Karl Vivot

Background

About Karl Vivot

During my PhD, I studied the inflammatory mechanisms underlying the early loss of pancreatic islets following their transplantation at the European Center for Diabetes Studies (CEED) in Strasbourg. Importantly, this research training instilled my great interest in diabetes research raising my motivation to move from research related to islet transplantation to a scientific activity covering more broadly fundamental mechanistic aspects involved in T2D. As a consequence, for my postdoctoral training, I decided to remain focusing on pancreatic β cells but to extend my mechanistic understanding around β cells in the context of T2D. I thus subsequently joined the laboratory of Dr. Poitout at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center (MDRC), where I gained a specific expertise in cellular signaling and whole organism-related pathomechanisms of T2D. During my first postdoctoral training at the MDRC, I explored the role of a novel regulator of insulin secretion and β-cell proliferation, the regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS16), in β cells. In a next step, I wished to immerse myself more into cell biological aspects of β cell function, a topic I realized would require additional knowledge and skills. I got primarily attracted to the laboratory of Prof. Ricci that employs a rather unique scientific approach focusing on fundamental and highly topical cell biological processes such as autophagy, lysosomal function and membrane trafficking in β cells. Among other goals, I wish to acquire important skills to use powerful imaging tools as a means to discover new mechanisms underlying β cell dysfunction. Until now, I developed my skills in terms of critical thinking, grant and manuscript writing, scientific presentation besides developing my expertise in experimental and analytical cell, molecular biology as well as physiology related to the study of β cells. In a near future, I wish to work for private company that will allowed me to develop fully.