On February 11, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an initiative by the United Nations aimed at promoting access to and participation in science for women and girls. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and this day serves as a reminder of their vital contributions to research and innovation.
At the CRC, we are proud to have emerging female researchers on our executive committee who actively contribute to scientific advancements. Their work and dedication enrich the diversity of ideas and pave the way for more inclusive research.
Meet these four inspiring women who are driving science forward at the CRC.
Véronique Boumtjé: Véronique joined Université Laval in January 2022 to pursue a PhD in molecular medicine as part of Prof. Yohan Bossé’s team. Her research focuses on optimizing the selection criteria for high-risk individuals in lung cancer screening programs. As a recipient of the CRC Excellence Scholarship and the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, she continues her work with determination to improve patient care (bottom left in photo).
Ariane Lapointe-Belleau: Ariane is a PhD student in pharmaceutical sciences under the supervision of Prof. Chantal Guillemette. Her research aims to enhance treatment monitoring and prognosis assessment for individuals with prostate cancer. She also studies the biological effects of novel androgens associated with disease progression. Ariane has received several doctoral scholarships, including those from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé and the prestigious Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation Scholarship. Highly engaged in academic life, she serves on the executive committee and leads the organizing subcommittee for the CRC’s Student Scientific Day (JSE), a flagship event now in its 29th edition in 2025 (bottom right in photo).
Mame Sokhna Sylla: A master’s student in Prof. Étienne Audet-Wash’s team, co-supervised by Dr. Frédéric Pouliot, Mame Sokhna is working on characterizing the tumor genome of a biobank of organoids derived from prostate cancer patients. Her goal is to improve the understanding of 3D models and the biology of this cancer. As a recipient of the Desjardins Training Scholarship, her project contributes to the development of new therapeutic approaches. With a background in bioinformatics and a passion for community involvement dating back to her college years in Senegal, Mame Sokhna also leads "Mon Avenir en Science," an initiative aimed at shedding light on the diverse career opportunities in science (top left in photo).
Mélissa Thomas: Mélissa is a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Jean-Yves Masson’s team. Her research focuses on identifying and characterizing new genes involved in Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disease that significantly increases the risk of cancer. Passionate about science communication, she co-organizes Soapbox Science – Ville de Québec, an event designed to make science accessible to the public and highlight the work of women in research. Previously, Mélissa completed her PhD at the Institut Cochin in Paris, where she studied DNA repair and cancer, and worked as a science mediator at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Europe’s largest science museum (top right in photo).