Congratulations to Salsabil Hadhri on being awarded a $7,000 internship scholarship from the FRQ!
Congratulations to Salsabil Hadhri, who has received a $7,000 internship scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ)!
Thanks to this funding—awarded as part of the FRQ’s master’s and doctoral scholarship program for internships in College Centres for the Transfer of Technologies (CCTT)—she will be completing a two-month internship at SEREX, the CCTT specialized in forest product transformation, located in Amqui, Quebec, starting this week.
A master’s student in wood and bio-based materials engineering, Salsabil is pursuing her research project under the supervision of Véronic Landry, titled: “Development of an Antibacterial Coating for the Surface of Melamine-Laminated Particleboards.” This project aims to design an innovative low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) coating intended for demanding environments such as hospitals and kitchens. The coating will be based on a polymer system with antimicrobial properties, in which the additives will be immobilized to prevent their removal during cleaning. The project notably explores the use of metallic compounds (such as ions) and bactericidal surface treatments, including quaternary amines. The physical, chemical, and antibacterial performance of these coatings will be assessed to identify the most promising solution.
This internship (FRQ file no. 375635) is made possible through the financial support of the Fonds de recherche du Québec. It represents a valuable opportunity for Salsabil to gain hands-on experience in applied research, collaborate with experts in technology transfer, and develop advanced technical skills in formulation, materials characterization, and innovation in the field of functional coatings. The internship will also allow her to better understand the industrial challenges related to the performance and durability of surface materials, with a focus on sustainable development.
We warmly thank the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) for this essential funding, which supports not only the advancement of cutting-edge research but also the training of tomorrow’s talent in the field of innovative technologies. Our sincere thanks also go to SEREX for their warm welcome and valuable collaboration . Thanks to this stimulating and specialized environment, Salsabil Hadhri will be able to enrich her academic journey and significantly advance her research project.
A big thank-you as well to the Research Consortium on Wood-Based Composite Panels (COREPAN-Bois) for funding Salsabil’s project. This support plays a key role in carrying out applied research with high impact potential, directly contributing to the development of innovative and sustainable solutions in the field of low environmental footprint materials.
 By: Besma Bouslimi