ABOUT US

Alexandre Forest

Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography
Université Laval

Executive Director and COO

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

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

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.

Martine Desgagnés

BSc in accounting
Université du Québec à Rimouski

Finance Manager

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.

Simon Morisset

MSc in Ocean Science
Université du sud Toulon-Var

Oceanographic Instrumentation Professional

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!

Amélie Desmarais

MSc in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
McGill University

Logistics, Administrative and Communication Coordinator (on leave)

Amélie joined the team in 2020. She contributes to the planning and logistics of the annual scientific expeditions, and is involved in various administrative tasks of the organization. During the field season, you may see her onboard the CCGS Amundsen since she also operates the CTD-Rosette.

If she’s not working, you’ll probably find her outside, either on a bicycle or on her skis.

Thibaud Dezutter

MSc in Marine Biology
Université Laval

Oceanographic Instrumentation and Research Professional

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.

Christopher Morrissey

BSc in Underwater Vehicles Technology
Marine Institutes

Marine Robotics Professional

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.

Shawn Meredyk

MSc in Marine Biology and Engineering
Memorial University

Mooring Instrumentation Professional

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.

Daniel Amirault

BSc in Technologies of Ocean Mapping
Memorial University

Marine Geomatics Technician

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.

Marcia Pearson

MSc in Water and Coastal Management
Universidad de Càdiz

Oceanographic Instrumentation  Professional

Marcia is an oceanographer, with a master’s degree in Water and Coastal Management. She worked in many areas of oceanography, from paleontology to changing climate, and from seismic to whale conservation research, before joining Amundsen Science as an oceanographic instrumentation technician in May 2021. It is at the workshop and at sea that she feels most at ease and enthusiast.

In her free time, she enjoys all kinds of crafts, accumulating books (not necessarily reading all of them), and admiring her rock collection, to which she is always looking for new additions.

Pascal Guillot

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

Data Quality Manager

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 is the main CTD-Rosette operator, supervises the operations and trains rosette operators interns.

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

Tahiana Ratsimbazafy

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

Data Management and Valorization Coordinator

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.

Luiz Filipe Fernandes

Diploma in Electronics

Electronics and Embedded Systems Professional

Luiz joined the team in 2021 to provide technical support for the electronics and embedded systems of the CCGS Amundsen. Although his position at Amundsen Science is the first that he occupies in the marine sector, Luiz has been working all over the world with numerous electronics systems and adapted very quickly to the field of oceanography.

He also has a talent for photography and for sharing incredible stories like no one else!

Cassandra Charette

Diploma in Accounting

Accounting and Management Technician

Véronique Rochefort

BSc in Biological Sciences
MSc in Communication
Université de Montréal

Communication Manager

Véronique has joined Amundsen Science as Communications Manager in 2022. She has several years of experience in communications in the life sciences and health technology sectors, and more recently she worked as a public relations strategist in a communication agency.

Having achieved a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a master’s degree in communication sciences, Véronique has developed an expertise in popularizing science. Her passion for environmental sciences now help her build outreach initiatives that highlight the activities of Amundsen Science’s community.

Fatma Dhifallah

MSc in Oceanography
Université du Québec à Rimouski

Logistics and Administrative Coordinator

Fatma joined the team in 2023 with previous experience in coordination and scientific operations at sea. She holds a master’s degree in oceanography from ISMER/UQAR, where she began her professional career. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Fatma will participate in the Amundsen’s at-sea expeditions.