Nicolas Laurent
Uccle
Summary
Focused Wildlife Biologist with field experience in remote & difficult terrain in Africa. Committed to implementing conservation practices and adhering to regulations to protect endangered areas. Skilled in research and reporting and considered valuable team asset.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Research Assistant
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
10.2020 - 10.2023
- Took an active part into a 3-year research project (BiodivAFREID) to investigate how biodiversity conditions (dis)favour transmissions of infectious agents from small mammals into human populations in African forests.
- Organization and preparation for 2 x 2 months field missions (2021, 2022) in remote & difficult conditions in DRC involving local and international researchers to collect small mammal, wildmeat and eDNA samples (~1.500 individuals captured - ~15.000 samples collected).
- Molecular identification & taxonomy of animal samples.
- Performed statistical, qualitative, and quantitative analysis destined to scientific publication.
- Worked both independently and collaboratively in fast-paced laboratory environment.
Private Teacher in General Sciences
MySherpa
12.2019 - 01.2021
- Tutoring college level sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) to 4 students with schooling difficulties.
Apprentice Field Guide (FGASA – NQF2)
Ecotraining
09.2019 - 10.2019
- Worked under guidance of experienced professionals to learn trade best practices and techniques to lead international guests in English/French for an eco-touristic experience in any Southern African ecosystem (focus on Lowweld).
- Stress management facing unexpected problems (animals, vehicle, guests).
- Thorough awareness on human-wildlife conflict.
- Motivated and independent worker – Work for extensive hours in isolated wilderness area.
Internship
National Zoological Garden of South Africa
02.2019 - 06.2019
- Independently conducted research on the genetic diversity of captive bred lions in South Africa.
- Experience on field conservation – Took part on a 4-days field expedition to a remote, desert area (Tankwa Karoo National Park, SA).
Internship
Ecology dpt. – Cheetah Conservation Fund
07.2017 - 08.2017
- Insights on local communities’ involvement for conservation and rural development.
- Camera trapping & Fauna abundance estimation.
Scouts Leader
Les Scouts
09.2012 - 09.2016
- Planning, organizing and budgeting for 4 autonomous 15 days outdoor & international summer camps for ~40 scouts during 4 years.
Education
Master of Science - Biology of Organisms & Ecology
Université Catholique De Louvain
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium09.2019
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Université Catholique De Louvain
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium09.2017
Skills
- Planning for scientific fieldwork in remote conditions in the afrotropical forest with the construction of remote field laboratory under BSL-2 conditions
- Small mammal capture (sherman, victor, pitfalls, harp trap & mistnets) & tissues collection
- eDNA collection in tropical forest (soil & flies)
- DNA/RNA extraction, amplification (PCR/RT-qPCR), sequencing (Sanger & Illumina (beginner)
- Data analysis using QGIS, R & Phylogeny software's
- Microsoft Suite
- Adobe Lightroom
- Grant Writing
Languages
French
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
English
Advanced (C1)
Dutch
Intermediate (B1)
Accomplishments
- Publications :
1) Mariën J., Laurent N., Smitz N. and Gombeer S. (2022) “First observation of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Tshuapa province (Boende), Democratic Republic of the Congo”, African Entomology, 30. doi: 10.17159/2254-8854/2022/a11932.
2) Laurent N., Nebesse C., Dauwe D., Gryseels S., Verheyen E. (2023) “Raising Central Africa barcoding capacity to boost Conservation and OneHealth research, the case of wildmeat in Kinsangani (DRC)”, Manuscript in LAST STAGES
3) Fourchault L., Laurent N., Baelo P., Verheyen E (2023) “Resolving the taxonomy of the Funisciurus sp.(Sciuridae) from the Congo basin”, Manuscript IN PROGRESS
- Coordinator of a short documentary (concept, script, voice-over, presentation and images) about the fieldwork mission in DRC. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1_jWaa89S0)
- Organization of a 1-day symposium on environmental DNA hosted at RBINS (2022).
- International experts presenting their research.
- 50+ expert attendees from various biology background.
- Trained under- and postgraduate student on laboratory techniques & research fundamentals at RBINS for :
- Léa FOURCHAULT (MSc student - ULB) – 09/2021 to 01/2022
- Alexis NIKIZA (PhD student from Burundi - GTI grantee) – 18/09/2022 to 26/10/2022
- Pascal BAELO (PhD student University of Kisangani (DRC) - GTI grantee) – 29/10/2022 to 06/12/2022
- Co-leader of of the Young Zoologist Group from the Royal Belgian Zoological Society (since 2022) :
- Organization of workshops dedicated to help early-career zoologists develop their network and various skills (Statistics, stress management, public speaking, etc.) – 200+ attendees each
- Website creation (released on 12/2023)
Hobby
- Landscape & animal photography
- Autonomous 3-15 days trekking
- Birding (beginner)
- Ski - Hiking - Running
Timeline
Research Assistant
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
10.2020 - 10.2023
Private Teacher in General Sciences
MySherpa
12.2019 - 01.2021
Apprentice Field Guide (FGASA – NQF2)
Ecotraining
09.2019 - 10.2019
Internship
National Zoological Garden of South Africa
02.2019 - 06.2019
Internship
Ecology dpt. – Cheetah Conservation Fund
07.2017 - 08.2017
Scouts Leader
Les Scouts
09.2012 - 09.2016
Master of Science - Biology of Organisms & Ecology
Université Catholique De Louvain
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Université Catholique De Louvain
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