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- 34 years old
- married, 1 child
- research engineer
- background: Master's in physicochemistry and quality of bioproducts
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Céline Henry
Research Engineer and Sherlock Holmes in the world of proteins
(20/04/2006)
Céline Henry works on a technical platform that identifies proteins by mass spectrometry. In addition to her analysis work, both for INRA and other organisations, Ms Henry explores the structure of proteins using new, cutting edge equipment.
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It's the Sherlock Holmes aspect of research that appealed to Céline Henry right from her late teens. For instance, during a traineeship at a company working for the scientific police, her duties included looking for traces of anabolic substances in beef. She was also fascinated by her colleagues’ research – hair analysis to find traces of drugs, liver analysis to discover a toxic substance that might have caused poisoning, and so on. It did not take long for her interest and skills to be recognized, and she was then assigned a mission: to analyse a supposedly “miracle” product against cancer that was being sold by a sect. It turned out that there was nothing miraculous about it and the sham was exposed. “Discovering the truth to help out the scientific community or my fellow humans, and solving a mystery using only a few clues and technologies were a great motivation for me, and they still are today,” says Céline.
Rigour, independence and mutual aid
For this 34-year old researcher, working on a technical platform at INRA offers her the best working conditions possible, a fact that was already clear to her while doing her master’s at INAPG (Agricultural Institute of Paris-Grignon). “I had several traineeships in my area, mass spectrometry. The one I did at INRA really showed me what I thought was an ideal way of working,” says Henry. "I was independent, but also enjoyed my colleagues and the mutual help we gave each other. I hadn’t experienced that in the private sector. Also, the professional training I received taught me true analytical precision, and helped me discover technical research in a very methodical, controlled manner. I still enjoy the benefits of that in my everyday life.” In 2001, she was hired after the competitive exam by the Bacterial Biochemistry Unit in Jouy-en-Josas, for the Proteomics Platform (PAPSS).
Collaborative Approach to Research
Ms Henry works on mass spectrometers which identify the proteins in a given cell, tissue or organ in a particular physiological, pathological or environmental state. These analyses are carried out for research units in Jouy-en-Josas, and also universities, industry and other research centres. “Right now, we are identifying the adaptation mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria in different environments - milk, the digestive tract – for INRA using proteomics,” explains Ms Henry. “For INSERM, we’re currently working with renal tissue and trying to identify proteins expressed in patients with renal diseases. Our collaborative approach to research means that we share resources and costly equipment.” This same vision applies to training, which is a crucial part of her work: “We ourselves use the equipment for a number of jobs. But we also train researchers from the Jouy-en-Josas Research Centre so that they can use it themselves. We are always here to help and advise them, whether it’s to do with working with the equipment or questions about the database.”
Constant Challenges!
Céline Henry trains other scientists…but that does not mean she has stopped learning. “We have recently acquired a new MS-MS type of equipment. It is called a “tandem” mass spectrometer and analyses protein structure. We have had training to learn how to use it! It’s very motivating to work on a technical platform at INRA because equipment is often replaced and updated in order to fulfil researchers' needs. That helps you learn new skills, further old skills, and constantly be challenged.” Céline Henry does not have to deal with a lot of routine work and has many professional and personal plans to look forward to: "I spend most of my free time with my 3-year old son, and I've just gone back to my other favourite pastime - horseback riding," says Ms Henry.
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Written by :
Communications Department
Date of creation : 20/04/2006
Date of last update : 20/04/2006
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