Research

Breeding programs have been instrumental in improving livestock populations and adapting them to specific production conditions. Yet, designing a successful breeding program is a complex task because it must integrate many different aspects related to the genetic architecture of traits, selection and mating procedures, but also some biological and economic constraints. Moreover, breeders must ensure that their selection schemes do not lead to unsustainable loss of genetic diversity. 

My research revolves around the design of sustainable animal breeding schemes and aims at addressing some major issues faced by breeders. To achieve this goal, I apply and further develop methods and tools to predict genetic trends for traits under selection but also on the overall fitness of animals (for ex. due to trade-offs between life functions). Another important part of my research is related to the management of genetic diversity in selected populations.

At QGG we strive to get these methods implemented in software that can help breeders design, tailor and implement sustainable breeding schemes. If you are interested in this research area, feel free to reach out. We are always happy to hear from new motivated collaborators!

Profile

I am a quantitative geneticist with a background in animal science. My interest in animal breeding comes from my childhood spent on a dairy farm, where I clearly prefered milking cows to sitting in a tractor.

I obtained a PhD degree from AgroParisTech / INRA (France) in 2009 and carried out two postdoctoral stays at the University of Helsinki (Finland) and at QGG, Aarhus University. Before joining QGG in 2021, I have worked for 8 years as an engineer / consultant at IFIP - Pig Research Institute (France) where I contributed to the implementation of genomic selection and practical breeding decision tools in the main French pig breeding schemes.

Teaching

I teach a few courses about animal breeding schemes at Aarhus University and Copenhagen University. My teaching approach is very pragmatic and focused on hands-on exercises to develop students' problem-solving skills.