Let's meet Benoit Pousse, PhD student at ISIS

• Can you tell us about your academic career so far and what led you to choose this area of research?

In high school, I developed a strong passion for both chemistry and physics, so pursuing these subjects in college was a natural choice. Thanks to my professors at the University of Orléans, by my second year of undergraduate studies, my interest in chemistry grew even more, specifically in organic chemistry. After earning my bachelor's degree, my goal was to specialize further by pursuing a master's degree in organic synthesis.
At that time, I wanted to improve my English skills and started looking for a study program taught in English. Grenoble stood out as it offered a highly regarded master's program in organic chemistry in English. Later, when my girlfriend moved to Strasbourg in September 2021, I decided to look for a master internship in the same city. I found an internship under the supervision of Dr. Mylene Lang and Dr. Nicolas Kern in the Philippe Compain group at LIMA and I was working on sugar chemistry and catalysis.
Following this experience, I joined Jean-François Lutz's group for my PhD. Although the field of sequence-defined polymer was not my original specialization, I was eager to take on a challenging and more applied research topic. My previous internships had focused on biochemistry and chemistry applied to biology, so I saw this as an exciting opportunity to broaden my expertise by working in a field different from my initial background.

• What does the research environment at ISIS/CESQ bring you (professionally and personally)?

The research environment at ISIS is incredibly enriching. The institute hosts numerous high-impact conferences featuring top speakers. The high-quality equipments are numerous and allow us to analyze perfectly our molecules. 
I deeply appreciate the support from Cyril Antheaume and Jean-Louis Schmitt, who are always available to answer questions and provide help. During my young career, I have worked in four different laboratories and to work in such a unique environment is a privilege. I would also like to express my gratitude to the entire ISIS staff. Their dedication and support make our lives as PhD students much easier, allowing us to focus on our research in an optimal setting.

• What are your wishes and plans after your PhD?

After completing my PhD, I am open to various opportunities but would like to pursue a postdoctoral position abroad. I would like to learn deeper polymer chemistry, as it is not my initial area of expertise, and I am eager to expand my knowledge in this field. In the long term, I believe I would prefer to focus on more applied research.

• What do you like about your life in Strasbourg?

Strasbourg is an incredible city—it strikes the perfect balance between being large enough to offer everything you need yet small enough to be easily navigable. I bike every day, and the city’s bike-friendly infrastructure makes this a safe and enjoyable experience.
I will undoubtedly miss Strasbourg after my PhD, as it has been a wonderful place to live and work.

• If you were to name the one thing you are most proud of (career-wise or in your personal life), what would it be?

I guess what I am really proud of is that I was able to manage my research project on my own, despite the obstacles that inevitably come up in this type of project. I really think I have grown from the setbacks I have had to face.