Senior research scientist specializing in R&D microbiology, with a Ph.D. in veterinary science and strong expertise in biofilms. Currently engaged at SPARTHA Medical, leading the microbiology laboratory and developing antimicrobial coatings and hydrogels for medical devices. Previously, held positions at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany) and the University of California, Santa Cruz (USA). My research encompasses a range of interdisciplinary projects, focusing on biofilm architecture, pathogenesis, and innovative treatments. Experienced educator and mentor, strongly contributing to the academic community through teaching, workshops, and publications.
Experiences
Senior R&D Scientist & Project Leader in Microbiology
Spartha Medical
Since July 2022
Full-time
Strasbourg
France
Head of the microbiology laboratory. Multidisciplinary approach to develop new strategies to tackle the biofilm problem
Developing versatile, personalized antimicrobial and anti biofilm coatings for medical devices.
Project leader for an industrial co-development project
Engaged in: European project "ToxBox" (HORIZON-CL4-2023-RESILIENCE-01-101138387) Regional project "KISSMat"
Senior Research Associate and project leader
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
August 2019
to June 2022
Berlin
Germany
Investigating Esherichia coli macrocolony biofilms and their architectures. Role of cellulose and Curli. Interdisciplinary project (Cluster Matters of Activity) Laboratory of Prof. Regine Hengge
Project leader: Bacterial cellulose from architectural and design perspectives
Textile fermentation_Biofilm and textile microbiome. Collaboration with the anthropology expert Dr. Laurence Douny
B. Beyer and S. Hathroubi. La récolte des biofilms. In: MàJ : design, environnements techniques & pratiques exploratoires. Éditions Cité du design. École supérieure d’art et design Saint-Étienne (ESADSE)/Cité du design, France. 2021
B. Beyer, S. Hathroubi and R Hengge Bacterial Loom. In: Architectures of Weaving From Fibers and Yarns to Scaffolds and Skins. Christiane Sauer / Mareike Stoll / Ebba Fransén Waldhör / Maxie Schneider (eds.) Jovis ISBN 978-3-86859-739-4
L. Douny, S. Hathroubi, A. Dialo, A. Séré, S. Sawadogo and R. Hengge. West African “fermented” textiles. Submitted to Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of World Textiles
Postdoctoral researcher
Univeristy of California, Santa Cruz
November 2016
to June 2019
Investigating Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation and its potential role in pathogenesis in the lab of Dr. Karen Ottemann. Transcriptomic and genetic approaches to identify genes associated with H. pylori biofilm growth. Mouse-models for H. pylori infections and imaging approaches (CSLM and SEM) to characterize the biofilm structure its components. Top publication:
S. Hathroubi, S. Hu and K. M Ottemann. Genetic requirement and transcriptomics of Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation on abiotic and biotic surfaces. npj Biofilms Microbiomes 6, 56 (2020)
S. Hathroubi, S. L. Servetas, I. Windham, D. S. Merrell, K. M Ottemann. Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation and its potential role in pathogenesis. Microbiol and Mol Biol Rev 82(2):e00001-18 (2018)
S. Hathroubi, J. Zerebinski and K. M Ottemann. Helicobacter pylori biofilm involves a multigene stress-biased response, including a structural role for flagella. mBio 9(5):e01973-18 (2018)
S. Tachiyama, K. L. Chan, X. Liu, S. Hathroubi, B. Peterson, M. F. Khan, K. M. Ottemann, J. Liu and A. Roujeinikova. The flagellar motor protein FliL forms a scaffold of circumferentially positioned rings required for stator activation. PNAS 119(4)e2118401119 (2022)
Teaching experiences
University of California Santa Cruz _UdeMontreal_HU Berlin_University of Strasbourg
Since May 2018
Lecture Biofilm and its role in pathogenesis Master degree graduates. University of Strasbourg, Dentistry medical School (Fall session 2022)
Teaching Molekulare Mikrobiologie (Modul BXY-36,5. Semester) Institut für Biologie, AG Mikrobiologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany- 2019-2020 and 2020-2021
Seminar training, reading and lectures. Lectures: Bacterial biofilm and Bacterial pathogenicity
Guest lecture microbiology and pathogenesis for undergraduates and graduates: Biofilm, the social life of microorganisms. University of California, Santa Cruz (Winter-Spring session 2018 and 2019)
Microbiology and pathogenesis METX 119-02 online, summer session online classes: Biofilm, the social life of microorganisms. Univeristy of California, Santa Cruz (Summer 2018)
Teaching course microbial pathogenesis 2 for Master’s degree, veterinary science: Surface polysaccharides and envelope (Part_1. Microbial envelope and Part_2. Surface polysaccharides). Université de Montréal (Fall session 2015)
Laboratory demonstrator for Master’s degree, veterinary science students: Basic practical microbiology. Université de Montréal. (2012- 2015)
Mentorship experiences
At differents locations
Since 2017
Since 2022: Supervised two master student, one Bachelor student and co-supervising a Ph.D student at Strasbourg University
Supervising Nicole Rackov for Bachelor thesis (Humboldt-universität zu Berlin) - December 2020 - June 2021
Co-Supervising Nils Jensen, Master thesis (MPIKG and Humboldt-universität zu Berlin) - December 2020 - July 2021
Supervising undergrad student Yasmine E. (University of California, Santa Cruz) - August 2018 - July 2019
Supervising Ph.D student Aaron C. (University of California, Santa Cruz) - October 2017 - July 2019
Supervising undergrad student Julia Z. (University of California, Santa Cruz) - October 2017-September 2018
Supervising summer student Tyler Dewitt (University of California, Santa Cruz) - June-July 2017
Supervising student internship Sarah-Eve Fontaine-Gosselin (University of Montreal) Bachelor of Life Science, Sherbrooke University) - January-May 2014
Oral communications
Conferences
Since 2010
Invited speaker at Annual conference of the Inserm Unit 1121 November 2022
Invited speaker at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, USA May 2022
Invited speaker at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden May 2022
Invited talk at Biofilm10 international conference, Leipzig, Germany May 2022
#Invited speaker for ‘Textile: The Past and the Future of fashion’, workshop Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin_ the concept of Fermented textile 5 May 2022
Invited Speaker workshop ‘Material as Environmental Device’, Berlin; Germany. 10-11 September 2020
Invited speaker to 5th Workshop on bacterial and fungal biofilms, Ghent University conference Center. May 2019. Unraveling the mystery of Helicobacter pylori biofilm.
Invited speaker to INRS-INSTITUT ARMAND-FRAPPIER October 2018. Helicobacter pylori biofilm and the unexpected role of flagella.
Invited speaker to 2nd Technology Seminar-SandBox (UCSC_Startup incubator) September 2018. Targeting the Helicobacter pylori impenetrable biofilm.
PBSE Research Conference 2018, Felton, California, USA. Unexpected role played by flagella during biofilm formation.
UC Biosafety officer meeting 2018, Santa Cruz, USA. New Insights into Helicobacter pylori biofilm.
WCBP Annual conference, 2017, Asilomar, California, USA. Novel genes associated with Helicobacter pylori biofilm growth.
ASM Biofilm, 2015, Chicago, USA. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae biofilms induce lower response of porcine alveolar macrophages.
CRIPA symposium, 2015, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. Effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of penicillin G on Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae biofilm formation.
Phd in 180sec (3MTMC) 2014, Science on stage, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, St-Hyacinthe, Québec Canada. Best presentation 3rd prize. Rôle du biofilm dans la pathogénicité d’Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
Congrès BiSP 2013, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Rôle des polysaccharides de surface dans la formation du biofilm chez Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.
Microbiology Research Internship
Groupe de recherche sur les maladies infectieuses du porc (GREMIP)
Assist students and teachers in location of print and non-print resouces
Check books and materials in and out to students and teachers using the computerized circulation system
Monitor student use of the library
Assist in maintaining the appearance of the library
Proctor
Université de Montréal
Since September 2012
Part-time
Montréal
Canada - Québec
Monitoring students during the writing of tests/exams
Skills
Microbiology
Microscopic identification, biochemical testing of bacteria
Expert
Antibiotic susceptibility tests and serotyping assay
Expert
Biofilms culture in static and dynamic conditions
Expert
Enzymatic and chemicals treatments on biofilms
Expert
Swarming et twitching motility tests
Expert
Cell biology
Cell culture, macrophages culture
Advanced
Cytokines detections (PCR and ELISA)
Good
PBMC isolation and proliferation
Good
Gastric gland isolation and imaging
Advanced
Microscopies
Biofilm staining and EPS detection
Good
3D analysis (biomass, volume and thickness)
Advanced
SEM microscopy of biofilm and flagella detection
Advanced
Molecular biology
DNA and RNA extraction, PCR and RT-PCR
Site-directed mutagenesis, RNA-seq (Transcriptomic)
EPS extraction (eDNA...), LPS extractions, Lipid A micro-extractions
Immunodetection of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)
Animal experiment
Mice infection and treatments
Gastric gland isolation
Education
September 2012
to November 2012
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Certificate '' Bacteria biofilms in chronic infections''
Distinguish biofilms from planktonic bacteria both in nature and in medical related situations. Examine health care problems caused by infections involving bacterial biofilms. Design and develop biofilm models. Strategies for future research.
Interests
Informatics
Photography; photo treatment Photoshop, ACDSee
Adobe InDesign
Foreign trips
18 countries visited
Road trips cross-country (Canada, USA)
Cryptocurrency
Ethereum (ETH) mining
Trading crypto
Portfolios
Exhibition at the Tieranatomisches Theater (Germany) and Ougadougou-Safané (Burkina Faso).
DAOULA | sheen. West African Wild Silk on Its Way. Exhibition. Tieranatomisches Theater, Ougadougou and Safané, Burkina Faso. 17 November 2022 - 31 December 2022.
B. Beyer and S. Hathroubi. La récolte des biofilms. In: MàJ : design, environnements techniques & pratiques exploratoires. Éditions Cité du design. École supérieure d’art et design Saint-Étienne (ESADSE)/Cité du design, France. 2021
“Active Curtain”_Exhibition “After Nature” at Humboldt Labor at Humboldt Forum_2021