MEMBERS
MEMBERS
At the beginning...
MARIE LEFRANC
PhD student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM)
The effects of metal mixtures have rarely been addressed by regulatory agencies, and to address this issue, my PhD studies will determine the interaction and effects of the combination of three rare earth elements (Gd, La, Y) at realistic concentrations. Using two innovative approaches developed in our laboratory (e.g., subcellular metal partitioning approach; hyphenated techniques), my research will use three aquatic organisms (Dreissena bugensis, Chironomus riparius, Hyalella azteca) that are extensively used as biomonitors for toxicological studies.
LUANA HAINZENREDER BAUER
PhD student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM)
Fish species inhabiting the Indian River Lagoon system (Florida) have been subjected to a chronic exposure of various trace metals related to urban, industrial and agricultural sources. As the effects of metals on fish species have not been fully studied in this area, we aim to determine the subcellular partitioning of various metals (Hg, As, Se, Pb, Cd, La, Ce) in liver cells of various fish species. In addition, approaches related to environmental metallomics, specifically hyphenated techniques, will be applied to reveal information about the molecular mechanisms by which biomolecules are harmfully targeted by these contaminants, which may result in biochemical and physiological impairments for these fish species.
KIMBERLY DESJARDINS
PhD student (Supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM; co-supervisor: Maikel Rosabal)
From a perspective of assessing the environmental risk of metals, it is essential to consider their speciation and bioavailability at the ecosystem level as well as their subcellular partitioning. My PhD research tends to better understand the behaviour of metals, especially mercury at the biogeochemical and cellular level. To do so, we plan to collect organisms from different trophic levels (invertebrates, fish) in three aquatic ecosystems (e.g., St. Lawrence River, Saint-Maurice River, Lake Saint-Pierre) located in Quebec. We are interested to assess the interaction of MeHg with Se, the use of potential biomarkers of MeHg effects in fish as well as to reveal the way in which metals belonging to different classes are handled by aquatic organisms at subcellular level.
ELISE LHOSTE
PhD student (Supervisor: Cassandre Lazar, UQAM; co-supervisor: Maikel Rosabal)
My PhD research project aims to characterize the microbial communities located in old abandoned and submerged mines located in Quebec (Canada). In these hostile sites, we plan to explore the influence of season and water depth on these communities found in surface waters. We are also interested in the functional changes (metabolic, structural and evolutive) of these microbial communities to cope with contrasting physicochemical and geochemical factors measured in these sites.
JULIEN LABRIE
MSc student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM)
Mostly all the ecotoxicological studies performed in the Yellowknife area (Northwest Territories, Canada) regarding the effects of the intensive gold mining legacy are limited to fish. To bridge the knowledge gaps on metal toxicity in invertebrates from this area, my MSc research will be focused on the subcellular distribution of As, Cd, Pb, and some rare earth elements in the amphipod Hyalella azteca. We are also performing some experiments (depuration to exclude metals from the gut content, adsorption measurements) for a better understanding of the behaviour of these metals with this biomonitor.
FRÉDÉRIQUE PELLETIER
MSc student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Jonathan Verreault, UQAM)
Knowledge on the biodistribution of emerging contaminants, including rare earth elements and platinum group metals, among different tissues in birds is limited. To provide such information, my MSc project has the objective to compare the bioaccumulation partners of these metals in various organs/tissues of the ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) collected from the Montreal area. We also explore the relationships between these metal concentrations and some toxicological endpoints (ROS production, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial metabolic function) measured in each tissue to examine if these metals represent an environmental risk for the birds.
JÉRÉMY DUPONT
MSc student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM)
The Horne smelter located in the city of Rouyn-Noranda remains as one of the principal atmospheric sources of metal contamination in our province. In order to assess the deposition of these contamination in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems near the city, my MSc project has the objective to measure trace metals in larvae of Chaoborus and in lichens (Cladonia rangiferina) used as biomonitors of these ecosystems and sampled at different distances from the smelter (covering an area of 250 km2). Such measures will give us a portrait of the metal deposition levels found in this area as well as the potential differences among the trace metals measured.
VIRGINIE RICARD-HENDERSON
MSc student (Supervisor: Maikel Rosabal; co-supervisor: Marc Amyot, UdeM)
The larvae of the insect Chaoborus have been proposed to be used as biomonitor to assess the exposure of Cd, Ni and Se in lake waters from aquatic ecosystems located in the region of Rouyn-Noranda (Quebec). However, the potential use of these larvae in monitoring contamination of rare earth elements has not been tested yet. In this regard, my MSc project has the objective to evaluate the use of the larvae of this dipteran to reflect environmental REE concentrations. We are also interested in knowing the subcellular partitioning of these emerging contaminants in Chaoborus that can tolerate highly metal contaminated environments.
ÉMILIE TELMOSSE
MSc student (Supervisor: Eric Duchemin, UQAM; co-supervisor: Maikel Rosabal)
The main objectives of my MSc project is to assess the potential risk of metal contamination found in vegetable gardens located in different environments. We plan to analyze levels of metals including rare earth elements as well as elements of the platinum group in different vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, carrots and lettuce) cultivated in urban (Montreal) and mining-impacted sites (Rouyn-Noranda). Given the high consumption of these vegetables, we will assess the risk that this contamination can pose to local residents as well as to determine if there are differences between vegetables and sites sampled (urban versus mining-impacted) in terms of metal contamination.
• Sandrine Provençal (Undergraduate student, 2021)
• Mélanie Primeau (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2021)
• Camille St-Arneault (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2021)
• Charlotte Lasserre (Undergraduate student, 2021)
• Mariane Fortin-Archambault (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2021)
• Jean-Benoît Fortin (Undergraduate student, 2021)
• Anastasiya Isayeva (Undergraduate student, 2021)
• Karen Lagueux (Undergraduate student, 2021)
• Tania Charrete (PhD student, co-supervisor, 2016-2021)
• Justine Hadrava (interrupted, MSc, supervisor, 2017-2021)
• Aymeric Rolland (MSc, supervisor, 2017-2021)
• Sandrine Breton (Undergraduate student, 2020)
• Véronique Corriveau (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2020)
• Virginie Ricard-Henderson (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2020)
• Gismonde Gnanhoue (Undergraduate student, 2020)
• Khaled Belghith (Undergraduate student, 2020)
• Alexandre Bernier-Graveline (MSc, co-supervisor, 2017-2020)
• Daphnée Gariépy (MSc, co-supervisor, 2017-2020)
• Jérémy Dupont (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2019)
• Myriam Fontaine (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2019)
• Hugo Ouellet (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2019)
• Carolanne Penny (Summer student, USRA-NSERC, 2019)
• Éléonore Delouvrier (Training student, 2018)
• Alena Alonso (Training student, 2018)
• Émilie Martel-Brosseau (Summer student, 2018)
• Isabelle Roy (Summer student, 2018)
• Julien Labrie (Summer student, 2017)
• Isabel Lanthier (Summer student, 2017)