“No matter where we are in the world, we face the same challenges"

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Nicolas Bertrand, a lecturer and researcher in pharmaceutical sciences at Université Laval in Canada, was hosted by the University of Bordeaux within the ARNA laboratory on the Carreire campus for a 10-month stay as part of the Visiting Scholars programme. He found this exchange to be extremely beneficial and enriching.

Photo : Nicolas Bertrand ©Gautier Dufau
Nicolas Bertrand ©Gautier Dufau

What are the key milestones in your career?

Nicolas Bertrand: I became interested in research at a fairly young age, and pharmacy seemed like a good choice. Being a pharmacist is a wonderful profession! I studied at the University of Montreal, completing a Master degree followed by a PhD. From 2011 to 2015, I undertook postdoctoral research at the MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, working in the laboratory of Professor Robert S. Langer, a renowned scientist and co-founder of Moderna Pioneering mRNA technology - Moderna France, known for producing the Covid-19 vaccines – a particularly ambitious environment in which to develop research skills. After these four highly productive years, I returned to Quebec City, where I took up a teaching position at Université Laval. I also founded a laboratory specialising in pharmaceutical nanotechnologies and nanosciences. In Canada, we work within small teams. Mine consists of around ten people, mainly my students and research technicians.

Why did you apply for the University of Bordeaux’s Visiting Scholars programme (for visiting lecturers and researchers)?

NB: At Université Laval, lecturers are encouraged to spend a year abroad to work on a study and research project. I wanted to go to Europe, to a French-speaking country, so that my son could go to school there. As my father is of French origin, I have a special connection with France. Whilst pursuing my PhD in Montreal, I met Jeanne Leblond-Chain, who is now a researcher at the ARNA (Nucleic Acids: Natural and Artificial Regulation) laboratory at the University of Bordeaux. We’ve stayed in touch ever since. I knew it would be a good experience. She mentioned the Visiting Scholars programme, for which I applied straight away. The process took almost a year. I’m lucky to have been selected and encouraged by my family, who are very happy to be joining me in Bordeaux! We arrived in September 2025. I was made to feel particularly welcome at the laboratory.

What were the objectives of your mobility? Did you achieve them?

NB: I wanted to try out a different working environment, but also to enable my team in Canada to become more independent whilst I was away. We share common interests with the ARNA laboratory here at the University of Bordeaux. Although the system is more complex in France, having Jeanne Leblond-Chain there was a reassuring asset. The aim was to consolidate my expertise in RNA (ribonucleic acid), a highly promising active ingredient and ARNA’s speciality. In my lab, we work mainly with animal models, expertise which I was able to share with Jeanne Leblond-Chain’s team.

I also had the opportunity to supervise Master students and discover different ways of teaching, as well as taking part in assessment panels and interacting with organisations I was previously unfamiliar with. All of this helped me to better understand the French system. All in all, I learnt a great deal. This year has flown by… What’s more, living in Bordeaux with my family has been a great pleasure. We’ve really loved the city.

You’re returning to Quebec. What will you take away from this exchange? Will this collaboration with the University of Bordeaux continue?

NB: This experience has been extremely beneficial and enriching. The links forged with ARNA during my visit will help to increase interactions between our two laboratories. We plan to organise scientific exchanges, continue our joint research and probably publish together in the future. In terms of training, I would also like us to organise exchanges. The approach to teaching in Canada is more pragmatic, as is the practical side of pharmacy. Here, the pharmacist is the undisputed expert on medicines, which they can prescribe without a doctor’s advice in many cases. This is an interesting perspective to share.

I have seen the clear commitment to internationalisation at the University of Bordeaux, and at the same time the strength of the ties that bind our two institutions – a major advantage. Taking part in an exchange programme allows you to experience different customs and different ways of practising the same profession, but also to challenge your own assumptions. It’s a real opportunity!

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Journalist

  • Stéphanie Béraud-Sudreau

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