showed that EE2 strongly affected thyroid signaling and energy metabolism during metamorphosis, whereas E4 induced only minor transcriptional and proteomic changes.This study provides the first evidence that EE2 can disrupt zebrafish metamorphosis and highlights the importance of including this developmental stage in ecotoxicological assessments. The results also suggest a larger environmental safety margin for E4, although further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms linking estrogen exposure to metamorphic regulation.JuryProf. Frederik DE LAENDER (UNamur), PresidentProf. Patrick KESTEMONT (UNamur), SecretaryDr. Sébastien BAEKELANDT (UNamur)Dr. Valérie CORNET (UNamur)Prof. Jean-Baptiste FINI (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)Dr. Marc MULLER (ULiège)Prof. Veerle DARRAS (KULeuven)
See content
Article

A prestigious publication for an international microbiology research team

The team of professor Xavier De Bolle has just published an article in the prestigious EMBO Journal published by Springer Nature.  His discovery? A lipid transport channel through the cell membrane of Brucella, the bacteria responsible for Brucellosis in cattle. This finding could be used to generate attenuated strains of the bacteria; a process used in vaccine manufacturing. 
See content
Article

From video games to artificial intelligence, a stopover in Japan

Japan is almost 10,000 kilometers from Belgium, a country that fascinates, not least for its rich culture full of contrasts. Researchers at UNamur maintain close ties with several Japanese institutions, particularly in the fields of computer science, mathematics and video games. Let's take a look at some of these collaborations..
See content
Article

Let’s Twist (Light) Again: UNamur & Stanford bend beams in photonic crystals

An international team of researchers has just published an article in the prestigious journal Light: Science & Applications (LSA) from the Nature group.  The teams led by Professors Michaël Lobet and Alexandre Mayer (University of Namur) collaborated with the team led by Professor Shanhui Fan, one of the leading experts in the field, from the prestigious Stanford University in California (USA).  The result: an article entitled ‘Twist-Induced Beam Steering and Blazing Effects in Photonic Crystal Devices’, or the study of beam deflection by twisting in photonic crystal devices.  Come on, let's twist light again at UNamur! 
See content
Event

Public defense of doctoral thesis in physical sciences - Shalini Iyer

Abstract This work demonstrates that polymer-coated gold nanoparticles can function not only as radiosensitizers but also as agents for macrophage reprogramming. Specifically, we show that these nanoparticles can repolarize tumor-associated macrophages from the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype to the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype-a process further enhanced by clinically relevant doses of X-ray radiation. Among the four nanoparticle formulations tested, 50 nm PVP-coated gold nanoparticles were particularly effective in promoting macrophage repolarization and reducing pancreatic cancer cell viability in co-culture, both with and without radiation. These findings highlight a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy. Jury Prof. Julien COLAUX (UNamur), ChairmanProf. Anne-Catherine HEUSKIN (UNamur), SecretaryProf. Carine MICHIELS (UNamur)Prof. Henri-François RENARD (UNamur)Prof. Michel MOUTSCHEN (ULiège)Dr Dimitri STANICKI (UMons)Prof. Devika CHITHRANI (University of Victoria)
See content
Article

Artificial intelligence, a danger for democracy?

Can we still speak of democracy when algorithms influence our electoral choices or participate in the drafting of laws? This topic is explored by Aline Nardi, researcher at the Faculty of Law and member of the Namur Digital Institute (NADI).
See content
Article

Digital literacy through fiction: NaDI's interdisciplinary initiative

The Namur Digital Institute (NaDI) is launching a series of original events: "Les Séances du Numérique". Films followed by debates with experts to understand digital challenges and stimulate collective thinking. A project spearheaded by Anthony Simonofski, Anne-Sophie Collard, Benoît Vanderose and Fanny Barnabé.
See content
Event

MGERC European Conference (Main-Group Elements Reactivity Conference)

Welcome to the 1ʳᵉ MG-ERC conference This conference, linked to the research themes of the Chemistry Department, aims to bring together around 100 researchers working in the fields of heteroatom chemistry, coordination chemistry, catalysis, and inorganic chemistry. It represents a real novelty in Belgium in terms of the areas covered, and will enable participants to discover new concepts, ideas and trends in these recent areas of research in chemistry. Here is the list of speakers, who are world experts in their fieldsDr. Daniël Broere (Utrecht University, Netherlands)Prof. Agnieszka Nowak-Król (Universität Würzburg, Germany)Dr. Antoine Simonneau (Université Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France)Prof. Dr. Sebastian Riedel (Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany)Dr. Arnaud Voituriez (Université Paris-Saclay, France)Prof. Dr. Alessandro Bismuto (Universität Bonn, Germany)Dr. Christian Hering-Junghans (Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse, Germany)Prof. Connie Lu (Universität Bonn, Germany)Prof. Simon Aldridge (University of Oxford, UK)Dr. Ghenwa Bouhadir (Université Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France)Prof. Dr. Viktoria Däschlein (Universität Bonn, Germany)Prof. Viktoria Däschlein-Gessner (Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany)Dr. Jennifer A. Garden (University of Edinburgh, UK)Prof. Muriel Hissler (Université de Rennes, France)Prof. Jean-François Paquin (Université de Laval, Canada) More information and registration
See content