PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Learning and memory; memory consolidation and retrieval; semantic memory; cognitive aging; neural plasticity; decision making; neuroscience education.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Neuroscience - Biology, 2016-2019, University of Bordeaux, France. “Anatomo-functional connectivity of cortical frontal regions in the formation and consolidation of an associative olfactive memory in rodents,” under the supervision of Olivier Nicole, PhD, research team Dynamics of neuronal and vascular networks underlying memory processing led by Bruno Bontempi. – Awarded Summa cum laude
M.A. (second year) in Biology - Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015-2016, University of Bordeaux. – Awarded Cum laude
M.A. (first year) in Biology - Animal and Human Behavior, 2014-2015 – University of Rennes, France.
B.A. in Psychology - Biopsychology, 2011-2014, University of Rennes, France. – Awarded Cum laude
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, Brigham Young University–Hawaii (2022-Present)
General Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Sensation & Perception
Behavioral Neuroscience
Senior Seminar – Psychology
Anatomy
Intro. To Biology
Intro. To Human Biology
Current Topics in Biology – Biological bases of memory processes
Critical Thinking
Scientific Inquiry
Visiting Faculty, Brigham Young University - Idaho (2021-2022)
Cognitive Psychology
General Psychology
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Bordeaux (2018-2019)
Physiology, laboratory classes
RESEARCH AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY
My research examines the mechanisms of memory formation, consolidation, retrieval, semantic memory organization, cognitive aging, and the educational impact of generative AI on learning and durable memory.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Duffau, C.*, Daems, A.*, Bitter, M., Pack, A., Ingley, S., and Sinnett, S. AI-assisted writing may create an illusion of learning by dissociating performance from durable memory, [Manuscript under review].
Duffau, C., Bontempi, B., and Nicole, O. (2026), The multifaceted involvement of subregions of the rat prefrontal cortex in the formation of enduring associative olfactory memory, Cerebral Cortex 36(6).
Duffau, C., & Charles, C. (2025), Religious Experience and Memory Retrieval: A Memory Studies Reading of Joseph Smith’s “First Vision” Accounts, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 93(1):129-143.
Duffau, C.*, Hadzibegovic, S.*, Andelkovic, V., Bontempi, B., & Nicole, O. (2025), Normal and slow learners: A new discriminative method based on the speed of spatial learning in aged mice, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 17:1567929.
Rolland B., Naassila M., Duffau C., Houchi H., Gierski F., and André J. (2017), Binge Eating, But Not Other Disordered Eating Symptoms, Is a Significant Contributor of Binge Drinking Severity: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study among French Students, Frontiers in Psychology, 8:1878.
* These authors equally contributed to this work.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Duffau, C.*, Daems, A.*, August 2026, “AI-assisted writing may create an illusion of learning by dissociating performance from durable memory”, Cognitive Computational Neuroscience, New-York, USA.
Wellman E, Duffau C, and Scanlan S, Poster, August 2024, “What Affects our Semantic Networks?” International Cross-Cultural Psychology Conference, Bali, Indonesia. – Best Poster Award
Duffau C, Bontempi B, and Nicole O, Poster and Presentation, October 2019, “Mapping Cortical Brain Activity Associated with The Processing of Recent and Remote Associative Olfactory Memories” Week of Science, Tsukuba University, Japan.
Duffau C, Hadzibegovic S, Andelkovic V, Lagroye I, Bontempi B, and Nicole O, Poster, April 2018 “A New Method for Discriminating Normal Versus Slow Learners in A Large Population of Aged Mice.” Annual Doctoral Conference, Bordeaux, France.
Duffau C, Grenier F, Presentation, August 2016, “Effects of Local Neuronal Activation on Delta Oscillations During Sleep.” International Summer Research Program, Tsukuba University, Japan.
Research Methods and Technical Skills
Human cognitive research
• Experimental learning and memory paradigms
• Semantic memory analysis
• Q methodology
Behavioral Neuroscience
• Rodent model
• Associative learning and memory paradigms
• Fear conditioning
• Social transmission of food preference
• DREADD
Surgical Techniques
• Stereotaxic surgery on rats and mice
• Intracerebral injections
Histological and Molecular Methods
• Brain sectioning (cryostat, microtome, or vibratome)
• Perfusion
• Tissue fixation
• Immunohistochemistry (c-Fos, NeuN, Arc)
• Western blot
• Tissue processing and microscopy
Research Design and Data Analysis
• Excel
• GraphPad Prism
• ImageJ
STUDENT MENTORED RESEARCH
Daems, A. (2026 Mai). Generative AI & The Illusion of Learning. [Oral presentation–Best presentation award]. Hawaii Student Research Dinner, Hawaii Pacific University, USA.
Daems, A. (2026 April). Generative AI & The Illusion of Learning. [Oral presentation–Best presentation award]. Undergraduate Research Conference, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, USA.
Conag, P. (2025, April). Effects of sleep on the decision-making process [Oral presentation]. Hawaii Student Research Dinner, Hawaii Pacific University, USA.
Conag, P. (2025, April). Effects of sleep on decision-making process [Poster presentation – Honorable mention award]. Undergraduate Research Conference, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, USA.
Wellman, E. (2024, April). What affects our semantic networks? [Oral presentation–Best presentation award]. Undergraduate Research Conference, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, USA.
Wellman, E. (2023, November). Effect of age, gender, and culture on semantic cognitive network [Oral presentation]. Undergraduate Psychology Conference, University of Hawaii, USA.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE
Membership
Society for Neuroscience (2022- present)
Cognitive Neuroscience Society (2025- present)
Service
Editor, Trends in Psychology (2025-2026)
Reviewer, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (1 article)
UNIVERSITY SERVICE
Search Committee Member – Math (2022-2023), Health and Human Science (2023-2024)
Psychology Scholarship (Chair, 2023- present)
Holokai Foundations Course Visiting Lecturer (2023- 2025)
BYUH Undergrad Research Conference Judge (2024- present)
BYUH Undergrad Research Conference Mentor (Winter 24, Winter 25, Winter 26)
Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship Scholarship Judge (Fall 23, Winter 24, Fall 24)
SCB Saltwater Fish Tank Manager (2022- present)
Dive Club Advisor (2022- 2025)
Neuroscience Club Advisor (2023- 2024)
CV LAST REVISED 7/21/2026