- Academic Life
- Academic Life
The INRS community turned out to applaud the new graduates.
From left to right: François Légaré, Marie-Soleil Cloutier, Alexandre Cloutier, Morris Goodman, Pauline Marois, Paul Corkum, Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Isabelle Delisle, Louise Hénault-Éthier, David Chatenet
Hundreds of people gathered in Montreal this year to celebrate the 166 graduates of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique’s (INRS) 2023–2024 cohort.
« I’m delighted to award these diplomas to a new cohort of scientists who will put research to work for our society. Congratulations to you all: your knowledge, acquired through curiosity and perseverance, will provide the solutions people need to meet tomorrow’s challenges. »
Luc-Alain Giraldeau, Chief Executive Officer of INRS
Three honorary doctorates were also awarded at the ceremony to prominent Canadians: professor and physicist Paul Corkum, business leader and philanthropist Morris Goodman, and politician and activist Pauline Marois. The event was attended by Alexandre Cloutier, President of the Université du Québec, and Yves Mauffette, Chairman of the INRS Board of Directors.
Scientific Direction Award
Connor Rowe received the Chief Executive Office’s Excellence Award for the master’s level. During his studies at INRS’s Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre, Connor distinguished himself by actively participating in research alongside Professor José Azaña. He contributed to five journal publications, including as first author in a featured article. He also contributed to some twenty conference papers and a patent in the United States.
Connor also received several awards and honours, including the SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship; the Alexander Graham Bell Award; the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologie doctoral scholarship; and prizes for the international and Canadian components of Three Minute Thesis.
Additionally, Connor was involved as treasurer of the INRS Optica-SPIE Student Chapter and organizer of the INRS EMT Scientific Colloquium.
Connor will continue his doctoral studies at INRS, working with Professor José Azaña in the Photonic Signals and Systems research Group.
Chief Executive Office’s Excellence Award and Governor General’s Gold Academic Medal
This year, Maude Cloutier-Chamberland received the Chief Executive Office’s Excellence Award for the doctoral level and the Governor General’s Gold Academic Medal. This medal is awarded to the student who, at the end of their program of study, has the best academic record and has made a significant contribution to the life of their research centre.
Maude Cloutier-Chamberland particularly distinguished herself through her brilliant career at INRS and her willingness to support causes dear to our community.
After joining Professor Charles Gauthier’s laboratory at INRS’s Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre as a master’s student, Maude transferred to a doctoral program in 2019. That same year, she was inducted into the Université du Québec’s Circle of Excellence. Maude also received a prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She completed her Ph.D., along with a Certificate in Forensic Toxicology, in 2023.
During her studies at INRS, Maude was involved in many scientific and community projects, helping to organize the 2019 Armand-Frappier Congress and joining various committees and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) projects at INRS. She was also president of the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre’s student association.
Several graduates recognized
Scientific Direction’s Honour Roll: Mohamed Raâfet Ben Khedher, Mariem Chalbi, Martin Chenal, Maude Cloutier-Chamberland, Harriet Middleton, Cecilia Jacqueline Nieves Alvarez, Rose Ragot, Fares Saidi, Yann Ayotte, Bennet Fischer, Cheng Jiang, Patrick Kilcullen, Xin Liu, Ahlem Meziadi, Oussama Ben Smida, Karima Hadria, Maya Bedoiseau, Zakaria Trib, Guillaume Morin, Samuel Lacombe, Raphaël Mathis
International Outreach Award: Fares Saidi, Cheng Jiang, Julie Robitaille, Hélène Madénian
Innovation Award: Yann Ayotte, Bennet Fischer, Valérie Plante Lévesque, Myriam Proulx
Student Leadership Award: Martin Chenal, Connor Rowe, Julien Michaud-Valcourt, Islem Bendjaballah
Best Master’s Thesis Award: Sabin Dhakal, Connor Rowe, Pejman Abolhosseini, Raphaëlle Ainsley-Vincent
Best Doctoral Dissertation Award: Fares Saidi, Patrick Kilcullen, Véronique Dubos, Clarence Hatton-Proulx
INRS Foundation Lumières Awards
At the 2023–2024 Graduation Ceremony, the INRS Foundation presented its annual Lumières Awards to graduates who stood out over the years.
“Every student who completes their studies at INRS joins a big family and a strong network. This community keeps INRS alive beyond its walls,” said Élise Comtois, Executive Director of the INRS Foundation.
The Firestarter Award was presented to Claudie Noël for her promising career start, an inspiration for the student community. Since 2019, she has worked as Senior Director – Operations at Montréal InVivo, an industry cluster that aims to rally and support members of the life sciences and health technology ecosystem. Claudie Noël, who has a Master’s Degree in Experimental Health Sciences (2016), is also involved in the sports world as President of the Board of Directors of Rugby Québec, as a coach, and as a volunteer for a number of events.
Caroline Chapain was awarded the Foundation’s Trailblazer Award for her exceptional career and commitment to the community. Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham Business School with a Ph.D. in Urban Studies (2005), Caroline Chapain has 20 years’ experience in research. She has held influential positions in public finance, urban transport, and economic and cultural development.
The Starburst Award was given to Isabelle Caron, President and CEO of the Biologics Manufacturing Centre (BMC), a Canadian not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to promote the growth and resilience of the life sciences industry in Quebec and Canada. Isabelle Caron, who holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Microbiology (2001), has over 25 years’ experience in the life sciences industry.