Chloé Guillaume
At the age of twelve my biology teacher told me that “our brain induces a signal of pleasure when we eat something fat because during prehistory, humans needed to eat a lot of fat to store it and survive long periods of diet”. The prospect that my movements and desires were due to millions of years of evolutionary history completely blew my mind and I have been amazed by the way the brain works ever since. After a bachelor’s degree in biology and physiology, I decided to devote myself to a master’s degree in neuroscience, from the molecular level to psychiatric illnesses. It was at this point that I became interested in the integration of the chemical senses and their influence on our behaviour (undoubtedly also biassed by the fact that food and perfume are at the top of my list of personal interests as the typical French woman that I am). My master’s project at the University of Strasbourg was therefore on the perception of sugar taste in children as part of an fMRI study. But I missed the bench and the wet lab too much, so I decided to do a PhD at Nantes University to investigate synaptic plasticity, and I became an electrophysiologist while studying the role of cholecystokinin in long-term plasticity at the cortico-striatal synapse. I was lucky enough to join Elisa’s lab and thus link two of my favourite brain topics: plasticity and chemical senses. Here at the Galliano’s lab, I’m leading a behavioural study to characterise the role of the dopaminergic network in olfactory behaviour (but I’m never too far away from the patch set-up, if needed). If I am not in the lab I am probably traveling somewhere in Europe, hiking in the Icelandic fjords or dancing all night in Spanish bars. Disclaimer: you should know that in my daily life I use English, French and Italian, so my main language at times might probably be a random mix of them.
Research
My research aims to uncover how specific populations of dopaminergic neurons contribute to different aspects of olfactory behaviour. Using chemogenetic approaches, I investigate how manipulating these neurons influences odour perception and appetitive odour-guided behaviour. To do this, I combine neural manipulations with behavioural experiments using our home-built testing apparatus, which allows mice to perform various odour-guided tasks. I have also recently collaborated with the Maria Grazia Spillantini lab, performing whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology.
Collaborators:
- Jasper Poort
- Maria Grazia Spillantini & Pauline Vessiere
Open Science
Alongside my postdoctoral work, I’m developing the Cambridge Open Lab project. This local UK hub is part of an international network of Open Labs that originally started with the Nencki Open Lab. The aim is to support early-career neuroscientists by offering high-quality training in open-source tools for experimental design and data analysis, while also creating spaces to explore new ideas, share perspectives, and build community.
In practice, we run hands-on training sessions in areas such as electronics and optics, as well as a “School of Ideas” where we discuss key concepts and theories that shape neuroscience today. Last year, we organised two successful workshops on electronics for neuroscience, and this summer we are launching Open Science in Practice, a Summer School combining theoretical course with practical workshops to provide participants with both conceptual foundations and hands-on experience.
Over the years, Cambridge Open Lab has received financial support from the Company of Biologists, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), and the Research Culture Committee of the University of Cambridge, enabling us to expand our training programme and foster an open, collaborative research community.
Collaborators:
- Nencki Open Lab https://nenckiopenlab.org/
- Célia Laurent
Teaching and Outreach
One of the things I find most rewarding is sharing my passion for biology, so I’m always keen to teach and to get involved in public science outreach. During my PhD, I gave numerous lectures in biochemistry and physiology and led practical neuroscience classes for undergraduates. Last year, I also lectured first-year Natural Sciences undergraduates at the University of Cambridge on Comparative Sensory Physiology. More recently, I was one of the demonstrators for the Human Neuroanatomy practical course for medical students at the University of Cambridge. I’m currently a tutor on the Functional Neuroanatomy lifelong learning course run by Cambridge Advanced Online. Beyond formal teaching, I enjoy creating small games and interactive activities about the brain for public outreach, making neuroscience engaging and accessible to diverse audiences — and I love a good challenge, like taking part in competitions such as “My Three Minute Thesis”. (watch it here).
Wider Cambridge Community
I am currently a Junior Research Fellow at Homerton College, having joined the College in October 2025. It has been a pleasure to become part of such a vibrant and supportive academic community. Previously, I was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Darwin College, where I helped organise the Darwin Chalk Talks and served on the Education & Research Committee for two years.
I am also a member of Cambridge Neuroscience, a vibrant interdisciplinary network that brings together more than 800 neuroscientists across the University of Cambridge through seminars, workshops, and community events throughout the year.
Papers, preprints, datasets, presentations
Doyle C, Wang J, Galliano E, Guillaume C (2026) A low-cost and open-source olfactometer to precisely deliver single odours and odour mixtures. Under review in PLOS One. Shared corresponding author.
Guillaume C, Galliano E (2026) Neurons generated shortly after birth encode the scent of early-life happiness. In Press PLOS Biology
Guillaume C (2025) Accessible and automated behavioural testing in freely moving mice: open-source tools for multisensory conditioning and odour-driven behaviour. ECRO 2025 – International Conference about Research in Chemosensory Science, Bilbao. Oral presentation
Guillaume C, McWhinnie A, Peedikayil Kurien S, Doyle C, Horvath-Gulacsi E, Galliano E (2025) Modulating the modulators: chemogenetic dissection of bulbar dopaminergic contributions to olfactory behaviour. ECRO 2025 – International Conference about Research in Chemosensory Science, Bilbao. Poster presentation
Guillaume C, Saez M, Parnet P, Reig R, Paille V (2025) Cholecystokinin modulates corticostriatal transmission and plasticity in rodents. eNeuro, ENEURO.0251-24.2025. Shared corresponding author.
Gadiwalla S, Guillaume C, Huang L, White SJB, Basha N, Petersen PH, Galliano E (2025) Ex vivo functional characterization of mouse olfactory bulb projection neurons reveals a heterogenous continuum. eNeuro, 12 (3) ENEURO.0407-24.2025
Paradis J, Guillaume C, Frapin M, Meistermann D, Pagniez A, de Coppet P, Amarger V, Parnet P, Paillé V (2025) Maternal low protein diet alters the development of reward circuits from childhood to adulthood by reshaping its function. bioRxiv 2025.02.28.639479. preprint
Doyle C, Guillaume C (2024) Reactivating an Engram: Context Matters. J Neurosci. 17;44(29):e0650242024. Journal club article
Guillaume C (2024) An automated device designed for olfactory or multisensorial based operant conditioning of freely moving animals and remotely controlled. UK Semio-chemistry Network annual meeting, Cambridge. Oral presentation
Guillaume C, Wang J, Agarwal Y, Poort J, Galliano E (2024) An automated device designed for olfactory or multisensorial based operant conditioning of freely moving animals and remotely controlled. ISOT 2024 – International Conference about Research in Chemosensory Science, Reykjavik. Poster presentation
Gadiwalla S, Guillaume C, Huang L, White SJB, Basha N, Petersen PH, Galliano E (2023) Mitral, tufted, and everything in between: electrophysiological classification of bulbar projection neurons in the mouse. ECRO 2023 – International Conference about Research in Chemosensory Science, Nijmegen. Poster presentation
Guillaume C, Sáez M, Parnet P, Reig R, Paillé V (2022) Cholecystokininergic signalling exerts major control on corticostriatal sunaptic plasticity and motor behavior. FENS Forum – International Neuroscience Conference, Paris. Poster presentation
Guillaume C, Sáez M, Castellano B, Parnet P, Reig R, Paillé V (2022) Cholecystokinin exerts a major control on corticostriatal synapse and motor behavior. bioRxiv 2022.11.28.518143. preprint
Guillaume C, Paillé V (2021) Can excessive food intake be considered an addiction? French Neuroscience Society – La lettre des Neurosiences n°61
Guillaume C, Parnet P, Paillé P (2021) Cholecystokininergic signalling in striatal plasticity. Scientific Days of Nantes University. Oral presentation
Guillaume C, Parnet P, Paillé P (2021) Cholecystokininergic signalling exerts major control on corticostriatal synaptic plasticity. NeuroFrance, Strasbourg. Poster presentation
Guillaume C, (2019) Sugar perception by children – fMRI study. Young Researcher in Cognitive Science’ Days, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris. Oral presentation
Galliano Lab @Cambridge_Uni 