Interview Katia Bacha
Doctoral student working on the InTiCosm project, discover here the portrait of Katia Bacha in an interview where she shares with us her research, her project and her motivations.
Many of them have joined Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech to complete their doctoral thesis. Katia Bacha is one of these young doctoral students. She began her studies and thesis in France, at the University of Reims. She is working on a subject that is both cutting edge and full of potential: cosmetics. She joined the research group of Magali Deleu, Researcher in the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics at Interfaces. Her research focuses on the InTiCosm project (1), a project supported by INTERREG IV France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen (2) financed by the ERDF fund.
Could you introduce yourself in a few words?
Katia Bacha: "I am a second-year doctoral student in a joint supervision between the University of Reims in the laboratory of Professor Sandrine Bouquillon at the ICMR (Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de Reims) and the University of Liège. Since mid-September, I have joined Ms Deleu's team to complete my research. I was selected to work on the following subject: "The contribution of biosourced dendrimers in the field of cosmetics". I will continue my research for 3 months in Belgium and then return to France to complete my research and write my thesis.
What area are you investigating?
K.B.: "You have to know that many active ingredients used in cosmetic compositions are unstable. They undergo oxidation and degradation due to the effects of air, light, etc. My research aims to develop biosourced dendrimers (macromolecules obtained by successive grafting) as encapsulation matrices for cosmetic actives. These include caffeine (slimming agent), DHA (tanning agent) and vitamin C (antioxidant).
What motivates you most in your work?
K.B.: "First of all, I am very happy to have been able to join a centre of excellence like Gembloux. Furthermore, I believe that this research will certainly have an impact on the daily lives of many people. It is also very motivating to work in two laboratories that collaborate well and with people who guide me very effectively in my work.
What are your future prospects?
K.B.: "Following my research, I will write my thesis and defend it (once in Belgium, in front of experts in the field, and a second time in France in front of a wider audience). Afterwards, I obviously want to work in the cosmetics sector as a research engineer. I know that this requires a lot of qualifications, so I am working in this perspective.
What do you think of your first contacts with Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech?
K.B.: "They are very good but, from a human point of view, I don't really have the opportunity to participate in the social life because I work a lot and, in addition, the Covid crisis complicates everything. In fact, I was originally supposed to go to Belgium in March, but I had to postpone my trip because of the first confinement.
InTiCosm: The InTiCosm project aims to develop cross-border biobased compounds and their use in cosmetic formulation. This study is led by Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, URCA, ULille, UGent, CERTECH, Vito, Accustica, Pole IAR, GreenWin and Catalisti.
INTERREG France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen: is a European territorial cooperation programme Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen which aims to promote economic and social exchanges between four border regions: the Hauts-de-France and Grand Est regions in France; Wallonia, West and East Flanders in Belgium. It aims to combine common competences while enhancing the wealth of each region concerned, for the benefit of the populations of the area.
