Team:ULaval/Team
Our Team
As part of the international Genetically Engineered Machine competition, a student team was assembled at Laval University to create a biological system that meets a major current need: adrenaline synthesis at a lower cost, with milder experimental conditions and fewer environmental impacts. Our team is multidisciplinary, motivated and creative. We wish to make history by realizing the biosynthesis of adrenaline for the first time.
Students
François Rouleau
M.Sc. Biochemistry
Age : 21
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : Hates coffee, still drinks it.
Scientific interest : Molecular cell factories and inter-species hybrids.
Motivation to join iGEM : I’ve always been amazed at what synthetic biology could allow us to do. Wanted to do the extra mile to bring synth. bio. in my University, decided that starting an iGEM team to regroup all the people with similar interests to work toward a common goal was the best way to do so. I was blown away by the support and interest the team got for a first year!
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : Hates coffee, still drinks it.
Scientific interest : Molecular cell factories and inter-species hybrids.
Motivation to join iGEM : I’ve always been amazed at what synthetic biology could allow us to do. Wanted to do the extra mile to bring synth. bio. in my University, decided that starting an iGEM team to regroup all the people with similar interests to work toward a common goal was the best way to do so. I was blown away by the support and interest the team got for a first year!
Karelle Rheault
M.Sc. Forestry
Age : 22
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : My favorite microbe is the bacteria Zoogloea because it as an impressive way to grow : it makes a biofilm that looks like hands, you should google it!
Scientific interest : I’m interested in environment science and mostly the soil microbiome.
Motivation to join iGEM : I was interested in joining the team because I wanted to gain the experience to work in a big team on a motivating project with my pairs.
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : My favorite microbe is the bacteria Zoogloea because it as an impressive way to grow : it makes a biofilm that looks like hands, you should google it!
Scientific interest : I’m interested in environment science and mostly the soil microbiome.
Motivation to join iGEM : I was interested in joining the team because I wanted to gain the experience to work in a big team on a motivating project with my pairs.
Catherine Marois
M.Sc. Microbiology
Age : 22
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I drank a glass of whiskey with ice from the Arctic Ocean.
Scientific interest : Arctic environments, ecology, virology and limnology.
Motivation to join iGEM : This would have been impossible for me to miss such a great project that showcases the talents of the next generation of scientists. Synthetic biology is a very beautiful and growing field and I wanted to learn more, besides acquiring new skills in research. Not to mention the exchange of knowledge with international students during the Giant Jamboree.
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I drank a glass of whiskey with ice from the Arctic Ocean.
Scientific interest : Arctic environments, ecology, virology and limnology.
Motivation to join iGEM : This would have been impossible for me to miss such a great project that showcases the talents of the next generation of scientists. Synthetic biology is a very beautiful and growing field and I wanted to learn more, besides acquiring new skills in research. Not to mention the exchange of knowledge with international students during the Giant Jamboree.
Catherine Villeneuve
B.Eng. Software Engineering
Age : 21
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I can sing opera.
Scientific interest : Computational biology and anything related to data analysis.
Motivation to join iGEM : I was curious about contributing to an interdisciplinary project and I wanted to learn more about synthetic biology.
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I can sing opera.
Scientific interest : Computational biology and anything related to data analysis.
Motivation to join iGEM : I was curious about contributing to an interdisciplinary project and I wanted to learn more about synthetic biology.
Florian Echelard
B.Sc. Biochemistry
Age : 20
Origin : France
Fun fact : Bread is not his only way to comsume yeast.
Scientific interest : Medical sciences (anatomy, biochemistry...).
Motivation to join iGEM : Seemed like a lot of fun. Guess what? It is.
Origin : France
Fun fact : Bread is not his only way to comsume yeast.
Scientific interest : Medical sciences (anatomy, biochemistry...).
Motivation to join iGEM : Seemed like a lot of fun. Guess what? It is.
Joan Defrêne
Ph.D. Microbiology-Immunology
Age : 29
Origin : France
Fun fact : Belgian origins.
Scientific interest : Immunology, cellular biology and biosynthetic.
Motivation to join iGEM : I like that iGEM projects pave the way to ambitious companies creation. I have a huge interest in team work, knowledge sharing.
Origin : France
Fun fact : Belgian origins.
Scientific interest : Immunology, cellular biology and biosynthetic.
Motivation to join iGEM : I like that iGEM projects pave the way to ambitious companies creation. I have a huge interest in team work, knowledge sharing.
Marianne Côté
B.Sc. Bioinformatics
Age : 23
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : My programming skills are at their best in the middle of the night.
Scientific interest : Computational biology and environmental modelling.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to collaborate on a multidisciplinary project and to use my new set of skills in programming.
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : My programming skills are at their best in the middle of the night.
Scientific interest : Computational biology and environmental modelling.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to collaborate on a multidisciplinary project and to use my new set of skills in programming.
Philippe Després
M.Sc. Biochemistry
Age : 22
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I did not write my own description.
Scientific interest : CRISPR and barcoding experiments.
Origin : Quebec City, Canada
Fun fact : I did not write my own description.
Scientific interest : CRISPR and barcoding experiments.
Faïna Bergeron-Poliakova
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Age : 23
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I have exactly 56 friends on Facebook.
Scientific interest : Human health, microbiology and molecular biology.
Motivation to join iGEM : The opportunity to realise our own project with an incredible team!
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I have exactly 56 friends on Facebook.
Scientific interest : Human health, microbiology and molecular biology.
Motivation to join iGEM : The opportunity to realise our own project with an incredible team!
Gabriel Byatt
M.Sc. Microbiology
Age : 24
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I really like to make fish’s gut glow.
Scientific interest : The impact of microbiota on human health.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to learn more about genetics in microorganisms and synthetic biology.
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I really like to make fish’s gut glow.
Scientific interest : The impact of microbiota on human health.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to learn more about genetics in microorganisms and synthetic biology.
Pascale Lemieux
B.Sc. Biochemistry
Age : 19
Origin : Sorel-Tracy, Canada
Fun fact : I am a big fan of hockey.
Scientific interest : Everything about DNA.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to join a group that have the same center of interest as me.
Origin : Sorel-Tracy, Canada
Fun fact : I am a big fan of hockey.
Scientific interest : Everything about DNA.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to join a group that have the same center of interest as me.
Jérôme Chapuis
Ph.D. Forestry
Age : 25
Origin : France
Fun fact : Favorite organism: Ophiocordyceps spp.
Scientific interest : Genetics and genomics on microorganism, especially fungi.
Motivation to join iGEM : Because I think that it is a good way to learn a lot of things about how to manage a research project and I am really interested about meeting and exchanging international students at the Jamboree. Moreover, I wanted to start the team because I think that synthetic biology and the iGEM competition are important for the future!
Origin : France
Fun fact : Favorite organism: Ophiocordyceps spp.
Scientific interest : Genetics and genomics on microorganism, especially fungi.
Motivation to join iGEM : Because I think that it is a good way to learn a lot of things about how to manage a research project and I am really interested about meeting and exchanging international students at the Jamboree. Moreover, I wanted to start the team because I think that synthetic biology and the iGEM competition are important for the future!
Lucas Germain
B.Sc. Bioinformatics
Age : 20
Origin : Nîmes, France
Fun fact : I've litteraly taken days trying to figure out what to write here.
Scientific interest : Computer Science.
Motivation to join iGEM : Discover the research world.
Origin : Nîmes, France
Fun fact : I've litteraly taken days trying to figure out what to write here.
Scientific interest : Computer Science.
Motivation to join iGEM : Discover the research world.
Elodie Gillard
B.Sc. Biomedical Sciences
Age : 25
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I still watch Gossip Girl.
Scientific interest : Tissue engineering, surgery, neurosciences, molecular genetics and many more.
Motivation to join iGEM : I loved the challenge and the fact that as a student team we are not restricted in our thinking process.
Origin : Quebec city, Canada
Fun fact : I still watch Gossip Girl.
Scientific interest : Tissue engineering, surgery, neurosciences, molecular genetics and many more.
Motivation to join iGEM : I loved the challenge and the fact that as a student team we are not restricted in our thinking process.
Nathan Dumont-Leblond
M.Sc. Microbiology
Age : 22
Origin : Rivière-Du-Loup, Canada
Fun fact : Was once prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection.
Scientific interest : Aerobiology, microbiota study and cancer research.
Motivation to join iGEM : This project is a wonderful opportunity to introduce myself to synthetic biology and to be part of a multidisciplinary research initiative.
Origin : Rivière-Du-Loup, Canada
Fun fact : Was once prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection.
Scientific interest : Aerobiology, microbiota study and cancer research.
Motivation to join iGEM : This project is a wonderful opportunity to introduce myself to synthetic biology and to be part of a multidisciplinary research initiative.
Vincent Boily
M.Sc. Biophotonics
Age : 25
Origin : Jonquière, Canada
Fun fact : The previous tenant of my apartment is named Theophraste.
Scientific interest : Molecular probes, advanced microscopy and neurobiology and microbiota.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to see how far could a group of undergrad students go in such a project. I also have great interest in ethics, which I deemed useful for the team.
Origin : Jonquière, Canada
Fun fact : The previous tenant of my apartment is named Theophraste.
Scientific interest : Molecular probes, advanced microscopy and neurobiology and microbiota.
Motivation to join iGEM : I wanted to see how far could a group of undergrad students go in such a project. I also have great interest in ethics, which I deemed useful for the team.
Advisors
Steve Charette
Principal Investigator
My interests in science concern the interactions between bacteria and protists as well as bacterial virulence. I am fascinated by synthetic biology and all the potential for development that this science promises us. I still play with Lego bricks that have a lot of parallels with synthetic biology! Incidentally, I am also the Director of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics! As a result, I help our iGEM team for logistical and financial aspects.
Hélène Deveau
Helene Deveau received her PhD degree in Microbiology from Université Laval in 2006. During her post-doctoral study, she investigate the function of strange repeat in DNA sequence: the CRISPRs. Since 2010, she is lecturer at the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics. This year, she participated to the creation of the first iGEM team for the Université Laval.
Michel Guertin
Michel was always interested in cellular evolution and protein structure, function and engineering. After receiving his PhD, he became a professor at Université Laval. In recent years, he has taken interest in synthetic biology, more precisely on the economic aspects of synth. bio. and the impacts that it has on society. When the iGEM project was presented, he was eager to participate and oversee the student team.