27 Jun Ahmad Sharanek appointed INSERM Research Associate
Ahmad Sharanek appointed Chargé de Recherche INSERM: a journey of perseverance and continuous improvement
BRIC is pleased to congratulate Ahmad Sharanek (also spelled Charanek), researcher in Team 1, on his recent appointment as a “Chargé de Recherche Classe Normale” (CRCN) at Inserm. A well-deserved recognition, following one of the most selective national competitions, the result of many years of hard work, reflection, and of course, tenacity.
An international journey, from fundamental biology to oncology
Originally from Lebanon, Ahmad Sharanek first studied biology before enrolling in a Master’s program in his home country. Fascinated by research, he moved to Rennes in 2011 to complete a PhD on drug-induced liver toxicity. In 2018, he continued his international path with a postdoctoral position in Montreal, where he specialized in tumor cell metabolism, particularly in glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer
In 2022, he joined Team 1 at BRIC — led by Lucie Brisson and Thomas Mathivet — where he is developing two research axes centered on metabolism: one in brain tumors and the other in liver diseases.
Autonomous research supported by major funding
Supported successively by the Fondation de France, the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and then the ANR JCJC program, Ahmad Sharanek has successfully secured prestigious funding at every stage of his career—covering both his salary and his research needs (purchase of reagents, equipment, recruitment of students, etc.).
This funding has enabled him to independently develop innovative research projects and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with chemists, bioinformaticians, and clinicians.
A highly selective national competition, where every word matters
Succeeding in the Inserm CRCN competition is no small feat. Ahmad Sharanek explains: “The path is long and the positions are few, but every application helped refine my project. Even the rejections were constructive.” He applied three consecutive years, progressing each time, until finally earning a double ranking (in two different thematic sections) with a 4th place position this year.
The young researcher credits this success not only to persistence, but also to the critical support of colleagues at BRIC who helped him revise and strengthen his scientific dossier.
Becoming tenured: recognition, responsibility, and new perspectives
“Being appointed Chargé de Recherche is recognition of my journey, my scientific autonomy and the relevance of my projects to Inserm’s priorities. It’s also a new beginning, as this status provides essential stability to build a long-term scientific trajectory.”
“This position allows me to plan my research over 5 to 10 years without the constant anxiety of contract renewals. It also makes it easier to secure funding by enhancing the credibility of my projects and allows me to recruit new people to work with. Finally, it’s a strong signal of trust—a real encouragement to continue and expand my work.” — Ahmad adds.
To teach, to mentor, and to keep innovating?
Already deeply engaged in supervising Master’s and PhD students, Ahmad is open to contributing to teaching, but remains primarily committed to his research mission. His ambition is to deepen the lines of investigation he has launched and to continue advancing translational science that can ultimately benefit patients.
Congratulations again, Ahmad!
