Flora Amill, M.Sc.

 ACADEMIA
  • Ph. D Biology @ Université Laval (2018-)
  • MBA Biotechnology @ IONIS (2015-2017)
  • M.Sc. Marine Biology and Bioressources @ Université Pierre et Marie Curie (2013-2015)
  • B.Sc. Ecology and Biology of organisms @ Université de Montpellier II (2010-2013)
Email: flora.amill.1@ulaval.ca

Ongoing projects

Arctic Char Microbiota project: Identifying factors that control microbial beneficial functions for host energetic performance in the Arctic

My PhD project consists in studying the consequences of climate change and anthropogenic activities that impact the ecosystems in the north lakes (change in physical & chemical parameters, increase in contaminants, migration of endemic pathogens and significant decline of Arctic Char).

I am specifically interested in the holobiont (microbiota and host) and the fact that non-pathogenic bacteria associated with different mucosal microbiota in the fish can contribute to host health by providing protection against pathogen infections (antimicrobial compounds, outcompeting with invasive microbes for host resources).

The main objectives of this project is to characterize the impact of environmental disruptions on the host-microbiota interactions and measure the resilience capacity of the host-microbiota system facing invading pathogen populations in controlled conditions. I will use metatranscriptomics and epigenetics to understand which bacterial strains can achieve a better immune performance to the arctic char in order to develop some probiotics for a sustainable aquaculture industry.

Previous work experience

  • In 2015 I studied the use of microorganisms in agronomy in the laboratory of the company Bio-Iliberis in Granada, Spain. I participated to a rhizoremediation trial to regenerate the soil after a forest fire.