- Academic Life
A number of INRS students distinguished themselves in the institutional finals of the popular science competition.
From left to right: Yingming Lai, Michaël Thibault, Aurore Lebourg, Hela Rekik, Sarah Newton, Pegah Ghavidel, Marie-Pier Brochu, Émilie Michaud, Rosanne Bourque, the panel members Sylvie Richard, Michel Fortin and Lise Couillard and Director of Graduate Studies and Student Success at INRS, Philippe-Edwin Bélanger.
Five members of the student community took up the challenge of presenting their research work in just three minutes at the finals held on April 2 at the Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre in Québec City. Before a jury of three non-specialist staff members, they had to effectively explain their years of research in clear, concise, and persuasive terms.
Awards for outstanding performance
Marie-Pier Brochu, winner of the Ma thèse en 180 secondes French-language section, receives a $500 scholarship of excellence. She will represent INRS at the Canadian grand finals, to be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Montréal, as part of the 92nd ACFAS Conference. Four cash prizes will be awarded, including a People’s Choice Award.
Pegah Ghavidel, winner of the Three Minute Thesis English-language section, will take part in the Eastern Canada Regional Finals, organized by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS/ACES), as well as the Northeastern Regional Finals of North America, organized by the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS). She also receives a $500 scholarship for his or her performance at the institutional final.
Aurore Lebourg and Michaël Thibault, who finished second in the English- and French-language sections, each receive a $250 scholarship.
Marie-Pier-Brochu INRS representative for the competition Ma thèse en 180 secondes
Pegah Ghavidel INRS representative for the competition Three Minute Thesis
Aurore Lebourg
Michaël Thibault
Winners of Ma thèse en 180 secondes
First prize for Marie-Pier Brochu
Title of the thesis: L’ADN environnemental comme outil de suivi d’espèces animales en situation précaire au Québec.
Doctorat en Sciences de l’eau at INRS Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre
Second prize for Aurore Lebourg
Title of the thesis: Dérégulation des programmes transcriptionnels inhibant les propriétés d’invasion et de migration des trophoblastes lors de l’infection par Toxoplasma gondii.
Doctorat virologie et immunologie at INRS Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre
Winners of Three Minute Thesis
First prize for Pegah Ghavidel
Title of the thesis: Unravelling the Role and Interactome of PAX7-FOXO1 in Rhabdomyosarcoma.
Doctorat en biologie au Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie
Second prize for Michaël Thibault
Title of memoir : Geothermal potential of Northwest Territories communities.
Maitrise en sciences de la Terre at INRS Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre
A demanding and formative exercise
Organized by ACFAS (Ma thèse en 180 secondes) and CAGS/ACES (Three Minute Thesis), these competitions provide a unique opportunity for students to make their research project accessible to a wide audience. They must convey the essence of their work in an engaging manner in just three minutes, using only one static slide.
At INRS, this event is coordinated by the Graduate Studies and Student Success Service. Prizes are awarded thanks to the financial support of TD Insurance Meloche Monnex.
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