Pierre-Olivier Mari

About

I am a physicist with a deep passion for understanding complex (biological) systems. After my PhD at the University PARIS XI, I began as a Post-Doc at the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam by building simulation frameworks for molecular biologists. After a few years, I somehow became invested in designing and actually running experiments myself, using advanced microscopes to explore live cells and tissue explants.

My expertise in quantitative imaging and a growing interest in what happens once DNA repair is finished, gave me the opportunity to also work at the IPBS in Toulouse and then at the INMG – PGNM in Lyon where I expanded my research to include muscle cells, neuromuscular junctions, and rare genetic conditions like spinal muscular atrophy. Most of my work now revolves around:

• DNA repair and transcription restart
• Nucleolar reorganization during and after genotoxic stress
• Super-resolution microscopy of the cell nucleus.

With more than two decades of experience in quantitative microscopy, I am now also the scientific head of the CIQLE imaging facility, ensuring the scientific community has access to state-of-the-art equipment.

Beyond my research activities, I enjoy sharing knowledge through mentoring, equipment training and collaborating to hands-on outreach events like the yearly “Fête de la Science” where, as part of our lab’s booth – Some Sunshine on my Skin – I will be trading my microscope for a telescope to show live observations of our sun’s chromosphere.