Congratulations to Mélanie Côté-Cyr, winner of the Michèle-Auger 2024 Award

Mélanie Côté-Cyr, a doctoral student at the Université du Québec à Montréal, is the winner of the Michèle-Auger 2024 Award. This distinction is awarded annually to a woman pursuing graduate studies in protein science within PROTEO, the Québec research network on protein function, engineering and applications. Accompanied by a $5,000 scholarship, the award recognizes a researcher who, while pursuing cutting-edge research activities in protein science, has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community.

Mélanie, an active student member of PROTEO, stands out first and foremost for her exceptional academic career and her significant contributions to protein science research. Her research into the design and use of protein nanomaterials has already led to nearly a dozen publications in specialized scientific journals.

Professor Steve Bourgault, the winner’s thesis supervisor, shares his admiration for Mélanie’s remarkable academic career, underlining her exceptional creativity and near-perfect results throughout her academic career. Her academic achievements have been recognized by prestigious awards, including the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

In addition to her academic excellence, Mélanie has distinguished herself through her leadership and commitment to student life within the Association étudiante du secteur des sciences de l’UQAM (AESS). For the past four years, she has held the position of delegate for financial affairs, and has contributed to a number of events and actions to promote student success, such as Women in Science Day and the creation of the AESS parent-student assistance fund. “I have received many e-mails over the past three years from parents grateful for this initiative, which would not have taken place without Mélanie’s significant contribution,” says Lydia Roy-Simard, AESS administrative coordinator, who points out that Mélanie is an example of an involved young woman who excels in her field of study, dedicated and committed to making education accessible to all.

As winner of the Michèle Auger Award, Mélanie embodies the values of dedication, academic excellence and community service that characterize this award. Her passion for sharing science with the public, especially young people, reflects the spirit of Professor Michèle Auger, a scientist dedicated to making science accessible to all.

Congratulations to Mélanie Côté Cyr for this well-deserved distinction. Her inspiring career illustrates the diversity and positive impact that women can bring to the Quebec scientific community.

About Michèle Auger

Born in Grand-Mère, QC, Michèle Auger merited a B. Sc. in Biophysics from UQTR. She obtained a Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of Ottawa and undertook postdoctoral reseach at the MIT, specializing in solid-state NMR applied to proteins. She pursued an outstanding scientific career in molecular biophysics at Université Laval before losing her battle to cancer at too young an age, on October 2018. She has been a model for generations of scientists, especially for women. Her engagement in the scientific community and in promoting science was notable and inspiring.

About PROTEO

Founded in 1999, PROTEO is the Quebec research network on protein function, engineering and applications. Supported by the FRQNT, it brings together over 350 researchers from 74 research teams at 13 institutions across Quebec.

For information :

• Pr Isabelle Marcotte
• President of the Selection Committee
• E-mail : marcotte.isabelle@uqam.ca