Research Gate Profile
Google scholar Profile
Brief CV
Prof. of Condensed Matter Physics and Molecular Biophysics of University of Burgundy (Dijon, France, 2001-)
Creation of a group « Condensed Matter Theory » (2003-2007)
Creation of a group « Physics Applied to Proteins » (2007-), leader of the group until 2021
Head of the Nanosciences department of the Laboratory ICB, Dijon (2015-2022)
Scientifc director of the computational center of the university (CCuB) (2016-)
Visiting scholar in Baker Lab of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Scheraga), Cornell University (2007-2022)
Researcher of the National Fund of Research Belgium (FWO), University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium (1999-2001)
Researcher of the National Fund of Research (FNRS), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium (1997-1999)
Researcher in the Max-Planck Institut für Strömungsforschung, Göttingen, Germany (1994-1997)
Doctorate es Sciences of the University of Namur (1993)
Disciplines
Condensed Matter Physics – Molecular Biophysics – Theoretical Chemistry – Statistical Physics
Keywords and expertise
Analysis and simulations of complex systems (Monte Carlo, statistical physics, graph theory,free-energy landscape…)
Proteins dynamics (acoustical modes of proteins, Raman, IR, NMR)
Protein folding/misfolding and aggregation (Heat Shock Proteins, alpha-synuclein,…)
Density functional theory (conceptual DFT, functionals, response functions…)
Infrared dielectric properties and phonon of surfaces (thin films, electron-energy-loss spectroscopy, helium atom scattering, lattice dynamics…)
Nanopore solids (zeolites)
Nanopore devices for biomolecule sequencing
Languages
French
English
Other
Academy of Art, Painting, Namur, Belgium (1997-2000)
Selected projects
All the projects are carried on by the team « Physics Applied to Proteins » (Adrien Nicolaï, Patrice Delarue, Patrick Senet and current PhD students (Andreina Urquiola-Hernandez, Christophe Laforge) with different roles.
Alpha-synuclein oligomerisation in relation to the Parkinson disease (contact: P. Senet)
Goal: we aim to simulate the oligomerisation of wild-type and mutated alpha-synuclein in order to decipher the toxicity of alpha-synuclein oligomers in Parkinson diseases using all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.
Characterization of the conformational space of intrinsically disordered proteins and unfolded protein states (contact: P. Senet)
Goal: develop new mathematical representations of the conformational ensemble of disordered chains and decipher how a single point mutation modifies such an ensemble with applications to neurodegenerative diseases. Include the study of the properties of specific SAW.
Sub-Terahertz Acoustic Vibrations of Proteins (contact: P. Senet)
Goal: identify proteins by measuring their sub-THz acoustical modes and decipher the role of these modes in the protein biological function.
Protein sequencing using solid-state nanopores (contact: A. Nicolaï)
Goal: nanometer-sized channels drilled in a solid-state membrane (graphene, MoS2, WS2…) are promising solid-state devices for the sequencing of proteins and DNA. While a biomolecule is translocated to the channel in response to a voltage applied across the membrane, the conductance of the channel is modified. We aim to establish the relations between the variations of the channel conductance to the sequence of amino-acids of a protein translocated using molecular dynamics simulations of the entire translocation process and using signal processing of the ionic current simulated. The simulations are based on a realistic representation of the solid-state membranes and of the solvent using all-atom force fields.
Protein-membrane interactions (contact: P. Delarue)
Goal: identify and understand how specific proteins interact with a biological membrane model with applications to the wine science and neurodegenerative diseases.
Current teaching
Condensed Matter Physics (Bachelor, third year)
Statistical Physics (Bachelor, third year)
Soft Condensed Matter (Master, first year)
Nanobiomodelling (Master, second year)
Chemical reactivity (Master, second year)
