Marguerite has a Bachelor’s degree in biological and ecological sciences and is currently completing her Master’s in environmental sciences under Simon Barnabé . She is the recipient of a Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT) master’s Scholarship, and is very involved in her community. She co-founded a program for the immersion of teenagers in her university’s laboratories and for the last two years has been organizing Pint of Science, a popular science festival.
Research: Several strains of microalgae produce molecules with remarkable properties that can be valued in different forms, such as biofuels, surfactants, or antimicrobial. Certain microalgae also can treat wastewater by absorbing the residual compounds as sources of nutrients, mainly when grown in a consortium, a mixture of microorganisms. In her study, a native consortium of microalgae-bacteria consisting primarily of Chlorella sp. is grown in industrial wastewater in a photobioreactor to identify the potential value-added molecules produced. These can be integrated into products of local industries in addition to reducing the cost of wastewater treatment in these same industries.
