IRIC - Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer

Published on January 21, 2026

Professor Delphine Bouilly, who heads IRIC’s Design and Application of Electronic Nanobiosensors Research Unit, has earned two prestigious awards in recent months for her outstanding research work. Delphine Bouilly was a finalist for the Hubert Reeves Award at the 2025 Prix du Québec. She was also appointed to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). These honors add to an impressive list of achievements that has continued to grow since the researcher was recruited in 2017.

Recognition by two prestigious organizations

The two honors awarded to Professor Bouilly are marks of excellence within the provincial and national scientific communities. Through the Prix du Québec awards, the Quebec government recognizes the achievements of individuals who promote Quebec. As a finalist for the Hubert Reeves Award, Delphine Bouilly has distinguished herself among the next generation of scientists, particularly in terms of her multidisciplinary expertise.

The Royal Society of Canada aims to promote interdisciplinarity and the advancement of knowledge, as well as to address issues of vital importance to Canada. It plays a role in scientific diplomacy, bringing science to decision-makers. The RSC was particularly involved during the COVID-19 pandemic in informing the public and governments. Delphine Bouilly joined its College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists thanks to her distinguished academic beginnings.

“These marks of recognition are encouraging and confirm that I am on the right track as a young researcher,” says Delphine Bouilly. “The early years of a teaching career are hectic: you have to build a research program, recruit your first students, and obtain grants. This double honor allows me to take a step back and see how all these efforts have helped me build my team and expertise.”

By joining the SRC College, Delphine Bouilly gains access to a network of peers across the country who are at the same stage in their careers but work in completely different fields. “I will have the opportunity, particularly at annual meetings, to discuss common issues and interests, such as training the next generation and the state of science communication in Canada.”

A gateway to new aspirations

At the time of receiving these honors, Delphine Bouilly finds herself at an interesting professional crossroads. “When you’re a young researcher, you feel a lot of pressure to secure your place in research, obtain a postdoctorate, then a professorship, then tenure,” she explains. “Now, I find that my thinking is less focused on performance and more on impact. I feel that I have more space to tackle complex and transformative projects.” Beyond establishing her place, Delphine Bouilly wants to create teams and collaborations that lead to discoveries and innovations.

After several years developing her expertise, Delphine Bouilly is now interested in understanding and controlling the disorder found in arrangements at the molecular level. “When biological molecules and nanomaterials are combined in experimental systems, their interactions are complex and disordered. It is this complexity that I would like to understand and exploit,” explains the researcher. “It’s a vast topic that motivates me for the rest of my career and could open up several new projects thanks to the different areas of expertise present in my team.”