I trained in Medical Microbiology (MSc) at the Université de Montréal and in Microbiology and Bacterial Genetics (PhD) at Université Laval. A Medical Research Council of Canada studentship gave me an opportunity to be a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University studying bacterial transposons and antibiotic resistance. An award from the American Society of Microbiology got me at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to learn advanced bacterial genetics.
My major research interests are based upon a concept in integrative biology as a new integrative approach in the study of bacterial genome evolution in vivo and transcriptomics of lung host-pathogen interactions modulated by inflammation and antibiotic resistance. My other interests include ecogenomics and the sequencing of the spruce budworm and the genomes of other insects having an impact in forestry, in the pharmaceutical industry and in functional genomics of antimicrobial peptides from various life-forms.
Role in Syst-OMICS
As the Project Co-Leader, I’m assisting Dr Goodridge in our responsibilities i.e. make sure the project will achieve its objectives and deliverables in compliance with the end-users and co-funders’ requirements. As a member of the Steering committee, I will follow the scientific progress of the project and make sure inter-activity synergy and coordination is happening. Finally, as a member of the Executive committee, I will oversee the general progress of the project and will also make decisions on issues whom may happened.
I am in charge of Activity 1 which aims to define a panel of Salmonella strains, closely related bacteria, and genome markers for rapid, specific and sensitive detection, typing, and control of this foodborne pathogen. My lab is sequencing Salmonella strains. Activity 1 researchers are also determining the virulence of various strains.
I am also involved in Activity 3, mainly to the use of AmpliSeq to improve diagnostic assays.