Anne-Laure Bailly recently joined the cytometry platform as an engineer. A former CRCM doctoral student, and after a career rich in experience, she has now returned to the CRCM with the desire to support the research teams with her expertise. Find out more about her career, her motivations, and her projects in this interview.

Can you summarize your career path in a few key steps?

Anne-Laure Bailly: “I completed a master’s degree in immunology in Strasbourg (at the IGBMC) before coming to do my thesis at the CRCM in 2012 in Michel Aurrand-Lions’ team. When I defended my thesis in 2016, I thought I would return to Strasbourg, but I ended up spending six months on a post-doctoral contract at La Timone (at CRO2). I then came back to work for two and a half years at CRCM, with Jean-Paul Borg, on an engineering contract until the end of 2019. I joined HalioDx on a permanent contract as an R&D engineer; the company was acquired by Veracyte in 2021 before announcing its closure in August 2025. When I saw an ad posted by Manon Richaud on LinkedIn, I applied before I was actually laid off… and now here I am, an IPC engineer on a permanent contract since September 1.”

What motivated you to return to the CRCM?

ALB: “First of all, for the human atmosphere, which is very important to me. Then, after my experience in the private sector, I wanted to return to the public sector. Working on a platform, serving research teams, motivates me enormously. And then the CRCM is excellent science, a real dynamic, a great diversity of projects… while remaining a center on a human scale, where it’s easy to get to know people.”

What is your current role on the cytometry platform?

ALB: “We really work as a team, with the idea of being interchangeable to ensure continuity of service. This includes machine maintenance, user support, instrument checks, and data analysis. We strive to provide maximum assistance to the teams so they can achieve excellent results in cytometry.”

Would you like to get involved in the CRCM community?

ALB: “I’m still settling in, so I haven’t given it much thought yet. But I like the dynamic of the center, and helping out Nadine Platet, the lab manager, why not?”

Any plans for the future?

ALB: “We would like to give the platform greater visibility. A project is already planned for January 2026: a monthly newsletter to share key concepts, useful information, and the latest developments in cytometry.”

Outside of the lab, what do you do in your spare time?

ALB: “I go diving with Jean-Christophe Orsoni’s club, who introduced me to the sport about ten years ago. I also spend time doing DIY, which has enabled me to renovate my apartment!”