Research

I adopt an evolutionary approach, aiming at responding the question of how the physiology of organisms constrains the way they evolve. I use the animal pigmentary system, which is responsible for the synthesis of the most common animal pigments (melanins), as a study model. This leads me to address basic evolutionary and ecological questions, but also to work to find applications to combat human diseases related to melanin synthesis.

I also investigate the function and evolution of less common (but fascinating) biological pigments such as porphyrins, as well as photosynthetic pigments that are incorporated and used by animals (carotenoids).