Maryse F. Bouchard’s research examines the impacts of environmental contaminants on human health. Using epidemiological approaches, her work aims to identify and quantify risks associated with exposure, particularly for the nervous and endocrine systems. She has conducted studies on a range of contaminants, including metals such as manganese and lead, as well as pesticides and other industrial chemicals. Her research places particular emphasis on populations with increased vulnerability, including fetuses and children, older adults, Indigenous communities, and workers exposed to toxic substances. Her findings contribute to public health decision-making and have informed environmental policies, risk assessment practices, and regulatory standards aimed at reducing harmful exposures and protecting population health.
Career Summary
Maryse Bouchard completed undergraduate studies in biology and then obtained an interdisciplinary PhD in Environmental Sciences from the Université du Québec à Montréal (2007). She subsequently pursued advanced training in environmental epidemiology for three years at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of California, Berkeley. Upon returning to Canada, she joined the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Université de Montréal (2010–2022), where she held the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Contaminants and Population Health. In 2023, she joined the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Centre of INRS.
Professor Bouchard has published more than one hundred scientific articles, and her work has had a strong impact on both public awareness and policy-making. Her research program in environmental epidemiology is supported by major funding agencies, including CIHR, FRQ, and Health Canada. Over the past 10 years, she has secured more than $20 million in research funding as principal investigator.
Her work has received several awards, including the Sustainable Health Research Award from the Association québécoise pour la santé publique, “Paper of the Year” from Environmental Health Perspectives, and the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal of Canada. Her research has also been selected twice among Québec Science’s Top 10 Discoveries of the Year.
Maryse Bouchard serves on several scientific advisory boards, including that of Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. She actively contributes to the research ecosystem at both the national and international levels, serving on numerous grant and fellowship review committees in Canada, France, and elsewhere. She was appointed Visiting Professor at Sorbonne University and has been invited to present her work in cities such as Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Paris. She also serves as a scientific advisor for a major research program funded by the European Union.