Jade Montpetit obtained her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and nuclear medicine before starting her doctorate. (Photo courtesy)
Jade Montpetit has a very clear vision of her professional future. The 22-year-old Constantine knows from college that she wants to do cancer research. She took a new step towards her dream by obtaining a doctorate in molecular biology directly following obtaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montreal.
“Cancer research is so important. It’s the future. One out of two Canadians suffers from it.”
-Jade Montpetit
Although the study program is not limited like that of medicine, for example, excellent academic results are necessary to be admitted, explains Jade Montpetit.
Normally, students go through the master’s degree between bachelor’s and doctoral degrees. The young woman, however, drew her career differently. To gain experience quickly, she took the initiative to do several internships in the laboratory, among other things.
“It also allowed me to have the support of a researcher when I submitted my application for the doctorate,” she points out.
Long studies
After her doctorate started in the fall, which will last 3 to 5 years, Jade Montpetit will have to complete at least two post-doctorates, she explains.
“They have to be done outside the country, since, if I want to teach while doing research, I have to have knowledge from elsewhere,” specifies the student.
Jade Montpetit thus confides that her greatest desire would be to study on the school benches of large educational establishments like Harvard in Boston, in the United States.
She therefore intends to continue studying for another 4 to 5 years.
more and more feminine
Jade Montpetit does not hide the fact that the field in which she studies and heads is predominantly male.
“It’s definitely a challenge. I noticed it quickly. At the university, the professors tend to be men. There are very few women who teach,” she observes.
However, she believes that is changing.
“Already, in my baccalaureate, we were more women. It’s encouraging,” she said.
In her opinion, given the length of studies, many women do not pursue them, because they want to have children.
