Here is the portrait of the recipient of the 2024 Jacques-Landry Scholarship, Nurgül Atalay, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology in the team of Professor Jean-Yves Masson. Our scholarship program is made possible through the support of the Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval and the Fonds de recherche en cancérologie from Université Laval.
Nurgül is a PhD student in cellular and molecular biology under the supervision of Prof. Jean-Yves Masson. Passionate about cancer research, she grew up in an environment where "cancer" was rarely spoken about—a hidden word. Her first lesson was the importance of self-examination, which shaped her focus on DNA repair mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches to benefit patients.
Curious about the world beyond her borders, she pursued a BSc in molecular biology and genetics in Istanbul, Turkey, studying in Coimbra, Portugal, and interning in Barcelona, Spain with European Commission Erasmus scholarships. Later, she earned an MSc in cellular and molecular biotechnology in Trento, Italy, with a full scholarship, specializing in cancer biology.
Her international experiences have strengthened her work ethic, communication skills, and belief that science should address global challenges without borders. Research in diverse societies has trained her to make scientific knowledge accessible to people from all backgrounds.
Nurgül's research experience in DNA repair and cancer therapeutics contributes to advancements in pharmaceutical oncology.