Félicitations au professeur Wei Shi qui figure parmi les boursiers 2026 permettant à son équipe et lui de poursuivre leurs recherches d'avant-garde en photonique intégrée et systèmes de communication optique à haute capacité. Les bourses Dorothy-Killam administrées par le Conseil national de recherches du Canada (CNRC) permettent à des chercheuses et chercheurs d’excellence de se consacrer à des projets scientifiques majeurs ayant un impact sociétal significatif. Soulignons aussi au passage la lauréate du prix Killam, l'éminente Lucie Germain, pionnière en recherche sur le génie tissulaire et la médecine régénératrice de la Faculté de médecine de l'Université Laval. Directrice réputée du Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale (LOEX), sa carrière est jalonnée de percées majeures notamment en fabrication en laboratoire de peau humaine, en reconstruction de vaisseaux sanguins et à la mise au point de la première cornée entièrement biologique. Pour lire l'article complet paru dans le ULaval Nouvelles: https://nouvelles.ulaval.ca/2026/03/11/lucie-germain-laureate-dun-prix-killam-du-conseil-national-de-recherches-du-canada-bac027b1-daa9-4171-b950-476f7432503a

January 28, 2026 coincided with the press conference inaugurating the quantum communication experimentation platform, the third in a series of installations in Sherbrooke, Montreal, and now Quebec City. Housed in the COPL and INO laboratories, the quantum platform will offer businesses and organizations a realistic and controlled experimental environment to test all kinds of quantum-safe solutions and technologies. This initiative, which is the result of a partnership between Numana, the Quebec government, and the two host research centers, will facilitate the structuring of an autonomous and innovative Quebec ecosystem in quantum technologies. Eugénie Brouillet, vice-rectrice à la recherche, à la création et à l'innovation delivering the speech on behalf of Université Laval . To read the article published in the ULaval Nouvelles: Un banc d'essai en communication quantique sur le campus To better understand the initiatives of the Kirq Test Bench:   https://kirq.numana.tech/ From left to right: André Fougères (INO), Alain Chandonnet (INO), Bernard Duval (Numana-Kirq), Sophie LaRochelle (COPL) & David Hélie (COPL).

A leading researcher in biophotonics at COPL, Yves De Koninck will receive international recognition for his advances in neuroscience. The award, which will be presented at a ceremony in January 2026 at the Institut de France in Paris, will crown years of research aimed at better understanding and linking chronic pain to a dysfunction of the central nervous system. To read the article published in the ULaval Nouvelles : Yves De Koninck reçoit le prix Unité-Guerra-Paul-Beaudoin-Lambrecht-Maiano 2025

The project Quantum dots towards enabling reproducible quantum technologies, led by Gabriela Tessitore, professor of chemistry and member of COPL, receives a grant from the John R. Evans Leaders Fund. To access the full article published in ULaval Nouvelles: 23 projets appuyés par le Fonds des leaders John-R.-Evans .

This Friday, November 14, starting at 3:30 p.m., the IEEE Quebec Section - Photonics Chapter, INO, and COPL invite you to a seminar featuring renowned professor Nick Harris, an expert in advanced sensor technologies at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. A networking event organized by INO and COPL will conclude the afternoon. Join us! When: Friday, November 14, 2025, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (seminar) / 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. (reception) Where: Auditorium 1168 - COPL Université Laval, Pavillon d’optique photonique 2375 rue de la Terrasse, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, CANADA Abstract In the light of recent grant calls for joint UK Canada research, this talk will be an overview of some of the work and facilities available at Southampton university, both within his group and wider, to try and stimulate co-operation and collaboration. Facilities include surface and wet etch micromachining, optical fibre sensors. Three projects (Cornerstone – MPW for Photonics, and Microcraft -MPW for microengineering and Soc lab- Open development of Arm based SoC) are or will be accessible and will be of interest. Other aspects of work briefly covered will be our interests in neuromorphic computing devices, efficient quantum algorithms and roll to roll flexible devices. Biography  Nick Harris is currently Professor of Advanced Sensor Technologies and Head of the SEMS (Smart Electronic Materials and Systems) group in the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at Southampton University, UK. Southampton University is a member of the 20 Research Intensive Russell group universities, and regularly features in the top 3 in the Uks rankings for electronics. Prof Harris’s research interests have a strong commercial focus and previous positions before Southampton have been in research and consultancy based organisations. He likes to focus on emerging disruptive technologies such as lab on a chip type medical devices and more recently on the combination of novel sensors and machine learning condition monitoring systems for future sustainable lubricants. He was a founder of Perpetuum Ltd, a spin out that successfully commercialised vibration energy harvesters for condition monitoring applications. Perpetuum was sold in 2020 to Hitachi Rail. He previously held a directorship of D4 Technology Ltd, a consultancy company, whose customers included Dstl, Lockheed Martin, GE Global Research, Perpetuum and Staywell, as well as previously being a director of ECS Partners, the consultancy operation of ECS. He is currently a director of Aspira Aerial Applications and is a Fellow of the IET (FIET) and a chartered engineer (CEng).

Un nouveau dispositif optique nommé chambre optoélectrique visant à observer au microscope tigran-galstian-et-son-équipe-innovent-en-proposant-un-dispositif-optique-d-avant-garde-pour-l-obser-1des cellules vivantes sans marqueur ni colorant et à faible coût, développé par le professeur Tigran Galstian et la doctorante Maria Hovakimyan fait la une des journaux. L'avancée technologique est d'abord parue dans la revue Optics Express sous le titre Adaptive double refraction interference microscopy for label-free imaging of living cell s , signée par l'étudiant William Boissonneault et le professeur Galstian. La découverte a été reprise par le ULaval nouvelles avec l'intitulé Une innovation qui pourrait transformer le monde de la microscopie . Félicitations à l'équipe de recherche du COPL impliquée dans cette innovation!

Application deadline: September 16, 2025 Laval University is recruiting a candidate for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Photonics. The successful candidate will be a full professor and member of the Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL). Laval University is located in Quebec City, QC, Canada. CERC are the most prestigious academic positions in Canada. They are endowed with $8 million in funding over eight years ($1 million per year, including the chairholder's salary), to which will be added an allocation from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) allowing for a request for $2 million in equipment. The CERC holder in Photonics will be responsible for increasing the impact and visibility of the research carried out within the COPL by proposing a vision for the future through the development of one of the following emerging themes: Synergies between artificial intelligence (AI) and photonics Photonic nanomaterials. Photonics applied to quantum sciences. Metrology and instrumentation in photonics. The person selected by the Recruitment Committee must successfully pass an internal selection process at Laval University as well as the national selection process for the 2026 CRSNG competition, which requires demonstrating a link to Canadian research priorities . For information on how to apply, the required documents, the selection process and criteria, and a complete job description, please consult the detailed announcement: Call for applications for CERC in Photonics . The candidate must hold a PhD in a relevant discipline and have a distinguished track record in research. Laval University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), rejects all forms of discrimination, promotes excellence in research and research training, and guarantees equal opportunities for all candidates. As a professor, the CERC holder will also be required to participate in teaching. If necessary, French language courses will be offered by Laval University to enable the person to acquire the necessary skills to teach in French . Depending on the expertise and preference of the selected candidate, the CERC holder will be affiliated with either the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Optics , the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering , or the Department of Chemistry .

Le professeur Jérôme Genest et le doctorant Mathieu Walsh chercheurs au COPL et l’équipe de scott diddams de l’université du colorado cosignent un article publié dans la revue Science. L’article intitulé Squeezed dual-comb spectroscopy fait la démonstration d’une technique appelée « quantum squeezing » pour améliorer les performances spectroscopiques de dispositifs de lasers à peigne de fréquence optique. Comme rapporté, les coauteurs sont non seulement arrivés à manipuler le flou quantique sur la lumière émise par des peignes de fréquences optiques pour générer des états compressés (“Squeezed states”), mais ils ont aussi démontré la préservation de l'avantage quantique jusqu’aux mesures spectroscopiques permettant l’identification et la quantification des gaz. Cette avancée permettra de réduire le bruit sur les mesures en spectroscopie et ainsi repérer de manière plus sensible et rapide, par exemple, des fuites de méthane dans l'air au-dessus des exploitations pétrolières et gazières.  Pour lire l'article paru dans le ULaval Nouvelles:  https://nouvelles.ulaval.ca/2025/01/22/manipuler-la-lumiere-pour-mettre-au-point-des-detecteurs-de-gaz-plus-sensibles-et-rapides-525ff3c7-333b-494d-af47-21f832ec54d4 Pour accéder à l'étude dans la revue Science:  le  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads6292

On Monday November 4, COPL welcomed the Quebec photonics research and innovation community to the university where it was born, Université Laval. It was a vibrant event to mark 35 years of research partnerships between research teams from 8 universities and 2 CEGEPs in Quebec, and companies, from well-established ones such as Teraxion, EXFO, Immervision Inc. and Zilia, to younger ones including high-potential start-ups such as Femtum, Jay Photonics, Point Laz, SiFi Labs, Femtum and Detexion, not to mention fast-growing spin-offs such as Castor Optics, Ki3 Photonics technologies, Bliq Photonique and LumIR Lasers. The initiative also highlighted the scientific contributions and vision of the pioneers, and celebrated the creativity and success of the new generation of photonic optics scientists and engineers. The sense of belonging was palpable among participants. The ecosystem of the COPL, Quantino and Optonique  can be proud of the dynamism of their community, with all its partners helping to promote high-impact research generating cross-sector innovations in telecommunications, quantum sciences, biomedical sciences, neurosciences, agricultural sciences, the environment and other emerging fields.Thank you to everyone who played a part in the day’s success! Photo credit: Jean Rodier

Gabriel Tayama wins   second place in the ISGS PhD Thesis Award 2023 competition! With this thesis Award 2023, COPL- ULaval postdoctoral fellow G.Tayamawill receive a diploma and a 2-year ISGS membership. He will also receive books from Springer in the value of US$400, be invited to contribute with a paper to the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology and be invited to present an online lecture at the ISGS eMasterClass Series. Congratulations Gabriel !

The year 2023 ended on a positive note for the team of Marie-Pier Lord, Réal Vallée, Martin Bernier and Michel Olivier from COPL - ULaval, with a place in the Journal Le Soleil's list of scientific breakthroughs for 2023. In fact, the development of the first fiber laser capable of producing femtosecond pulses in the visible spectrum, the results of which were published in Optics Letters last summer, has just been named one of the year's scientific breakthroughs. Congratulations to the whole team! Read the article published in Le Soleil:   Un premier «laser à fibre» ultra rapide dans le visible ( lesoleil.com ) Read the article in Optics Letters:  Visible femtosecond fiber laser

Louis-Philippe Pleau (LumIR) top 30 under 30 Forbes magazine Each year, Forbes magazine draws up its list of the most promising entrepreneurs under 30. To compile this list, editors and publishers, with the help of renowned independent expert judges, evaluate over 11,000 candidates based on factors such as funding, revenue, social impact, inventiveness and potential. 2024 is an exciting year for LumIR co-founder Louis-Philippe Pleau, who made it into the top 30 entrepreneurs under 30 in the Manufacturing and Industry category. Louis-Philippe Pleau founded LumIR with Vincent Fortin and professors Réal Vallée and Martin Bernier. To read the full article about him:  Louis-Philippe Pleau ( forbes.com )