Career summary

Introduction

I graduated in zoology from the University of Liège (ULg) in September 1971 and started in 1972 a doctoral thesis analyzing the endocrine controls of reproductive behavior in male domestic mallards. I obtained a PhD degree from the ULg in 1977 and spent a post-doctoral year at Rutgers University, Newark NJ under the supervsion of Mei-Fang Cheng and Harvey Feder. After returning to the ULg, I created the Research Group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology that I directed until my retirement in September 2014. This group focussed on the analysis of the neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling the activation and sexual differention of reproductive behavior using mainly birds (quail and songbirds) as models. Recently, my work on sexual diferentiation of behavior developped into an interest for the biological bases of sexual orientation in animals and humans (homo- vs. hetero-sexuality) and a wrote a few books on the topic.

The research group in Behavioral Neuroendocrinology remains fully active under the direction of Dr. Charlotte Cornil and its official site can be found at

https://www.giganeuroendo.uliege.be/cms/c_4241824/en/giganeuroendo

I still work as research associate/consultant in this research group that has now been merged with the Neuroendocrinology Unit of the GIGA Neurosciences.

In brief

After finishing my degree in zoology (1971), I immediately became interested in the subject that was to mark out my entire career as a researcher: the endocrinology of behavior. This work, which is focused on the control of reproductive behaviour, is almost exclusively based on avian models.

I obtained a PhD in zoological science from the University of Liège in 1977 studying the reproductive behavior of mammard ducks. Soon thereafter spent a year at the Rutgers University, New Jersey. In the United States, my studies focused on the Barbary dove or Ring dove. When I returned to Liège in 1979, I created a research group in behavioral neuroendocrinology at the University of Liège that I led until my admission to emeritus in September 2014. After this date (2016) I continued my scientific activity very actively within this group now directed by Dr. Charlotte Cornil. My recent research has focused on the plasticity of the brain associated with effects of hormones on singing behavior. in songbirds.

I am the author of more than 550 articles and scientific reviews that have been cited more than 28,000 times. I also created in 1983, on a European scale, a series of conferences on the topic Hormones, Brain and Behavior, of which I ensured the publication of the proceedings. I was elected president, from 2003 to 2005, of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. I am or was a member of the editorial board of several international journals and was Chief Co-editor of the journal Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology from 2006 to 2016. I am currently Associate Editor of the journal Hormones and Behavior. In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Biological Sciences section. I received multiple awards that are listed in more detail in my Curriculum vitae.

Curriculum Vitae

Civil status & Address

Born in Liège, June 29, 1949.

Married, two children born 10/26/73 (Bruno) and 07/18/78 (Alain).

Nationality: Belgian

GIGA-Neuroscience

15 Avenue Hippocrate (Bat. B36)

B-4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman), Belgium

Tel: 32-4-366 59 70 Fax : 32-4-366 59 71

Email: jbalthazart@uliege.be

WebPages:

http://www.ulg.ac.be/bioneuro

https://www.giganeuroendo.uliege.be/cms/c_4241824/en/giganeuroendo

Education

Undergraduate studies (4 years)

-Première candidature en Médecine Vétérinaire, July 1968, grande distinction.

-Deuxième candidature en Médecine Vétérinaire, July 1969, grande distinction.

-Compléments de Biologie, September 1969, distinction.

-Première licence en Sciences Zoologiques, July 1970, grande distinction.

-Deuxième licence en Sciences Zoologiques, September 1971, grande distinction. (=± Master in Sciences)

PhD (6 years)

-Doctorat en Sciences Zoologiques, July 1977, la plus grande distinction. (= ± PhD)

All studies carried out at The State University of Liège.

Post-Doctoral studies

- Rutgers University (Newark NJ) 1978-1979 under the supervision of Dr. M.F. Cheng.

Positions held

Master student, University of Liège, 1971

PhD student in Zoology, University of Liège 1977

F.N.R.S. Post-doctoral Researcher (1978-1980),

Research Associate at Rutgers University, Institute of Animal behavior (1978-1979)

Assistant Professor ULg. (1980-1982)

Premier Assistant ULg. (1982-1986)

Adjunct Faculty at Rockefeller University (1987-1989)

Chef de Travaux ULg (1986-2007)

Lecturer, University of Liège (1998-2007)

Chargé de Cours (± Associate Professor), University of Liège (2007-2014)

Emeritus Associate Professor (2014-now)

Research interests

Neuroendocrine and neurochemical mechanisms of control of reproductive behavior - Studies of development during the ontogenesis of reproductive behavior – Sexual differentiation of brain and behavior in animal models - Sex differences of the brain in relation to the control of behavior - Comparative neuroanatomy and neuroendocrinology –Biological controls of sex partner preference in animal and men.

Honors and Awards

-Grant of the Fondation Camille Hela (1972).

-Fulbright/Hays travel grant (1978).

-Travel grant of the NATO (1978 et 1982).

-Training Award of the European Training Program in Brain and Behaviour Research (1978).

-Concours des bourses de voyages (1979).

-Prix des Amis de l'Université de Liège (1984).

-Scientific Career Prize of the Leon and Henry Frederic Foundation awarded by the Royal Academy of Sciences, Letters and Fine Arts, Belgium 1990 awarded by l'Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts (1990)

-Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists 'Union.

-Member of the International Committee of the International Symposium of Avian Endocrinology (1984-1992).

-Member of the Frank Beach Award committee (1995-1998).

-Chairman of the Frank Beach Award committee (1996-1998).

-Secretary of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (1998-1999)

-President-Elect (2001-2003), President (2003-2005) and Past-president (2005-2007) of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.

-Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (elected 2016).
-Recipient of the Donald Farner medal 2016 for distinguished work in Avian Neuroendocrinology

-Awardee of the Daniel S. Lehrman Lifetime achievement award of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology for 2017.

-Awardee together with Gregory F. Ball of the Elliot Coues Medal from The American Ornithological Society (2023).

Teaching activities

From 1980 to 1992, directed practical work in Professor E. Schoffeniels' General and Comparative Biochemistry laboratory. Over the years, this practical work was aimed at first-year medical students (General Biochemistry course), second-year medical students (General Biochemistry and General Physiology courses) and first- and second-year undergraduates in Zoological Sciences (Comparative Biochemistry course). Practical work for zoologists has always taken the form of laboratory research internships in small groups of three to ten students.

Substitute teacher for the "Neuroendocrine and behavioral aspects of organism-environment relations" course for the 1995-1996 academic year (2nd degree in zoology, ULG; 15 + 15 H). Has been teaching this course since then.

Then holder of the following courses:

PSYC1065-1: Neuroendocrine and behavioral aspects of organism-environment relationships, 15h Theory, 15h Practical

PSYC1065-2: Neuroendocrine and behavioral aspects of organism-environment relationships, 30h Theory

SBIM0470-1: Systems neurobiology, 20h Theory

U04233-1: Behavioral neuroendocrinology, 15h Theory, 15h Practical

SEXL0720-1: Participation in Professor Mormont's course "Psychological aspects of sexual disorders" (2 hours/year).

Directed 29 Master's theses

Stevens (1973-1974), P. Deviche (1974-1975), Y. Quertenmont and C. De Rycker (1975-1976), D. Hirschberg, C. Puts and J. Willems (1977-1978), M. Schumacher (1980-1981), Y. Delville (1982-1983), C. Alexandre and J.M. Libioulle (1984-1985), A. Foidart (1986-1987), Ph. Sante (1987-1988), L. Evrard (1988-1989), A. DeClerck (1989-1990), V. Fiasse and I. Dupiereux (1991-1992), M. Gérard (1994-1995), E. Donnet (1996-1997), H. Evrard and T. Charlier (1997-1998), C. Cornil, J.B. Braquenier and J.Y. Charpentier (1998-1999), S. Pierman (2002-2003), M. Taziaux (2003-2004), V. Christophe (2011-2012), M. Schmidt (2012-2013), G. Cornez (2014-2015).

Directed the completion of 3 DEA theses

S. Caro (2003; Greatest Distinction)

S. Pierman (2004; Plus Grande Distinction)

M. Taziaux (2005; Plus Grande Distinction)

Supervised the completion of 20 PhD theses

P. Deviche (1980; Plus Grande Distinction)

M. Schumacher (1985; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations of the jury)

A. Vockel (1990; Defense at the University of Bielefeld, FRG, Magna Cum Laude)

A. Foidart (1993, Plus Grande Distinction)

P. Absil (1997; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations of the jury).

O. Tlemçani (2002; Defense at the University of Rabat, Morocco)

H. Evrard (2004; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations from the jury)

D. Appeltants (2004; Plus Grande Distinction)

C. Cornil (2004; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations of the jury)

T. Charlier (2005; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations of the jury)

S. Caro (2006; Plus Grande Distinction and congratulations from the jury)

G. Boseret (2008) Grades abolished as of this date

M. Taziaux (2008)

S.Pierman (2008)

N. Niessen (2014)

A.Seredynski (2014)

C. De Bournonville (2015)

O. Shevchouk (2017)

M.P. de Bournonville (2018)

G. Cornez (2019).

Supervision of post-doctoral researchers

Pierre Deviche (PhD ULg)

Michael Schumacher (PhD ULg)

Agnès Foidart (Dr. Sci. Ulg)

Philippe Absil (Dr. Sci. Ulg)

Julie Bakker (Dr. Sci. Univ. Rotterdam, NL)

Lauren V. Riters (PhD Bowling Gregg State Univ, USA)

Claudio Carere (Dr. Sci. Univ. Groningen, NL 2003)

Matthieu Keller (PhD University of Tours, FR)

Cornelia Voigt (Dr. Sci. Univ. Munich, A 2005)

Sylvia Bardet (PhD University of Murcia, SP 2007)

Charlotte Cornil (PhD ULg, 2007-2009)

Karen Mouriec (Dr. Sci. University of Tours, FR 2008)

Jennifer Barker (Dr. Psy. Univ. British Columbia, CA 2009)

Molly Dickens (Dr. Sci. Tuft Univ., USA 2009)

Thierry Charlier (PhD ULg 2005)

Sita Ter Haar (PhD Univ. Leiden, NL 2013)

Brett Mommer (PhD Univ Illinois at Urbana Champaign, 2013)

Samar Ghorbanpoor (PhD Univ Teheran, Iran 2014)

Shelley Valle (PhD Univ. Arizona, USA 2018)

Ednei Barros dos Santos (PhD Univ. Lethbridge Canada 2018)

Ioana Chiver (University of California, Los Angeles)

Service to the national and international scientific community

-Reader and member of the jury for Master's theses:

For the Biochemistry section: M. Jacquet (1987), G. Cruysmans (1989), G. Van Vyncht (1990), V. Bodart (1990).

For the Biomedical Sciences section: A. Aganina (2006), E. Laudet (2006)

For the Psychology section: P. Fery (1984).

For the Zoology/Biology section: T. Baguette (1992), R. Hostaux (1992), G. Skoufas (1992), C. Chamberlan (1993), J. Aceto (2006), P. Grogna (2006).

+ for all students who completed their master thesis under my supervision.

for the Travel Grant Competition: Y. de Launoit (ULB; 1985), O. Simon (UCL; 1989), X. Maessen (1990).

-Reader and member of the PhD jury:

Guyomarc'h (Rennes, 1985), B. Boumedienne (ULG; 1989), H. Raud (Rennes; 1990), D. Blache (Bordeaux; 1991), G. Ravikuhmar (Varanasi, India; 1992), F. Launay (Rennes, 1993), H. Amri (Paris, 1994), J. Almadhidi (Caen, 1995), J. Levallet (Paris VI, 1997), D. Desprez (Liège, 1998), J.L. Do Rego (Rouen, 2000), M. Vierin (Liège/Tours 2002), A. Menuet (Rennes 2003), A.S. Parent (Liège, 2004).

+ all students who completed their PhD thesis in the laboratory.

Researchers trained in my laboratory who hold positions in the academic world