Université de Lorraine
Laboratoire Sols et Environnement
2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye
BP 20163
F-54505 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy cedex
My research at the Soil and Environment Laboratory focuses on two areas: (i) understanding the dynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (bioavailability and biodegradability) and trace metals (e.g. phytodisponibility and phytoaccumulation), and (ii) investigating how plants respond to exposure to PAHs and metallic contaminants (e.g. cadmium and nickel) at the soil/root interface. Ultimately, my research aims to develop agronomic techniques for soils impacted by human activities. I study field crops such as maize, metal hyperaccumulator plants such as Noccaea caerulescens and Odontarrhena chalcidica, and the bacteria associated with these plants, including rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria. In order to address these issues, I am collaborating with colleagues at the LSE to develop metabolomic approaches in plants and rhizodeposits to gain insight into the physiological responses of plants and to identify molecules of interest that could be involved in contaminant dynamics.
- Since September 2008: Lecturer– Lorraine University-ENSAIA
- 2007/08: Postdoctoral project Laboratoire des Interactions Microorganismes Minéraux Matières Organiques dans les Sols (LIMOS, UMR 7137CNRS/Nancy I)
- 2006/2007: Assistant lecturer Nancy I University (département of geoscience)
- 2005/2006: Assistant lecturer Metz University (departement of biology and environmental science)
- 2005: Postdoctoral project Laboratoire des Interactions Microorganismes Minéraux Matières Organiques dans les Sols (LIMOS, UMR 7137CNRS/Nancy I)
- 2001/04: PhD Nancy I University,
- 2001: Master of Soil Science, Nancy I University
Training of engineers at the National School of Agronomy and Food Industries (ENSAIA):
- Soil science, topics covered include soil functioning, sustainable soil management, soil diversity, farm analysis and the dynamics of organic contaminants in agrosystems.
Specialisations (Environmental Engineering Science and Crop Protection). Soil microbiology, soil quality diagnosis, contaminated soil treatment and dynamics of organic pollutants in soils.
I have been Head of the Soil Science Teaching Department at ENSAIA since January 2011.
Since September 2022, I have been a member of the ENSAIA management committee and ENSAIA sustainable development advisor.
Since May 2019, I have been a member of the National University Council, Section 68 'Biology of Organisms' (full member of the Lecturers' body).
Stephan P, Leglize P, Garcia L, Charrois L, Hartmeyer P, Fauvet A, Piutti S, 2025, Effects of biochar from algae (Sargassum spp.) on the fertility of two chlordecone contaminated West Indies soil. PLoS One 20(12): e0338385. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338385.
Ancousture J, Leglize P, Assoa Y.A., Benizri E, 2025, What is the optimal configuration for integrating hyperaccumulating plants with photovoltaic systems to enhance plant development and energy production?, Applied Energy, 397, 126391. DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.126391.
Moyne C, Leglize P, Sterckeman, 2024, Using non-equilibrium thermodynamics to model cadmium accumulation by maize. Current Plant Biology. 39, 100369, doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2024.100369.
Durand A, Jafeu L, Leglize P, Benizri E, 2024, Assisting nickel agronoming using sustainable amendments. Ecological Research, 563-587, DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12476.
Durand A, Goux X, Lopez S, Leglize P, Benizri E, 2023, Soil nickel contamination levels entail changes in the bacterial communities associated to the rhizosphere and endosphere of Odontarrhena chalcidica. Plant and Soil, 493 (1-2), 17,43. https://doi-org.bases-doc.univ-lorraine.fr/10.1007/s11104-023-06215-z.&…;
Charzyński P, Urbańska M, Capra GF, Ganga A, Holmes P, Szulczewski M, Baatar UO, Boularbah A, Bresilla B, Cacovean H, Datta A, Gadsby H, Gargouri K, Gebregeorgis EG, Giani L, Grover S, Juliev M, Kasparinskis R, Kawahigashi M, Kellermann LA, Kim KHJ, Krótka L, Kukuļs I, Kunchulia I, Laaouidi Y, Leglize P, Mouketou-Tarazewicz D, Mugagga F, Novák TJ, Ortiz J, Osuna-Vallejo V, Penížek V, Plamen T, Prokofeva T, Pulido M, Recha CW, Reintam E, Repe B, Şahin S, Salehi MH, Tankari Dan Badjo A, Teperics K, Törmänen T, Tsyrybka V, Vaisvalavičius R, Vezzani V, 2022, A global perspective on soil science education at third educational level; knowledge, practice, skills and challenges, Geoderma, 425, doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116053.
Durand A, Leglize P, Lopez S, Sterckeman T, Benizri E, 2022, Noccaea caerulescens seed endosphere: a habitat for an endophytic bacterial community preserved through generations and protected from soil influence, Plant and Soil, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05226-y
Durand A, Leglize P and Benizri E, 2021, Are endophytes essential partners for plants and what are the prospects for metal phytoremediation? Plant and Soil 460 (1-2), 1-30. Doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04820-w
Durand A, Sterckeman T, Gonnelli C, Coppi A, Leglize P, Benizri E, 2020, A core seed endophytic bacterial communityin the hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens across 14 sites in France, Plant and Soil, 459 (1-2), 203-216. doi.org/10.1007/s11104-020-04743-6.
Lapie C, Sterckeman T, Paris C, Leglize P, 2020, Impact of phenanthrene on primary metabolite profiling in root exudates and maize mucilage, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27 (3), 3124-3142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07298-x
Lapie, C., Leglize, P., Paris, C., Buisson, T., Sterckeman, T., 2019. Profiling of main metabolites in root exudates and mucilage collected from maize submitted to cadmium stress. Environ. Sci. Pollut. R. 26(17),17520-17534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05168-0.