Farida Cheriet is a full professor in the Department of Computer and Software Engineering at Polytechnique. She has been the main applicant of the OPSIDIAN program since November 2023.

She has made numerous contributions in the field of medical imaging and collaborates with the doctors of the CHU Sainte-Justine. His research concerns 3D reconstruction and surface modeling of anatomical structures from the fusion of multimodal images, the construction of statistical atlases, and classification techniques for computer-assisted diagnosis and treatment simulation. She recently established a partnership with the MILA and the ophthalmologists at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital to develop artificial intelligence platforms for the diagnosis of eye diseases. Its research activities have generated four patents. It has trained more than 70 postgraduate students and 100 non-thesis or bachelor's master's students.

Nandita Basu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Waterloo.

It combines theoretical modeling and data synthesis to better understand and predict the impacts on water quality of climate and land use at different scales, as well as to link intensive land management for food production and bioenergetics to ecological impacts in downstream water bodies. Professor Basu is leading several projects on the impacts of water quality on agricultural and urban land use, with particular emphasis on quantifying the time lag between the implementation of watershed conservation measures and the improvement of water quality achieved in receiving waters. She has trained over 45 students over the past six years.

Catherine Beaudry, the recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship, holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Oxford. She is a full professor in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique, where she also holds a level 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) on the creation, development, and commercialization of innovation (Innovation Chair).

Her research focuses on measuring the impact of research and collaboration on the development and commercialization of innovation, as well as on the interaction between local and international networks. She is a member of the Interuniversity Research Center on Science and Technology (CIRST), a member of the Interuniversity research center in organizational analysis (CIRANO), an associate professor at UQAM, and a founding member of the Global Young Academy (GYA). It has trained more than 65 highly qualified people as part of its research activities.

Marilou Bélisle is Associate Professor and Scientific Director of the Incubator of Educational Innovations (i2P) at the University of Sherbrooke.

She teaches in the area of teaching and learning at a higher level in the Faculty of Education and works with professors and lecturers from various disciplines for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational innovations. With a doctorate in education, she conducts research on the professionalization of students in competency-based programs. She has trained 20 PHQ since 2012. She is a member of the FUTURE research team on the learning and professional development of future and working professionals. She is the President-elect of the International Association of University Teaching - Americas (AIPU-Americas).

Patrick Cohendet is Full Professor of Economics at HEC Montreal in the Department of International Affairs.

He is co-director of Mosaic, a multidisciplinary research and training platform in the field of creativity and innovation management. The goal of Mosaic is to unleash the creative potential of organizations and accelerate this process by focusing on the creative potential of employees from various disciplines. Professor Cohendet has an interdisciplinary background in economics, management, probability and statistics, engineering and economic geography. He collaborates on studies on the evolution of ecosystems in the health field with clinicians, patients and start-ups in the ICT sector. He has trained more than 80 PHQ.

Sarah Dorner, Full Professor in the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique, she has held the Canada Research Chair in Source Water Protection since September 2007.

As a member of CREDEAU at Polytechnique, a consortium interested in the entire urban water cycle, she conducts research on new technologies aimed at guaranteeing the supply of drinking water to communities. Professor Dorner is leading projects on Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Control and Climate Change Adaptation, rapid online monitoring tools to identify times of greatest risk for drinking water contamination. It has trained more than 70 highly qualified people.

Ève Langelier is a full professor in mechanical and biotechnical engineering at the University of Sherbrooke.

She has held the Chair for Women in Science and Engineering at NSERC - Quebec Region since 2015. She develops initiatives to understand and lower the barriers that face girls and women at different times in their STEM careers. . Professor Langelier is also an active researcher in biomechanics and mechanobiology of soft tissues, in the design of sports equipment, and she is the coordinator of the concentration in bioengineering. She works in IDTs with experts in mechanics, computer engineering, physiotherapy, pharmacology, orthopedics, kinesiology, education, and entrepreneurship. She has trained more than 50 students and research professionals.

Catherine Laporte is an associate professor in electrical engineering at ÉTS, where she heads the Laboratory for the processing of health information.

His research focuses on image analysis techniques to improve the usability of medical ultrasound imaging for new users and in emerging applications. She collaborates with radiologists, orthopedists, speech therapists and engineers. She has trained 26 HQP in this interdisciplinary field. She was also a co-candidate of the CREATE University Program in Medical Image Analysis, which has now ended and has been very successful. This program has enabled more than 50 highly qualified people to carry out industrial internships, research seminars, technical and clinical skills improvement workshops and hackathons.

Larry Lessard is a full professor of mechanical engineering at McGill. His field of research is that of advanced composite materials.

He is the founder of the McGill Composite Structures and Materials Laboratory. He is more particularly involved in projects involving the design of structures, failure analysis, natural fiber materials and the recycling of composites. He works with aerospace companies (Bombardier, Bell Helicopter), sports equipment, musical instrument design and environmental recycling projects. Most of his projects involve interdisciplinary research requirements to achieve innovative designs. As part of his research, he has trained more than 150/80 high-level people, respectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Annie Ross is a full professor in mechanical and aerospace engineering and founding director of the vibration and acoustic analysis laboratory (LAVA) at Polytechnique.

Visiting professor at ISAE-Supaéro and holder of the IDEX research chair at the University of Toulouse (France), Professor Ross is developing approaches for the vibration damping of composite aeronautical sandwich structures. Also the holder of the Safran - TAPPIS industrial chair, she is actively involved in the industry to develop multifunctional composite materials intended to absorb and dissipate the noise produced by aircraft engines. Professor Ross has filed 5 patents in this area and has trained over 100 HQP. It also maintains multicultural research collaborations, in particular with the world of circus, professional sport, and musical instruments.

Isabelle Villemure is the main applicant. She is a full professor in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering at Polytechnique.

She was the holder of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) - Level 2 in mechanobiology of the pediatric musculoskeletal system (2007-2017). From graduate studies in civil/structural engineering, to bridge design in a private company and biomedical engineering, Professor Villemure is a true example of how interdisciplinarity and cognitive diversity can shape a career path. She has skills in biomechanics, mechanobiology, biomechanical modeling, and design of orthopedic implants. She has trained more than 70 high-level people in an interdisciplinary environment bringing together engineers, clinicians, orthopedic surgeons, orthodontists, and biologists. As a member of the institutional committee on equity, diversity, and inclusion, she actively participates in the promotion of diversity in STEM.