Here is the profile of Benjamin Trudel, the recipient of the Normand-Marceau scholarship 2024, currently pursuing a master’s degree in biophotonics under the guidance of Professor François Bordeleau and Michèle Desjardins. This scholarship is made possible thanks to the Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval and the Fonds de cancérologie de la Fondation de l’Université Laval.
Benjamin has always been passionate about science in general. Unable to choose a specific field of specialization, he decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering physics. This multidisciplinary program allowed him to gain knowledge in various fields such as optics, programming, design, and electronics. Also interested in the healthcare sector, he completed several research internships, notably at the CERVO Research Center and the CRC.
Benjamin has a strong interest in applying engineering approaches to biological problems. This interest led him to join François Bordeleau’s and Michèle Desjardins’ teams for his master’s in biophotonics. François Bordeleau and Michèle Desjardins focus respectively on cancer mechanobiology and biomedical and brain imaging, offering him the opportunity to work on a multidisciplinary project combining physics and biology.
Benjamin’s project involves developing and enhancing a cutting-edge microscope previously designed by the host laboratory. This microscope, called the Quantitative Polarization Microscope (QPOL), is a system that indirectly measures certain mechanical properties of biological samples by analyzing the polarization of light passing through them.
The project's main goal is to introduce two major improvements to the system. The first is to implement a high-speed quantitative polarization acquisition system, increasing image acquisition speed. This improvement will be particularly useful for imaging live, moving cells. The second enhancement involves integrating a structured illumination system into the microscope, which will improve spatial resolution and provide better visualization of biological structures.
These technological advancements will help address the needs of biomedical researchers studying biological systems and could potentially pave the way for clinical applications.
During his two years as a research assistant and his graduate studies, Benjamin has contributed to several related projects, particularly using his expertise in image analysis. He is also actively involved in writing scientific articles in collaboration with multiple laboratories.
His passion for programming and image analysis drives him to share his knowledge, notably at ProgFest 2025, where he delivered a talk.