Undergrad student

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Hello, my name is Pascal Grondin. I am currently an undergraduate student in Biology at Université Laval and a research assistant in Jean-Baptiste Leducq’s laboratory. Having previously worked as a horticulture intern for the Roger Van den Hende University Garden during my college studies, I am trying to combine my interests in plants and microbiology by seeking to better understand the symbiotic relationships that exist between these two kingdoms of life.

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My research project aims to better trace the evolutionary history of certain bacteria belonging to the phyllosphere, which is the part of plants located above the ground. More specifically, I am attempting to use a reverse ecology approach in order to cultivate Lichenibacterium, a bacterium found on lichens. This research internship will allow me to learn more about microbiological techniques and to become familiar with certain concepts in bioinformatics and metagenomics.