About
My current research
I am currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University, where I am engaged in research on the natural attenuation of Arctic microbial communities and the development of optimal bioremediation strategies for the remediation of potential oil spills in Arctic beaches. Our objective is to enhance the efficacy of oil spill response tools and techniques and to inform decisions that minimize the environmental impacts of oil spills.
I am engaged in research projects as part of the Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI), which was previously led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) until 2022, and is now led by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
In my research, I mainly utilize molecular biology techniques and high-throughput sequencing technologies, including multi- omics methodologies such as functional and environmental genomics, transcriptomics, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to address pressing questions concerning the dynamics, structure, and sustainability of microbial ecosystems in the presence of multiple stressors.
My background
I hold a PhD in Oceanography from Laval University in Québec, on the adaptive responses of Arctic microbial phytoplankton communities in the North Water and how environmental factors impact these communities. Examining the physiological responses of marine microbial phytoplankton species to oceanic change.
During my Ph.D., I have contributed to several projects. including:
- Arc3BIO: Marine biodiversity, biological productivity and biogeochemistry in the changing Canadian Arctic (ArcticNet);
- HiBIO: Hidden biodiversity and vulnerability of hard-bottom environments in the Canadian Arctic (ArcticNet);
- NTRAIN: Nutrient fluxes and living marine resources in the Inuit Nunangat (ArcticNet);
- Theme 3.1 Sentinel microbiomes for Arctic ecosystem health (Sentinel North).
I completed my Master's degree in the development of genetic tools for laboratory culture screening for transformability and manipulation of dinoflagellates and marine parasites infecting oysters in the Gulf of Maine, USA. My work at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Maine, USA, contributed to the advancement of genetic manipulation and genetically engineering microalgae for the purpose of ameliorating environmental problems.I undertook a fourth-year honours program in microbiology at the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley, Scotland, UK, where I studied methods for molecular identification and resistance of fungal species.
Social and science communication
I am currently the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Editor for the journal Arctic Science (Canadian Science Publishing). I am also currently a board member of APECS Canada (2024-2025) and was project leader of APECS Polar Times Podcast (2024-2025).
Education
Nov. 2021 - Present
Postdoctoral researcher, McGill University,
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Montréal, Canada
Supervisor: Pr. Lyle G. Whyte
Bioremediation, soil and marine polar microbial ecology and omics analyses
Sep. 2016 - Oct. 2021
PhD, Laval University,
Department of Biology, Québec, Canada
Supervisor: Pr. Connie Lovejoy
Polar marine microbial ecology and omics analyses
Jan. - Jun. 2016
MSc Internship, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences,
Boothbay, ME, USA
Supervisor: Dr. José A. Fernández-Robledo
Marine parasites and genomic tools
Sep. 2014 - Jun. 2016
MSc, Toulon University,
Department of Biology, Toulon, France
Supervisor: Pr. Maëlle Molmeret
Marine biodiversity and biomolecules
Sept. 2013 - Jun. 2014
BSc 4th Honours Year, University of the West of Scotland,
Department of Biology, Paisley, Scotland
Supervisor: Pr. Robert Risk
Applied Bioscience in microbiology
Sep. 2011 – Jul. 2013
BSc, Aix-Marseille University,
Faculty of Sciences, Luminy, Marseille, France
Cellular Biology
Contact
McGill University
21,111 Lakeshore,
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC,
H9X 3V9, Canada