Each year, the INRS Foundation shines the spotlight on excellence and commitment by awarding the INRS Foundation Board Scholarships to students in the Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications training programs, where women tend to be under-represented. This year, Ophélie Légaré and Huifang Wu have distinguished themselves through their achievements and become the latest recipients of this prestigious recognition.
Ophélie Légaré, PhD student in energy and materials sciences under the supervision of Professor Roberto Morandotti
- What brought you to INRS? What do you remember about your experience?
It was a strange coincidence that led me to choose INRS. I did a master's degree at Université Laval in optical design for astronomical instrumentation. I wanted to continue in optical design, but in a different setting. I wanted to work on a more applied project, closer to industry. I contacted the Institut national d'optique (INO) in Quebec City to discuss the possibility of doing a PhD in partnership with them. They immediately proposed an optical design project that would draw on my (small) expertise in astronomical instrumentation in a quantum communications context. It was unexpected, but I didn't turn down the challenge! All that remained was to find a research supervisor. In the end, I chose Professor Roberto Morandotti at INRS for his expertise in quantum physics. With my project and industrial partnership already in place, my future director didn't hesitate long to combine the theoretical knowledge of his research group with INO's years of experience in applied projects.
What I've learned from my experience at INRS: As I started less than a year ago and am currently working almost 100% of the time in Quebec City, I can't really talk about the facilities and laboratories at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications center. I can, however, say this: It's clear that INRS is committed to its students' success and well-being. The resources available to them are varied and accessible to all. I religiously comb through the GARE newsletter to make sure I don't miss the (many) workshops offered both to develop tools to help me in my studies and to raise awareness of the importance of well-being and mental health issues. Not to mention the many sources of funding available!
- Can you describe the challenge and impact of your research project?
With all the resources being deployed to develop quantum computers and the exceptional performance they will achieve, it is becoming critical to develop methods to make encrypted communications more secure. Quantum communications are a very interesting avenue, not least because reading a quantum bit irrevocably alters its value. Quantum communications have made great strides in recent years, but real-life trials are still few and far between. The long-term goal for international communications is to opt for free-space communications via satellites. Of course, this brings with it considerable additional challenges. Even to test prototypes at ground level, it is imperative to correct for the effects of atmospheric turbulence (to give just one example).
In my project, I'm going to work with polarization as an encoding for quantum key distribution, and I want to couple the signal to a single-mode waveguide. Very little free-space quantum key distribution work makes use of such guides. In astronomy, polarization maintenance is also rarely exploited. The development of polarization-maintaining coatings is therefore another major challenge of my research project. Normally, my studies will culminate in the development of a prototype and its testing under representative real-life conditions.
- What does winning this scholarship mean to you?
I think this scholarship is another great way of encouraging and supporting women in science. As well as being proud to have won it, I'm glad that initiatives like this are helping to gradually increase the number of women in male-dominated fields. It gives me great hope that we'll one day achieve a better balance in these fields.
My grandmother has always been a role model for me. When she was my age, she fought to be able to work and be a mother at the same time. She told me how women had to work during their nine months of pregnancy and were only entitled to two weeks' maternity leave if they wanted to keep their jobs. How she had to beg a relative for a man's signature to allow her to live alone in an apartment, even if she paid all the expenses. How she hadn't had the opportunity to choose a job she liked because her parents had refused to pay for her schooling because of her gender, and she'd simply had to “learn to like” the job that cost the least to study.
A lot of progress has been made since then... “Make the most of your intelligence and study what you love”, my grandmother used to tell me. I wouldn't have made it this far in my studies without the support of so many organizations and the many efforts made to instill in me a passion for science from an early age. So a big thank you to the INRS Foundation and so many others for making my dreams, and my grandmother's dreams for me, possible!
- How do you see the future?
My priority will always be my studies. I have every intention of getting my degree and advancing science in my own way! However, a scholarship like this gives me a certain amount of flexibility. I'll take advantage of it to register for conferences, courses or summer schools. I also never turn down opportunities to share my passion with others, to popularize my project to audiences of all ages, or just to help spread the word about science in general. In short, I look forward to many challenges and enriching experiences!
Huifang Wu, Master's student in telecommunications under the supervision of Professor Tayeb A. Denidni
- What brought you to INRS? What do you remember about your experience?
During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to collaborate with a former student of Professor Tayeb A. Denidni, my current research supervisor, who had very positive things to say about him. He also told me about the excellent research facilities and abundant resources that INRS offers its students. During my studies at INRS, I received invaluable support from my supervisor, teaching staff, colleagues and administrative staff, which enabled me to adapt quickly to my new environment and concentrate fully on my research. This support not only enabled my research project to make significant progress, but also gave me a unique perspective on my academic and professional development.
- Can you describe the challenge and impact of your research project?
My research project focuses on orbital angular momentum (OAM) antennas, a promising technology for increasing the capacity of wireless communication systems. However, the design and fabrication of these antennas present significant challenges, including the efficient generation and control of different, high-order OAM modes, the improvement of mode purity, and their integration into multi-frequency communication systems. My project could have a significant impact on wireless communications by enabling multiplexing of OAM modes, which not only improves spectrum utilization, but also significantly increases system capacity.
- What does winning this scholarship mean to you?
Receiving this scholarship is a valuable opportunity for me, as it not only supports my current research, but also allows me to devote myself fully to it. It motivates me to pursue my academic goals and make significant contributions to the field of telecommunications.
- What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I plan to continue my PhD and further investigate orbital angular momentum (OAM) antenna technology. Receiving this scholarship not only supports my current research, but also allows me to devote myself fully to my academic work, inspiring me to make a greater contribution to the field of telecommunications. I am convinced that by continuing my studies and research during my PhD, I will be able to improve my professional skills and have a positive impact on the development of communication technologies.
The INRS Foundation is proud to support these two exceptional students on their journey. By rewarding excellence and determination, it reaffirms its commitment to training the next generation of scientists and promoting forward-looking research. We would also like to thank the Service des études supérieures et de la réussite étudiante (SESRE) team at INRS for administering the competition, and the faculty committee who reviewed the applications.
Congratulations to Ophélie and Huifang on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you to our generous donors for giving them the means to achieve their ambitions!
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