Hi! My name is Louise and I joined the Neuroscience Department of NYUGSM last november, flying in from Paris where I got my PhD (hence the Eiffel Tower in the background). During those formative years I studied the vestibular system in mice, and decided to switch animal model to understand the development of that same system in the larval zebrafish.
Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring New York in search of new food places, running (I acwknowledge it is quite stereotypical of newly new yorkers but it does get you to coffee shops faster), travelling, sailing (less likely to happen around here) and going out. I've been trying to test every concert venue in New York, and I've also been cat sitting quite a bit in order to convince myself I don't need to adopt one (feel free to send me pics of your cat they are more than welcome). 

I've only been around for about a year, but the PDA council events (social events, but also workshops/trivia nights/arty hours) have really helped me settle in, make new friends and feel at home in the city. The council's mission of bringing people together from such an international community is something I really care about, since it makes postdoc life not just easier but a lot more fun and balanced.
I'd like to contribute to organizing more opportunities for postdocs to connect outside the lab through socials, interest groups or cultural events and also support newcomers with the practical side of settling in - whether that's navigating out admin, immigration, taxes or adjusting to like at NYU). I also think it's important to create information spaces where postdocs (both newer and older) can share experiences, talk openly and feel supported. I'd also like to build more career-focused opportunities too, like casual meetups where postdoc that got grants or faculty positions could share some wisdom.