- Electron microscopy Facility University of Lausanne

Christel GENOUD PhD, Pr, MER, Head of EMF / email / +41 21 692 52 48 / office 1219

Christel Genoud is an electron microscopist with a background in neuroscience. She studied at the University of Lausanne and got her PhD studying the plasticity of the mouse cortex with electron microscopy under the supervision of Graham Knott in the group of E Welker . She then went in industry and worked for GATAN to develop and launch the volumeSEM technique called 3View inspired by the microtome developed by W. Denk. In 2008, she joined the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel (a Novartis Research Foundation affiliated to the University of Basel) and built an EM facility based on volume SEM techniques. Since 2016, she managed the cryo-EM facility of the FMI shared with Novartis.

Responsible of the facility
CEO of the Dubochet Center for Imaging
Adjunct Professor at EPFL, Life Science, IBI
From 2009 to 2020, co-head of Facility for Imaging and Microscopy at Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel (a Novartis Research Foundation affiliated to the University of Basel) based on volume SEM techniques.
During the period 2016-2020, co-head of the FMI cryo-EM facility shared with Novartis.
PhD at UNIL in 2006 studying the plasticity of the mouse cortex by TEM serial sections

Jean DARASPE Msc, Expert scientist, deputy head / email / +41 21 692 50 61 / office 1217

Jean obtained his master’s degree in plant sciences at the University of Paris XI in 2005 using confocal microscopy. He acquired his knowledge of electron microscopy after joining the team of Dr. Jean-Marc Verbavatz at the CEA in Saclay, France. Jean joined the EMF in 2008 as a research scientist. He is in charge of all aspects of sample preparation available at the EMF for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) preparation and imaging, using his years of practical experience with biological samples. He is also involved in the development of informatics tools for the automatic image acquisition and analysis of bio-EM samples. Jean trains users in electron microscopy during one-on-one hands-on training sessions and in workshops given by the facility.

manager of the division « cryo » of the facility
expert in cryo-CLEM and cryo-electron tomography
Expert in TEM, FIBSEM, tomography
Master’s degree in plant sciences at the University of Paris XI in 2005
EM expert in the group of Dr. Jean-Marc Verbavatz at the CEA in Saclay, France.
Research scientist at EMF since 2008.

Antonio MUCCIOLO HES engineer, / email / +41 21 692 50 69 / office 1214

Antonio was trained in engineering at HES in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. He has been an integral part of the EMF since 2004, starting his EM career under the direction of Professor Jacques Dubochet. He manages projects related to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), from sample preparation to image acquisition and data interpretation. Antonio’s expertise includes cryo-SEM, environmental SEM, and EDX analysis using either SEM or TEM. He trains EMF users who wish to acquire independence in his areas of expertise. Antonio is also responsible for laboratory safety at the EMF and thus, is our safety correspondent (COSEC).

Responsible for SEM, cryo-SEM, environmental SEM and EDX
expert in classical TEM sample prep and imaging
Safety correspondent (COSEC)
Engineer HES (cours du soir) in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland.
EMF member since 2004.

Damien DE BELLIS MSc laboratory scientist, Plant expert / email / +41 21 692 46 68 / office 1214

Damien received his master’s degree in biology from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2014, and then joined the EMF. He currently splits his time working in the facility and doing EM projects for the group of Professor Niko Geldner. In the EMF, Damien is involved in projects related to TEM and volume microscopy, from sample preparation to image acquisition and data interpretation. He develops and perfects sample preparation methods, in particular, in the domain of plant biology, and for samples that are difficult to process. Damien trains users during one-on-one training sessions and workshops, and advises on experimental procedures in his domain of competence.

40% affiliated to the group of N. Geldner for service in EM
Responsible for all projects in plant science
Expert in sample prep, imaging and image analysis for plant samples
Training of users and workshops
Msc in biology from the UNIL, Switzerland, in 2014
Lab technician at EMF since 2014
Lab scientist since 2023

Alexandra Schmitt MSc laboratory ¨technician, / email / +41 21 692 50 52/ office 1217

expert in HPF and cryosubstitution
Expert in TEM serial sections and tomography
Training of users and workshops
Msc in biology from the UNIGE, Switzerland, in 2024
Lab technician at EMF since 2024

Nathalie CHAVANNES Secretary / email / +41 21 692 50 50 / office 1110

Nathalie has great experience in dealing with administrative tasks. She is the administrative manager of the EMF. She joined the EMF at 2011. Since then, she has been in charge of billing, purchase orders, and human resources. She also helps with the financial planning for the facility.

Administrative assistant of the EMF at 40% since 2011.
Responsible of ordering, issuing the bill every month
Responsible for HR admin in collaboration with HR dept

From April 2024, Irina Kolotueva is laboratory scientist in the group of Prof Langlet, DSB UNIL