OUR TEAM
Pierre Giovenazzo, PhD - researcher and professor
Pierre Giovenazzo received a PhD in veterinary sciences at the University of Montréal (Varroa IPM strategies). He is a professor at University Laval’s Biology Department and holded a Chair in Educational Leadership in apicultural science from 2016 to 2021. His recent research focuses on honey bee breeding, queen reproduction, pollination services, honeybee nutrition and varroa IPM strategies. He has published over 90 scientific research publications/reports and his communication skills are recognized not only in academia, but throughout the beekeeping community. He was vice-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Beekeepers of Canada (2014-2017) and is member of various national and international beekeeping stakeholder associations. He was president of the 46th Apimondia 2019 Congress in Montreal.
Ségolène Maucourt, PhD - Post-doctoral fellow
Since a young age, I have been passionate about animal biology. After completing a DUT in biological engineering at the University of Lorraine, an internship in Quebec sparked my interest in beekeeping and honeybees. Following my bachelor’s degree in biology, I pursued a master’s degree in plant biology at Laval University, where I studied the optimization of nuclei production. This experience deepened my understanding of the challenges in beekeeping and its associated issues. In 2017, I began my PhD at Pierre Giovenazzo’s laboratory, focusing on the genetic selection of the honeybee in a northern context. My work aimed to establish a breeding program using BLUP-animal statistical methodology to improve the hardiness and health of colonies. After completing my PhD in 2022, I continued my research as a postdoctoral fellow in the same laboratory, refining statistical tools and developing strategies for the diffusion of this improved genetics across Quebec and Canada. Since 2023, I have divided my time between my postdoctoral role and working as a contractual researcher at the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Animales de Deschambault. In addition, since 2024, I have also been serving as a co-leader of the ApiOmics project, which aims to introduce genomic tools into the honeybee breeding program in northern contexts.
Marie-Lou Morin, MSc - Research professional
I have known early that I wanted to do research in biology, but I truly fell in love with honey bees during my undergraduate studies. In 2017, I was introduced to beekeeping and research in apicultural sciences, and since then, I have never left Pierre's team. My first task was to explored the honey potential of forage plants. Then, in 2018, I began my graduate studies, focusing on the impact of the hygienic behaviors of bees on the abundance of Varroa destructor. It is also during my master’s that I discovered my interest in teaching, by holding several assistant positions for courses such as apidology, genetics, and molecular biology. Today, as a professional research scientist, I work on various projects related to colony health, whether through cage tests to study the effects of different stressors on bees as part of the BeeCSI project, or by studying the influence of factors such as pathogens and colony performance traits on their survival.
Mireille Levesque, MSc - Research professional
During my bachelor's degree in biology at Laval University, I had the opportunity to do an internship in Belize, during which I discovered that I had a great interest for entomology. I then took Pierre Giovenazzo's apidology course, which led me to work in his lab as a research assistant. Studying the honey bee quickly fascinated me, and that is why I pursued my master's studies in this field. During my master's, I studied the overwintering of queen bank colonies, a method that aims to reduce the massive imports of queens in the early spring. The objective of this project was to assess the impacts of this overwintering technique on the reproductive quality of queens. Since the end of this master's degree, I have been working as a research professional in Pierre's lab. Among others things, I am working on an agroeconomic study, which aims to determine how the density of commercial pollinators affects the productivity of lowbush blueberries in the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region. I am also taking part in a new study on the overwintering of queen bank colonies at the CRSAD research center, and in several other projects such as the creation of this website.
Valérie Deshaies - Research professional
Since my childhood, I have always been fascinated by the animal world, a passion that has only grown over the years. This fascination naturally led me to pursue studies in biology at Laval University, where I chose to specialize in animal ecology. During my studies, I had the opportunity to take a course in apidology with Pierre Giovenazzo. This course was a true revelation for me. I discovered the fascinating world of honeybees and was deeply impressed by the complexity and social organization of these small insects. This sparked a profound interest in me for their in-depth study. Today, I am delighted to work in the apidology laboratory at Laval University as a research professional, allowing me to immerse myself directly in the world of honeybees and contribute to exciting research projects.
Andrée Rousseau - PhD student (since 2024)
co-directed by Claude Robert (UL)
My journey with bees began in 2010 when I was a biology student at Université Laval. From the very start, it was love at first sight. I was captivated by the apparent chaos within a bee colony, contrasted by the underlying order that prevails. In 2013, I completed a master’s degree focused on the production and quality of drones. Following that, I became a research professional at the Centre de recherche en sciences animales de Deschambault (CRSAD), where I contributed to various beekeeping projects related to queen breeding, genetic selection, and bee health. In 2019, I joined the CRSAD's beekeeping team as a researcher. My research primarily focuses on the factors influencing queen production and quality, with a particular interest in polyandrous reproductive behavior. Since September 2024, I have been pursuing a Ph.D. in biology under the supervision of Pierre Giovenazzo and Claude Robert. My research is centered on the genetic diversity of drones within a genetic selection context. This project investigates the genetic diversity of males present at mating sites, the diversity of sperm acquired by queens during mating flights, and how paternal control methods affect this diversity and the associated benefits for various important traits in honeybee genetic selection programs.
Laurence Plamondon - PhD student (since 2024)
co-directed by Claude Robert (UL)
My love for biology mainly developed through the wilderness surrounding our family chalet. I remember often bringing various creatures to class, a habit that earned me a reputation that still follows me today. It was in college that I discovered the world of research by participating in a project on the pheromone trails of leaf-cutting ants in Belize. Despite this enriching experience, I was still undecided about my career path. I therefore began my university studies in agronomy, but as life often works out in unexpected ways, I had the opportunity to take a course in apidology and secure an internship. This experience marked the beginning of my master’s degree. My project focused on reducing winter mortality in honeybee colonies through summer treatments of the varroa parasite using organic acids and allowed me to develop expertise in viral analysis. At the end of my master’s degree, I joined the CRSAD's beekeeping team as a research professional, an experience that combined agronomy and applied research. It was within this framework that I had the opportunity to embark on my doctoral journey, working on one of the aspects of the ApiOmic project, which will allow us to study the organization and genetic diversity of the superorganism Apis mellifera.
Victoria Ferland- MSc student (since 2024)
From a young age, I have always been passionate about animal health. This interest began to take shape during my time in Cégep, inspiring me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology at Université Laval. My passion for insects was further solidified through courses in Apidology and Entomology. I then had the privilege of working in Pierre Giovenazzo’s laboratory and conducting fieldwork at the CRSAD, where I was introduced to the parasite Varroa destructor. Participating in a summer project on brood interruption and the use of organic acids to manage varroa deepened my knowledge and sparked a strong interest in this critical issue. This experience led me to pursue into the second year of the project as part of my master’s degree. This year, we are exploring an innovative technique: queen-ringing, a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of organic acid treatments.
Camila Perera Perez- MSc student (since 2025)
I graduated with a degree in agronomy from the University of Costa Rica, where I developed a strong interest in studying insects. During my bachelor’s studies, I worked as a teaching assistant in the entomology course, gaining experience with common insect pests. I also conducted research on mites and native bees in Costa Rica, which sparked my curiosity towards bees. These experiences inspired me to focus my career on insects. After finishing my degree, I started looking for opportunities to continue studying insects and was excited to join Pierre’s team. My master’s research focuses on winter bees, studying how different pollen substitutes affect their immune systems to help improve their health and survival during the Canadian winter. I hope this thesis will be a step forward in supporting the fascinating beekeeping world.
Anne-Charlie Robert - MSc student (since 2023)
co-directed by Valérie Fournier (UL)
During my bachelor's degree en biology, I was particularly interested in anything remotely related to animal ecology. This interest combined with my decision to complete the research profile of my program is what led me to take an introductory research course with the beekeeping team of the Deschambault Animal Science Research Center (CRSAD), under the direction of Pierre Giovenazzo, and to pursue my studies at the master's degree. My project focuses on the activity of commercial bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) outside their nest according to the temperature and the protection mode of the colonies. As a pioneer in the study of bumblebees in our team, I am also trying to determine the effect that nest manipulation has on colony development. This study is part of a larger project to maximize blueberry pollination by domestic pollinator species, which includes commercial bumblebees.
Ana Maria Quiroga Arcila - Co-supervised PhD student (since 2021)
directed by Valérie Fournier
I have always had a great interest in bees, social and environmental causes. During my bachelor's degree, I developed multidisciplinary skills including agroecology, beekeeping, meliponiculture (a specific term for stingless bee culture), and rural extension in Colombia. I am convinced that beekeeping and agroecology are an effective way to reduce the deep inequalities that exist especially in rural areas of Colombia and to actively contribute to the building of peace. For this reason, I worked with peasant associations, Pijao indigenous peoples and beekeeping associations, where I became a beekeeper and found one of my greatest passions. For this reason, I started a PhD in plant biology, under the direction of Valérie Fournier and the co-direction of Pierre Giovenazzo. My doctoral project focuses on the optimization of pollination of lowbush blueberries by honey bees and bumblebees. With this doctorate, I not only want to considerably broaden my knowledge about bees, but I hope to continue to contribute to the sustainable development of rural Quebec and to the construction of a more just and equitable society.
Mahsa Abdollahi - Co-supervised PhD student (since 2021)
directed by Tiago H. Falk
After a bachelor's in electrical engineering, I started my master’s in Telecommunications at Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, with a focus on machine learning and deep learning. Fascinated by the applications of machine learning in apiculture, I joined MuSAE lab at the Energy, Materials and Telecommunications Center at INRS (Institut national de la recherche scientifique) in 2021 and started my PhD in telecommunications under the co-supervision of Professors Tiago H. Falk and Pierre Giovenazzo. In my PhD, I will use the collected data from inside the honeybee hives such as temperature, humidity and audio to design a monitoring system for hive strength. The main part of my project is focused on honeybees' acoustics and how it can help us to predict the number of frames of bees in a beehive, a metric for hive population and strength.
Former members of the laboratory (since 2016)
Directed graduate students
Ménard, Kim (2021-2024) - Master's degree in biology - The relationship between honeybee population structure and foraging activity.
Lamothe-Boudreau, Maggie (2020-2023) - Master's degree in biology - Physiological qualities of honey bee queens (Apis mellifera) overwintering massively in bank colonies.
Plamondon, Laurence (2020-2023) - Master's degree in biology - Effects of summer treatment in an integrated pest management of Varroa destructor on virology and winter mortality of Apis mellifera) colonies in eastern Canada.
Maucourt, Ségolène (2017-2022) - PhD in biology - Genetic selection of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) in a northern climate
Morin, Marie-Lou (2018-2022) - Master's degree in biology - Study of the environmental effect on the expression of VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) behavior selected in Apis mellifera
Levesque, Mireille (2019-2021) - Masters in biology - Effects of overwintering in banks on the survival and reproductive quality of honey bee queens (Apis mellifera L.)
Bleau, Naomie (2017-2019) - Masters in biology - Effects of probiotics on overwintering and spring development of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) in northern climate
Rouleau-Breton, Stéphanie (2017-2019) - Masters in Biology - Controlling the Varroa destructor parasite by selection of the Varroa Sensitive Hygiene behavioral trait
Dufour, Claude (2016-2019) - Masters in Biology - Development and nutrition of honey bee colonies during blueberry pollination services
Co-directed graduate students
Gaubert, Joy (2021-2024; Direction: Nicolas Derome) - PhD in biology - Characterization of host/microbiota interactions at the health/disease interface in the honeybee
El Khoury, Sarah (2016-2022; Direction: Nicolas Derome) - PhD in biology - Use of probiotics to sustainably combat the exposure of bees to imidacloprid pesticides
Grenier, Émilie (2018-2020; Direction: Isabelle Goupil-Sormany) - Master's degree in public health - Gradients of exposure to certain atmospheric pollutants by biomonitoring of bees as an indicator of socio-environmental inequalities in Quebec
Auger, Laurence (2016-2018; Direction: Nicolas Derome) - Masters in biology - Genetic bases and heritability of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene behavior in Apis mellifera
Bouslama, Sidki (2016-2020; Direction: Nicolas Derome) - Master's in Biology - Genomic profiling of gut microbiota in honey bees in Canada
Lamontagne-Drolet, Marianne (2016-2018; Direction: Valérie Fournier) - Master's degree in plant biology - Food supplements to maximize the development of honeybee colonies
Rondeau, Sabrina (2016-2018; Direction: Valérie Fournier) - Master's degree in plant biology - Biological control of Varroa destructor with the predator Stratiolaelaps scimitus
Paillard, Marilène (2015-2017; Direction: Janice Bailey) - Masters in Animal Sciences - Protecting the Genetic Diversity of the Honey Bee: Preservation Methods of Drone Semen
Maucourt, Ségolène (2015-2017; Direction: Valérie Fournier) - Master's degree in plant biology - Optimizing the production of honeybee nuclei
Undergraduate students
Heymans, Estelle (2023-2024) - Course Introduction to research - Impact of weather conditions on the reproductive behavior of honey bee queens (Apis mellifera)
L'Écuyer, Phillipe (2021-2022) - Course Introduction to research - Study of the effect of mass storage and overwintering on the survival and performance of Apis mellifera queens
Sénéchal, Justine (2021-2022) - Course Introduction to research - Morphological analysis of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) for the identification and characterization of genetic lines
Brière, Marianne (2022) - Course Documentary research - Integrated control methods for varroa mites in organic beekeeping
Giroux, Béatrice (2020-2021) -Course Introduction to research - Relationship between hygienic behaviour and infection of bee colonies by Acosphera apis
Pellerin, Sarah (2021) - Course Documentary research - Parasites and nutrition: preparing colonies for the cold Quebec winter
Hunter-Lafont, Ély (2020) - Course Documentary research - The potential of RNA interference treatment against the Varroa destructor parasite
Lampron, Noémie (2018-2019) - Course Introduction to research - Effect of temperature variations measured during transport on the quality of Apis mellifera queens
BIgot, Ivan (2019) - Course Documentary research - What factors initiate hygienic behavior in the honey bee?
Morin, Marie-Lou (2017-2018) - Course Introduction to research - Development of a method to evaluate nectar production and melliferous potential of forage plants
Giguère, Anthony (2017-2018) - Course Introduction to research - Reproductive success of Varroa destructor in Apis mellifera bee colonies
Tremblay, Stephanie (2018) - Course Documentary research - Solitary bees VS social bees: collaboration makes all the difference!
Beaupré, Joëlle (2018) - Course Documentary research - The royal fountain of Youth: aging in the female castes of Apis mellifera
Grenier, Émilie (2018) - Course Documentary research - The honeybee and its products: a tool for air quality biomonitoring in Quebec? Case study in the Limoilou area of Quebec City
Main collaborators of the laboratory
Researcher in bee science
Deschambault Animal Science Research Center (CRSAD)
Researcher and professor
Food Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University
Researcher and professor
Department of Chemistry, University of Sherbrooke
Researcher and professor
Honey Bee Research Center
University of Guelph
Researcher and professor
Biology Department
York University