# Steven Ascoët Postdoctoral Fellow Mandë Holford Lab ![A person looking at the camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum6431/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2025-07/Steven%20Ascoe%CC%88t.jpeg?itok=VYRXTdFL) location\_on Biological Laboratories email Steven obtained a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology before taking a Master's degree in Chemistry-Biology specializing in active ingredients of natural origin from the University of Nantes (France). Fascinated by the study of venoms, he focused his internships in this field before going on to do a PhD on the study of ant venoms. He obtained his doctorate in 2023 from University of Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (France). During his Ph.D, he worked in Biochemistry and Toxicology of Bioactive Substances lab of the National Institute of Champollion University (France) focusing on the *in vitro* study of peptides from ant venoms to discover new biological activities using Drosophila cells as a model. Steven joined the Holford lab at the end of 2024 as postdoctoral Research Associate. The aim of his research in the laboratory is to characterize and discover new peptides from the marine mollusk venoms.