GagnÉ, Jean-pierre

Biography

Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry, University of Montreal, 1993

Research Interest

The long-term objective of my work is to develop a conceptual model of the interactions and processes that determine the presence of hydrophobic organic contaminants and their interactions with humic substances (HS) and organisms. We use the St. Lawrence system as a model environment because we encounter a wide range of conditions characteristic of temperate and high latitude environments where the persistence of contaminants is likely to be greater. For the chemist students admitted to our team, we favor both the development of abilities in chemical analysis and both the acquisition of competences in biogeochemistry of natural organic matter and anthropogenic organic matter. Furthermore, all laboratory staff participate actively in land and marine sampling campaigns. In the course of my work, we seek to: - developing new instrumental analysis technologies and methods; - quantify the presence of hydrophobic organic contaminants; - quantify the interactions between organic contaminants and soils, sediments, natural organic matter and organisms; - increase our understanding of the processes that determine the presence, degradation and persistence of hydrophobic organic contaminants to - find new biomedical and ecological substances of interest.