- Name: Louis Grillet
- Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University
- Host University: Grenoble Alpes University, Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory
- Research Partner: Dr. Stéphane Ravanel
- Research topics: Plant nutrition and metabolites of the rhizosphere
International research collaborations are essential for every scholar, as they open up numerous research opportunities and equip both scholars and their students for a world of increasingly globalized professional and academic environments. With this in mind, Louis Grillet, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, decided to apply for the NTU International Joint Seed Funding, which was launched earlier this year with the aim of broadening NTU's connections with selected strategic partner universities.
Prof. Grillet shared that, despite having a long list of potential collaborations with institutions worldwide, he specifically chose the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) for this funding project. In addition to the fact that UGA is located in his home country, France, which made communication between the two organizations a lot easier, another major factor was the research topic. One of UGA’s research groups focuses on how plants absorb pollutants from the soil, a topic that closely aligns with the work conducted by him and his colleagues at NTU. Given Taiwan's highly developed semiconductor industry, it is crucial to prevent these toxic elements from being absorbed by rice and other grains consumed by people.
After successfully completing all the application procedures, Prof. Grillet, accompanied by another professor from the department, a postdoc, and two students, embarked on their journey to France. “One major issue with receiving grants is that the application process can be cumbersome and time-consuming. However, this was not the case with the NTU International Collaboration Seed Funding, which was a pleasant surprise for me,” he said, adding that it was crucial for him to take students along, as gaining valuable and unique insights into different research methodologies, work cultures, and interacting with scholars from other countries would broaden their academic horizons and help them build new connections.
In Grenoble, they were met by Dr. Stéphane Ravanel, head of the research group at UGA. The Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory he works in receives funding not only from the university itself but also from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), which provides researchers with abundant resources. Prof. Grillet and his team even had the opportunity to participate in research involving uranium, a unique chance given that conducting such research would be difficult at their laboratory at NTU due to safety concerns.
Discussing the differences between research approaches in Taiwan and France, Prof. Grillet noted that while an individual scholar in Taiwan can relatively easily secure a grant, in France the chances of obtaining funding are higher when applying collectively. This is why many scholars form research groups and collaborate on single projects. However, such close teamwork can have its benefits, as it easily brings people together, creating a harmonious working atmosphere. For example, during their visit, Prof. Ravanel and his colleagues often took their guests sightseeing and introduced them to the local cuisine. Surrounded by the French Alps, UGA has been listed as one of the most beautiful universities in Europe and can be an ideal environment not just for conducting research but also for living.
In Paris, Prof. Grillet served as a personal guide for his research team.
The most noticeable outcome of this collaboration was the strengthening of future academic cooperation between the two research teams. Prof. Ravanel is expected to visit Prof. Grillet’s laboratory at NTU in a few months to discuss further research plans with him and other professors interested in joining the project. He noted that while the International Collaboration Seed Funding is an excellent opportunity to initiate collaboration, maintaining persistent personal connections is crucial for long-term success. That’s why he was pleased to hear that two of his master’s students, who accompanied him during the trip, are considering applying for a Dual Degree PhD program between NTU and UGA. This would enable them to continue participating in the joint projects and gain access to a broader range of resources and expertise.
Although the time spent at UGA was relatively short, Prof. Grillet described it as "immensely productive," noting that he was even able to fly to London for the weekend to attend a conference. He is grateful for this opportunity provided by the OIA, and strongly encourages other scholars from NTU apply for the NTU International Joint Seed Funding and embrace academic globalization.