https://www.microbialecology.ca/news-bedford daily 0.75 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1400275370693-L0ZTMZY7L6SCYQG6GO85/xzuvhgdQGul0amA3Qc7a_373A9681.jpg News https://www.microbialecology.ca/news-bedford/2014/1/23/get-out-there-5j99f monthly 0.5 2014-04-13 https://www.microbialecology.ca/news-bedford/2014/1/23/why-deserts-matter-too-jtpxl monthly 0.5 2014-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390513173585-DWV4B9Z0B3GY1421D88O/tumblr_mjdttrQLOJ1rkz363o1_1280.jpg News - Why Deserts Matter Too https://www.microbialecology.ca/news-bedford/2014/1/23/appalachia-rnazx monthly 0.5 2014-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390512900953-CBP39T42JYJB4AT50XTE/tumblr_mjs7w6zIHV1rkz363o3_1280.jpg News - Success Story – New Hope in Old Appalachia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390512900611-EF33OSHTK3F9FL7P3XQO/tumblr_mjs7w6zIHV1rkz363o5_1280.jpg News - Success Story – New Hope in Old Appalachia https://www.microbialecology.ca/welcome daily 1.0 2023-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728057176-UYRF6GID1H8HTZT794WM/pexels-photo-141489+%281%29.jpeg Welcome https://www.microbialecology.ca/join-us daily 0.75 2022-06-09 https://www.microbialecology.ca/projects daily 0.75 2018-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728627881-56OPPD9T1GRA88KCNYN7/image-asset.png Projects - THE ROLE OF MIRNAS IN PLANT-MICROBIOTA INTERACTIONS IN THE RHIZOSPHERE The goal of this project is to explore how plant miRNAs reprogram the microbiome of the rhizosphere under polcycylic aromatic hydrocarbon stress. Funded by FRQNT. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728806473-KBP1IO5IVB5E26NWG895/image-asset.jpeg Projects - MICROBIAL-BASED PREDICTIVE MODELING OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS The goal of this project is to develop a microbial-based model that will enable predicting wheat yields and quality. Funded by FRQNT https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1538150641858-D736MF5ZC108F0BSHPNN/IMG_20180706_115345.jpg Projects - HOLOBIONT-BASED APPROACHES TO ADAPT WHEAT TO DROUGHT STRESS The goal of this project is to evaluate if the concept of the holobiont can be used practically to increase wheat tolerance and resistance to water stress. Funded by NSERC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728938281-21OHRP96B9P3QVFYMPB1/image-asset.jpeg Projects - AGRONOMIC DECISION TOOL UNDER A CHANGING CLIMATE This project aims to design biologically optimal cover crop sequences under a changing climate. Funded by MAPAQ. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728982636-3GMGHZ4S29JOW4YOC0JM/image-asset.jpeg Projects - TOWARDS A NEW FEEDING APPROACH OF PIGLETS The goal of this project is to test various novel dietary supplements for piglets in order to minimize the use of non-therapeutic antibiotics. Funded by Swine Innovation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539728462315-JIF479R23YGN4DKEZ6W2/mir-ali-456683-unsplash.jpg Projects - PLANT MICROBIOME ENGINEERING The goal of this research program is to find potential ways to engineer the microbiome of economically important crops, such as wheat and soybean by studying their interactions with their microbiota. Funded by NSERC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539727379252-YWDU3S68CG7NA3JWVCVL/image-asset.jpeg Projects https://www.microbialecology.ca/meet-the-lab daily 0.75 2025-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/9cc1fa77-ebda-477b-96b9-387ff8d542e9/DSC_0203.jpg Meet the lab - Abdul Samad Post-doc Since childhood, Abdul felt a deep connection to nature and farming, which inspired him to pursue a career in agriculture. After earning a master’s degree in soil science, he provided advisory services focused on sustainable agricultural practices. Driven by a curiosity about the microbial world that underpins soil and crop health, he investigated vineyard-associated microbes during his PhD at the Austrian Institute of Technology. As a postdoctoral researcher at Natural Resources Canada, he studied land reclamation in areas affected by oil sands development. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at INRS, where he focuses on wheat microbiomes under drought stress and bioremediation of industrial wastewater. Beyond science, he enjoys gardening, running, and playing cricket. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/69b39edb-4318-49c3-ba71-055ea3612085/IMG_20250613_142914.jpg Meet the lab - Lilia Bouyoucef PhD Candidate Coming soon! Get in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/2d7d05db-f266-47c0-a661-558c67143e54/Photo_profil.jpg Meet the lab - Simon Morvan Post-doc As a child, Simon always enjoyed wandering in his grandfather’s vegetable garden, watching plants grow and fruits ripen. It may be this initiation to gardening that sparked Simon’s interest to biology. After high school, Simon enrolled in a biotechnology engineering program in France during which he discovered the fascinating bacterial world. He then moved to Montreal to complete a PhD on the wild blueberry root and rhizosphere microbiome. He joined the lab in September 2023 as a post-doc and is working on the bioremediation of oil sands processed water. More precisely, Simon is analysing the bacterial gene expression from different experimental trials to find pollutant degradation pathways. During his free time, Simon enjoys science-fiction and anticipation entertainment, playing videogames and taking care of his garden. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/e46c3d6c-d2f8-43f6-bc49-0c4262afc821/Katel_photo_labo.jpg Meet the lab - Katel Hallaf PhD Candidate Katel discovered her passion for biology in high school, drawn to understand how living organisms function. She earned a Bachelor’s in Cellular and Physiological Biology, followed by a Master’s in Omics and Systems Biology at the University of Lille (France), specializing in microbiology. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in microbial ecology—an area that left a lasting impression and continues to inspire her research. This led her to pursue a PhD focused on the fascinating topic of biotic factors and their impact on the success of bacterial inoculants in agriculture. She’s always happy to discuss this exciting field, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re curious or have questions! Outside the lab, Katel enjoys reading comics, trying new foods, relaxing in parks, hiking in the mountains, and spending quality time with her family and friends when she visits them Get in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/e31420f7-d82d-4bc0-9051-46714e8949ae/DSC_0208.jpg Meet the lab - Marc-Antoine Duchesne MSc Candidate Coming soon. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/d33bc5a0-7a1f-48e1-9989-010ad5e36eb6/FacePlaceholder.png Meet the lab - Julia Thiffault MSc Candidate Coming soon! Get in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/5506a4da-f1c5-4a5a-aa3a-7241e10ccf1f/DSC_0205.jpg Meet the lab - Julius Nweze Post-Doc Fascinated by traditional Nigerian fermentations like palm wine and local foods, Julius pursued a B.Sc. in Microbiology and an M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His master's research, partly conducted at the University of Tsukuba in Japan, focused on producing beta-glucans from isolated thermotolerant yeasts. An internship at Japan’s National Agricultural Research Organisation sparked his interest in microbial fuel cells and omics. This curiosity led him to pursue a Ph.D. in microbial ecology at the Institute of Soil Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, where he used metaomics to study millipede gut microbiomes. Now a postdoctoral researcher at INRS in Canada, he analyzes metaomics data for bioremediation of naphthenic acids and contributes to the Omics to Close the Loop project. Outside the lab, Julius enjoys international politics, documentaries, and travel. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/7ce84c17-5626-4fb6-bc30-166106f3e8c1/DSC_0207.jpg Meet the lab - JEssica Dozois PhD Candidate From catching frogs and tadpoles at the cottage with her sister as a giggling child to hiking mountains 5200 m over the sea, the outdoors has always bewildered Jessica. There is no arguing that her path towards environmental enlightenment has started for some time and continues to progress. Considerable and alarming knowledge about our current climate reality, urges many, just like her, to dedicate their graduate studies in the field of ecology. Her hopes are that during her Master's degree she manages to demystify the influence of plant microRNAs on the microbial communities found in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane. In which case, microRNAs could be used by agronomists as a tool to limit sustenance losses due to environmental factors (temperature extremes, insufficience of rainfall, invasive species and arising pathogens) catalyzed by climate change. Moreover, she believes being an environmentalist is more than a career – it’s a way of life and invites all to partake in creating a greener version of the world. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1631796603704-D7BMGDICI32PGXG4KG9V/FacePlaceholder.png Meet the lab - You? Get in touch with Etienne! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/052be690-f116-47a7-a6a1-b185d2893c08/314586270_5806310216087810_4794083263594130078_n.jpg Meet the lab - Hubert Côté MSc Candidate Hubert grew up in Montréal, but he’s always felt most at home outdoors. His curiosity about the natural world started early, shaped by adventures with both friends and family. That interest eventually led him to study Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Montréal, where he became fascinated by the hidden world of microbes. Now starting his master’s degree, Hubert is working to determine biological indicators that could improve our understanding of the dynamics of nitrogen in soil. The goal is to combine microbial and agronomic data to understand how much fertilizer is economically optimal. This could help reduce the quantity of nitrogen used, therefore reducing nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions all while helping farmers keep their yields strong. When he’s not in the lab, Hubert tries to spend as much time as he can outside, always up for a new adventure. Get in touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/4cd5c49b-90d8-4e89-a023-2271ce940c58/DSC_0427.jpg Meet the lab - ÉTIENNE YERGEAU Principal Investigator and Chair Captain Étienne is studying microbes that covers the outside and inside of trees, crops, animals, ice, soil and water. Although he grew up in the city, he spent his summers as a kid at the family cottage in the Canadian back-country, where he became fascinated with all life forms and their interconnections. He is now leading a team of enthusiastic scientists toward (hopefully!) exciting discoveries. When he is not busy with science, Étienne enjoys spending time with his three kids and his wife, training for obstacle course races, snorkeling, BBQing, playing ice hockey or building stuff. Read more about his research here. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1631889585659-WCI4OVRN8ZQEDD79NUQA/Picture1.jpg Meet the lab - Emmy l’espérance PhD Candidate Emmy is a microbiologist who has always been fascinated by nature, animals, and plants. Since her first microbiology course, she has become fascinated by these little creatures. Microbes have been so fun for her, and she always loves to learn about them. That’s why she decided to start her bachelor’s degree at The University of Montreal in Microbiology and Immunology. After that, she decided to combine her two passions, microbiology, and nature, for her master’s degree. Emmy is working on her master project, concerning augmentation of the fungi: bacteria ratio in agricultural soil for increasing the absorption of organic nitrogen by wheat. She conducted an experience in the experimental field to determine an organic amendment that will increase the fungi: bacteria ratio. This increase may result in an augmentation of nitrogen in wheat plants and potentially increase the quality of wheat grain. Get in touch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/287cda4e-fb7a-4f0d-836d-edaac54bde40/DSC_0200.jpg Meet the lab https://www.microbialecology.ca/publications daily 0.75 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bae4b0a93a6325991f03ef9/1539898233102-O22540QU0N9WFVZHZGH7/image-asset.jpeg Publications