Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier, interpreter and shaper of evolution

In the age of high-throughput sequencing, evolutionary genomics must be able to handle the vast amounts of data generated from decoded genomes. As both a genomics researcher and a bioinformatician, Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier is an accomplished scientist. The professor and researcher atthe Montpellier Institute of Evolutionary Sciences (ISEM) combines experimental and computational approaches to understand how repetitive elements in genomes influence evolutionary processes such as species adaptation.

“In my research, I like to be at both ends of the process: collecting samples, designing the sequencing protocol, and then interpreting the results—sometimes using the algorithms and computational tools I develop myself. ” As the only biologist in the UM’s Department of Computer Science, she advocates for the importance of her specialty in extracting relevant information from the numerous heterogeneous datasets collected.“A bioinformatician isn’t just a programmer who fixes printers and pushes buttons… Above all, they must interpret the biological question, understand the theories underlying existing tools, and possess the expertise and critical perspective needed to improve them if necessary.”

The World of Transposable Elements

A pioneer in her field, Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier completed the first master’s degree in bioinformatics at Paris-Diderot in 2000. As a young biology student at the time, she recalls being completely taken aback during her first class when faced with a black screen filled with green characters:“It was like The Matrix—I realized it was up to us students to program and develop the software for analyzing biological data! ” This training opened the door for this science high school graduate to pursue a Ph.D. atthe Jacques Monod Institute, where she immersed herself in the world of transposable elements (TEs). Her research—a comparison of Drosophila genomes—supports the hypothesis that an element dubbed “element P” impacts genome evolution.

Spotted by a visiting Stanford professor during a seminar in France, she was offered a postdoctoral position at the California university. As high-throughput sequencing techniques rapidly advanced, the young French researcher pioneered the development of tools for detecting ETs in sequencing data. In particular, with the development of T-lex, “the big beast that allows for the detection and analysis of TE in sequencing data.” A reference to the T-rex, of course, but also to Solexa, one of the first sequencing companies.

Her work is as effective as her inspiration. By comparing ancestral fruit flies from East Africa with current populations in the Americas and Europe, Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier has helped shed light on the unique dynamics of environmental factors and their impact on adaptive processes. Certain environmental factors appear to influence the regulation of genes encoding olfactory receptors, traits that are crucial for the species’ adaptation. Since then, she has continued to focus on sequencing technologies, which are also evolving and enable a better understanding of adaptation processes, particularly in insects. For example, she contributed to the study of the genome of the midge Belgica Antarctica, the only insect living in Antarctica.

“Engaging students in research”

After five years immersed in Stanford’s dynamic international environment, the young researcher returned to France for family reasons,“a somewhat difficult time when I had to readjust to the French system.” Her appointment at UM in 2013 allowed her to discover the Montpellier region:“For a Parisian like me, it reminds me a bit of California! .” As part of the Computer Science Department, she developed a passion for educational innovation while serving for six years as the director of the bioinformatics master’s program.“Beyond simply imparting knowledge, teaching has pushed me to find educational approaches to get students involved in research,” explains the professor, who leads several educational innovation projects such as the Bioinformatics Learning Lab, the Montpellier Omics Days, and bootcamps, drawing on the Anglo-Saxon influence of project-based learning.

Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier draws the energy to work with young people from her own experiences and life journey. As is often the case, the researcher speaks of the importanceof the “meaningful encounters”that have marked her career, but she also touches on more unfortunate ones, such as at Jehan High School in Chelles, where she narrowly avoided being steered away from her scientific track due to prejudice.“For spurious reasons, the school administration shut me out of the sciences. Fortunately, with my mother’s unwavering support, I managed to transfer to another high school and earn my science-track diploma with flying colors.”

President of the French Society of Bioinformatics

She does not hesitate to channel that energy into her other pet cause: gaining recognition for bioinformatics.“Research is shooting itself in the foot by failing to recognize the value of bioinformaticians; they are forced into precarious situations with fixed-term contracts, which prevents them from building on their knowledge.” Her commitment led to her election as president of the French Society of Bioinformatics in 2021. In recent years, the professor and researcher has once again been devoting more time to her research, thanks in particular to CNRS MITI funding obtained in 2019 and her appointment as a junior member ofthe InstitutUniversitaire de France in 2021.