Nardo Vicente

Doctor of Science, Professor Emeritus of Biology at the Paul Cézanne University of Aix-Marseille III, Member of the Marseille Academy of Science, Humanities and the Arts.

Expertise

Zoology and marine biology (specialising in malacology) Ecophysiology of the Mediterranean fan mussel Pinna nobilis and research into Pinna rudis. Larvae capture and aquaculture in marine environments (pollution, ecotoxicology).

Research fields

A – Fundamental research:

1 – Ecophysiology of marine invertebrates (molluscs): 120 publications

2 – Impact of chemical pollution on marine organisms, food chains and coastal ecosystems: 130 publications

B – Applied research:

1 – Management of coastal environments: 52 Publications

2 – Biodegradation of petroleum (oil slicks) by marine bacteria (publications by the IOPR team)

3 – Aquaculture: production in coastal zones: bivalve molluscs and fish: 41 publications

C – Research in tropical environments: Reef fauna. Systematics and ecology of tropical opisthobranch gastropods. (Toliara, Red Sea, Polynesia): 8 publications

Co-author of several films on the marine environment and marine biodiversity.

Professional SCUBA diver, Class II, Category B. (>10,000 dives)

Jean-Luc Bonnefont

Doctor of Cell Biology

Email: Jl.bonnefont@institut-paul-ricard.org

As a microbiologist, Jean-Luc Bonnefont has been involved in the Paul Ricard oceanographic Institute research since the 1980s, first for his thesis and then as an associate researcher, working on microorganisms beneficial to health, biodegradation of petroleum and marine microbiology in general.

He joined the Institute full time in 2008 as head of scientific research and became Research Director in 2012. He determines the Institute’s scientific priorities in accordance with its mission, and overseas the launch and management of research projects.

Robert Bunet

Email: robert.bunet@institut-paul-ricard.org

Tel: +33649290734

Robert Bunet is a Doctor of Molecular Biology and has been a researcher at the Oceanographic Institute since 2014. He develops methods for assessing the effectiveness of natural marine substances with antifouling properties. He also studies the DNA traces that organisms leave in their environment as a means to detect and monitor marine biodiversity. His past research contributed to understanding the regulation mechanisms of antibiotic synthesis in bacteria and the production of new drug compounds using genetic engineering.

Sylvain Couvray

Email: sylvain.couvray@institut-paul-ricard.org

Tel: +33 6 49 29 07 29

As a marine biology researcher and biologist-diver, he implements research projects relating to biodiversity and ecology in the Mediterranean marine environment. His current fields of research are biodiversity monitoring, environmental remediation of shallow coastal waters, population genetics and developing aquaculture techniques.

Rémy Simide

Specialist in marine biology and aquaculture

Email: remy.simide@institut-paul-ricard.org

Tel: + 33 6 49 29 07 43

As a marine biologist, I carry out multidisciplinary research focussed on the sea. I run the Institute’s zootechnics department, which researches new aquaculture techniques and studies marine species (ecotoxicology, physiology, behaviour, etc.). I am also part of the Institute’s team of scientific divers, monitoring biodiversity across the region and restoring the environment of shallow coastal waters.

Damien Kirchhofer

Specialising in coastal ecosystems

Email: damien.kirchhofer@institut-paul-ricard.org

After several assignments in French overseas territories involving eco-protection and remediation in tropical environments, I have become progressively focussed on Mediterranean coastal ecosystems since joining the Paul Ricard oceanographic Institute in 2013.

With a multidisciplinary background, I have several roles at the Institute, ranging from overseeing the production of microalgae for our various breeding and research programmes to scientific dives for implementing and monitoring environmental remediation. I also provide administrative support for new and emerging research projects.

Aurélie Vion

Since graduating from IntechMer (the National Institute for Marine Science and Technology) in 2008, I have worked on various research topics including marine ecotoxicology, the classification of benthic organisms in deep environments, inventories of fauna associated with various habitats, and post-larvae monitoring in ports and natural environments. I have also worked as an aquarium diver and an environmental instructor and provided freelance services to engineering firms and non-profit organisations.

In my work, I have focussed on environmental protection, presentation and remediation, research and raising awareness about the marine environment.

I joined the team in early 2018 and am enthusiastic about mobilising my experience from previous roles to support the exciting projects of the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute.