Primary PI
Couture, Manon
Role: Primary PI
Team
Here is the iGEM ULaval team! Our team was created in 2018 at Université Laval in Québec City, Canada, and we have participated in each edition of the competition since then. This year, we developed the Totally [Fe]rocious Project.
Our team is made up of undergraduate and graduate students from various fields, including microbiology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biology, biomedical sciences, and medicine. We received guidance from two instructors and a mentor who supported us throughout our project.
Instructors
Ouellet, Benjamin
Description : PhD Candidate
Fun Fact : He's aiming for a decade of participation in iGEM. Let's cheer him up! (Currently on his 6th)
Gentil, Sabrina
Description : PhD Candidate
Student Leaders
Dussault, Christophe
Description : Hello! I’m a first-year Master’s student in Biochemistry. This is only my second year on the iGEM team, and I have decided to take on the role of team lead alongside Joseph. Well, who’d have thought! I’m passionate about structural biology, proteins and viruses, particularly their fusion proteins.
Fun Fact : I need to pay attention, I have a subscription for ankle sprains. One day, I’ll be able to stop it!
Descarreaux, Joseph
Description : Greetings! I’m a third-year undergraduate student in bioinformatics at Université Laval, currently making my second contribution to the iGEM ULaval team. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to co-lead the team with Christophe Dussault, a role that has made for a busy but incredibly rewarding experience full of learning opportunities. My main interests lie in structural biology and the biomodelling of protein structures.
Fun Fact : I already hold a bachelor’s degree in finance, so I’ve definitely had my fill of undergraduate studies!
Students
Undergraduate and graduate students
Ouellet, Alison
Description : Hi! I’m Alison Ouellet, a second-year Bioinformatics and third-year Biology student at Université Laval. I joined the iGEM team for the first time this year, where I’ve not only learned advanced research and lab techniques but also met amazing, inspirational people. I’m passionate about science and new discoveries, especially at the intersection of computational genomics and molecular biology.
Fun Fact : I’ve been unicycling since I was 10 years old!
Croteau, Athéna
Description : Hi! Although I’m a med student, I’ve always been passionate about fundamental science, particularly in the areas of neuroscience, genetic engineering and regenerative medicine. This is why I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this iGEM team for the second year in a row!
Fun Fact : This year, I shaved my head to raise money for children with cancer. I also donated my hair to be made into wigs, as a way to show support for kids going through chemotherapy.
Fraser-Laflamme, Cyril
Description : Greetings, I’m Cyril, a third year student in Biochemistry. This is my first year in iGEM and I am also a Wet-Lab student leader. I am really passionate about sciences but particularly about molecular biology and structural biology.
Fun Fact : My project during the pandemic was to build my family tree. It turns out I have Scottish roots. So I bought a piece of land in Scotland... One square foot.
Tremblay, David
Description : Hi, I’m David Tremblay, a third-year Microbiology student. This is my first year with the iGEM Ulaval team. I’ve always been passionate about science, genetics, and infectious diseases. I feel very fortunate to be part of iGEM Ulaval this year, and I’m excited to see what’s next.
Fun Fact : I’m from a seaside town, but I’m allergic to fish and seafood. Kind of ironic.
Fortin-Hurtubise, Élodie
Description : Hi! I’m Élodie, a first year Microbiology Master's student. This is my first year in the iGEM team and I am one of the communications co-leaders with Justine. I’m passionate about biology, genetics and viruses, especially phages.
Fun Fact : I sprayed dried salmonella phages all summer and inhaled so much phage powder that I must be protected from salmonella infection forever.
Bégin, Félix
Description : Hi! I’m Félix, a third year microbiology student. This is the first year where I am a part of the iGEM ULaval team and I love it! Genetics, neuroscience and molecular biology are what made me love science, and why I still love it everyday. I am excited to see in full extent what a team of young passionate scientists can accomplish when working together with a shared goal.
Fun Fact : I love plants but I can’t keep them alive. The last time I bought one, I almost killed it on the very same day
Germain, Galadriel
Description : Hey! I’m a first year biomedical baby who loves microbiology, making new friends and cracking bad jokes. I first heard about iGEM back in high school, and I was so proud to learn my university has a team of their own! I love the lab, and all the bad, the gross and the fabulous surprises that come with it!
Fun Fact : My dad is the one who told me about iGEM back then, and now he’s been frenetically asking me to grab him some merch.
Lefrançois, Justine
Description : Hi! I’m a first-year Master's student in microbiology, and it’s my first year on the iGEM team. I’m one of the communications co-leaders, and I love contributing to other aspects of the project as well. I’m obviously passionate about science, especially food microbiology, bacterial genetics, and phages!
Fun Fact : I'm really afraid of heights, and the team photos were taken on the 3rd floor on a transparent walkway… so someone had to hold my hand during the photo shoot.
Vallières, Laurence
Description : Hi! I’m Laurence, a first-year Microbiology student. This is my first year with the iGEM ULaval team, and I’m thrilled to contribute to such a creative and collaborative project. I love all things science, especially neuroscience, genetics, and phages.
Fun Fact : I love traveling, but my relationship with planes is… turbulent.
Thériault, Olivier
Description : Hi! I’m Olivier, a third year Microbiology student. This is my first year in the iGEM team and I am lucky to be one of our team’s co-wet-lab leaders. I’m passionate about immunology, oncology and infectious disease and I hate genetics which is kind of ironic.
Fun Fact : I spent most of my time this summer playing with strangers’ mucus.
Bernal Campos, Oscar Andrés
Description : Yoo, This is my second year being a member of our iGEM team, despite coming out of the first year exhausted (guess I liked it more than I thought I did!). During this iGEM cycle, I finished my third year in microbiology. I obviously prefer microbiology, but I do have a passion for all things science, even the weird parts of physics that I don’t really understand.
Fun Fact : Even though I recently got my Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, I’m already thinking about going back for another degree in biotechnology.
Lin, Phénix
Description : Hello! My name’s Phénix Lin and I’m starting my second year in biochemistry. First time joining iGEM, and it has been a very intriguing experience full of opportunities to learn, to explore and to deepen relationships with people I may have not met without iGEM. I honestly still don’t know what I want to do in the future, but currently I’m interested in food microbiology.
Fun Fact : I’ve been a vegetarian since my birth, so yep, never have I ever tasted meat/fish/etc.
Guillemette, Alyson
Description : Hi! I’m a first year Bachelor’s student in microbiology. I’m also a medical technologist. It’s the first time I joined the iGEM team, and it’s been a great experience since then. I’m very interested in science, particularly in medical research and health care projects.
Fun Fact : I have a cat, but I’m allergic to it.