BACKGROUND
After obtaining my doctoral degree in pain neurophysiology from the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) (09/2013),
I made the ambitious choice to move from preclinical and molecular research, which I have been doing for the last
seven years, to clinical research for my postdoctoral studies. I therefore started a first postdoctoral fellowship in
September 2013, with Professor Vania Apkarian from Northwestern University in Chicago. Working on projects that quickly applied basic science discoveries to clinical research and integrating these two aspects on various projects is deeply inspiring and confirmed me that
my choice of adding clinical research experience to my preclinical background was the good one.
Following this first postdoctoral experience, I wanted to deepen my neuroimaging knowledge about diffusion MRI. In April 2016, I started a second postdoctoral position with Professor Christian Beaulieu at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. During this second postdoctoral fellowship, I perfected my knowledge of MRI in general and improved my expertise in sequence development,
acquisition and diffusion MRI analysis.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that having knowledge of basic sciences
(microscale level to investigate drug receptor pharmacology, signaling pathways, genetic predisposition, etc.),
physiology (mesoscale level to investigate end-organ generating pain, brain function and structure, etc.) and
human psychology (macroscale level to investigate behavioral state and traits, coping mechanisms and quality of
life outcomes) is essential to properly answer the question of treatment effectiveness in the context of chronic pain. To do so, I deeply believe in a research program supported by a diverse team, and enriched by collaborations.
Collaboration, creativity and curiosity are key values in my laboratory.