Year: 2022
University: McGill University (Montreal, Quebec)
Discipline: Engineering
Country of Origin: Canada
Research: Evolving and growing protein-based bioelectronics
As we rely more and more on wearable or implantable medical devices for monitoring and diagnostics, it’s important to develop materials that are harmonious with the human body. Devices need to be flexible to accommodate motion, biocompatible to avoid adverse effects, and able to detect small physiological changes.
Noémie-Manuelle Dorval Courchesne is researching the viability and scalability of “green” protein-based bioelectronics to solve both biomedical and environmental challenges.
“I am very excited to embark on this journey as new WiSTEM2D Scholar this year,” she says. “I am sure that the funding provided through this program will help me recruit talented researchers for my laboratory.”
The mentorship portion of the WiSTEM2D Scholars Award is also important to Dorval Courchesne. “Surrounding yourself with successful women mentors can be highly motivating and probably the best demonstration that this work is possible,” she says. “I think it is important to have confidence in ourselves and to firmly believe that both women and men can equally contribute to scientific discoveries and new breakthroughs.”