ABOUT AMUNDSEN SCIENCE

Alexandre Forest

Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography
Université Laval

Executive Director and COO

1-418-656-2340
Alexandre.Forest@as.ulaval.ca

Alexandre is the Executive Director and COO of Amundsen Science since 2017. He began as a MSc student on the CCGS Amundsen in 2004 and spent no less than 510 days in the Arctic on the ship as part of various expeditions over the last 15 years.

Prior to assuming a management position with Amundsen Science, Alex worked as a research scientist with the Sedimentation Group of the ARCTOS Network (Tromsø, Norway), the Takuvik Joint Laboratory (CNRS-Canada), and with Golder Associates Ltd.

Alex is a specialist of Arctic shelf seas and is passionate about research vessels, oceanographic instrumentation and the Arctic.

Anissa Merzouk

Ph.D. in Oceanography
Université Laval

Marine Research Manager

1-418-656-2356
Anissa.Merzouk@as.ulaval.ca

Anissa is Marine Research Coordinator since 2017 but has worked closely with the CCGS Amundsen team since 2014 as Project Manager for ArcticNet.

During her graduate studies on climate active gases at U. Laval and UBC, she sailed on several research vessels as part of multidisciplinary scientific programs (SERIES, SOLAS, Line P). This at-sea experience serves her well in the operational management and logistical planning of the annual Arctic expeditions. She likes connecting with researchers and students and supporting them to carry out their sampling and experiments on the Amundsen and achieve their science goals.

Luc Michaud

MSc in Marine Biology
Université Laval

Scientific Equipment Manager

1-418-656-5282
Luc.Michaud@as.ulaval.ca

As Luc oversaw the conversion of the CCGS Amundsen icebreaker into a state-of-art oceanographic research vessel, he definitely knows the ship inside and out. He’s been Amundsen’s scientific equipment manager since 2003.

Since then, he has sailed the Amundsen from the Labrador Sea to the Chukchi Sea and has participated to most of the ship’s science expeditions. He sure is the reference for a good old Amundsen anecdote.

Simon Morisset

MSc in Ocean Science
Université du sud Toulon-Var

Oceanographic Instrumentation Professional

1-418-656-7106
Simon.Morisset@as.ulaval.ca

Simon is an instrumentation professional for the CCGS Amundsen since 2014. He assures the installation, the integration and the maintenance of Amundsen Science scientific pool of equipment. He specializes in technological and computing development and is in charge of the ship core instrumentation data processing with Pascal.

Simon great creativity at work may come from is renowned musician talent; just hear him jam with his band!

Shawn Meredyk

MSc in Marine Biology and Engineering
Memorial University

Mooring Instrumentation Professional

1-418-656-7647
Shawn.Meredyk@as.ulaval.ca

To help researchers understand more about oceanographic water properties in the Arctic, Shawn provides start-to-finish oceanographic mooring program support since 2013. His secret: an effective mooring design, safe field operations, standardized oceanographic data processing and streamlined logistic support.

Shawn’s passion for travels and adventures makes him the Amundsen Science team’s ultimate storyteller.

Thomas Linkowski

Technician in Oceanography
Intechmer,

Oceanographic Instrumentation Professional

1-418-656-7214
Thomas.Linkowski@as.ulaval.ca

Thomas is an oceanographic instrumentation professional for the CCGS Amundsen since 2013. He assists Amundsen expedition participants by ensuring the maintenance, the integration and the proper operation of the CCGS Amundsen scientific pool of equipment.

Passionate by his field and by woodwork, he’s always keen for a chat about his latest side projects, may it be a naval construction or a wood bucket.

Lou Tisne

Technician in Oceanography
Intechmer,

Oceanographic Instrumentation Professional

1-418-656-2411
Lou.Tisne@as.ulaval.ca

Lou joined Amundsen Science’s technical team in 2018.

As an instrumentation professional, she installs, calibrates, maintains and integrates the scientific systems of the CCGS Amundsen. Very knowledgeable in oceanographic instrumentation and electronics, she’s Amundsen Science’s walking encyclopedia and is always happy to share her savoir-faire.

Her free time is spent climbing, sailing or, to everyone’s delight, cooking delicious pastries.

Pascal Guillot

MSc in Physical Oceanography
Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski

Data Quality Manager

1-418-723-1986 | 1896
pascal_guillot@uqar.ca

Pascal works on the CCGS Amundsen since the very beginning of the adventure, in 2003. He’s in charge of the processing and quality control of the  CTD, LADCP, and SADCP physical data. At sea, he supervises and trains rosette operator interns.

His expertise, patience and discipline earned him the title of ”Grand Maître Rosette”.

Amélie Desmarais

MSc in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
McGill University

Logistics, Administrative and Communication Coordinator

Amélie.Desmarais@as.ulaval.ca

Amélie joined the team in 2020. Her previous experiences in research and as a science communicator now allow her to take care of Amundsen Science’s communications. She also contributes to the proper execution of administrative tasks and assists the Marine Research Coordinator with logistics.

If she’s not working, you’ll probably find her with her nose in a book or camping.

Tahiana Ratsimbazafy

MSc in Water Science
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre

Data Management and Valorization Coordinator

Tahiana.Ratsimbazafy@as.ulaval.ca

Tahiana studied physics at the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar before specializing in the field of spatial remote sensing.  He continued in the field of remote sensing at the Nordic and Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Quebec City.

With his talent and experience in programming, processing and manipulation of geospatial scientific data, he ensures the archiving and publication of data collected by the CCGS Amundsen during its annual scientific expeditions.  He supports the Amundsen Science scientific team in order to have quality data according to international standards.

Daniel Amirault

BSc in Technologies of Ocean Mapping
Memorial University

Marine Geomatics Professional

Daniel.Amirault@as.ulaval.ca

Amundsen Science’s collaborative initiatives to map the Arctic and sustain its environment inspired Daniel to join its workforce through his position as Lead Hydrographer during Leg 2 of the CCGS Amundsen’s 2019 expedition. As a Marine Geomatics Professional for Amundsen Science, he strives to support international projects in Arctic environments and continue broadening Canada’s northern bathymetric database.

Most of Daniel’s free time is spent pursuing his passion for guitar and trekking through nature whether by foot or on two wheels.

Francine Dugré

PhD in biology
Université Laval

Accounting and Management Technician

1-418-845-1081
Francine.Dugre@as.ulaval.ca 

Francine has worked in the field of biochemistry and immunology research for over 20 years. Holder of a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology, she supervised the quality assurance and continuous improvement management of a clinical laboratory at the CHUL for nearly 10 years. A career reorientation led her to the field of administration, accounting management and human resources.

Francine is both creative and rigorous. Practicing watercolor and pointillism, she loves and makes her entourage love landscaping.

Martine Desgagnés

BSc in accounting
Université du Québec à Rimouski

Accounting and Management Technician

Martine.Desgagnes@as.ulaval.ca

Martine joined the Amundsen Science team in early 2018 to ensure the team’s administrative and financial follow-up, allowing her to combine her passions for science, the maritime field and finance.

For the technical team, she coordinates the procurement management in compliance with the applicable financial rules of the research sector. She also prepares financial information for the various external auditors of Amundsen science.

Christopher Morrissey

BSc in Underwater Vehicles Technology
Marine Institutes

Marine Robotics Professional

Christopher.Morrissey.1@ulaval.ca

Chris began his contribution to the Amundsen Science team as a marine robotics professional in 2020. As a graduate of Marine Institute’s Bachelor of Technology in Underwater Vehicles, he maintains, operates and integrates essential research instrumentation for the CCGS Amundsen scientific expeditions.

Chris is driven by his passion for exploration and in his spare time enjoys the thrill of downhill biking, rock climbing and hiking.

Thibaud Dezutter

MSc in Marine Biology
Université Laval

Oceanographic Instrumentation and Research Professional

Thibaud.Dezutter@as.ulaval.ca

Thibaud joined the Amundsen Science team in September 2020 to be part of the technical team that will benefit from his many experiences working on board the CCGS Amundsen. In addition, he will be able to use his research experience to valorize the data and research activities related to the Amundsen’s campaigns.

Passionate about adventure and the outdoors, Thibaud spends most of his free time in the woods, whether on foot, on skis or by bicycle.