Dr. Geneviève Lajoie

Biography

Geneviève Lajoie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Université de Montréal. Her research focuses on understanding the origins and consequences of microbial diversity on Earth, which is a priority for biologists in the 21st century. Her work addresses various applications, ranging from improving human and plant health to maintaining air, water, and soil quality, highlighting the relevance of microbial ecology research for tackling significant environmental challenges. At the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV), she aims to understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the associations between plants and their foliar microbes. Her lab investigates the types of microbes residing on and within plant leaves, as well as the adaptations that allow them to thrive in these environments. She employs multiple conceptual and experimental approaches, including traits-based frameworks and phylogenetic relationships, to explore these questions and is also interested in how plant microbiomes may contribute to disease prevention in plants at the Montreal Botanical Garden.

Research Interests