Employee Spotlight: Melody Vachon-Gregory
Introduce yourself. Who are you, where did you study, and what do you like to do in your spare time?My name is Melody Vachon-Gregory, and I'm an environmental microbiologist at SiREM. I hold a BSc in microbiology from the University of Guelph and an MSc in environmental microbiology from the University of Waterloo. In my spare time, I love to sew and use my microbiology skills to brew beer and grow mushrooms. |
What first inspired you to pursue a career in environmental remediation, and how did that lead you to SiREM?I have always loved science, and learning about microbiology during my undergraduate degree really piqued my interest in the specific area of microbiology! I have always been passionate about the environment, so combining microbes and the environment just feels right! |
What's your favorite part about collaborating with your team at SiREM?One of my favorite parts of working at SiREM is the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary research. Collaborating with colleagues from diverse fields, like chemists and scientific writers, helps us to work efficiently toward shared objectives. We also work with external partners, including consultants, geologists, and engineers. |
Can you share a moment when you felt especially proud of the work you do at SiREM?I take pride in SiREM's next–generation sequencing service. To support this, I focus on conducting bioinformatics analysis, interpreting data, and preparing client reports. Collaborating with clients to elucidate the microbial communities present at their sites is an aspect of my work that I value highly. By integrating historical site data with microbiological findings, we're able to evaluate the potential for natural attenuation of target compounds at each client's site, work that I find both valuable and gratifying. |
More Information
To learn more about Melody, visit Melody Vachon-Gregory | LinkedIn.
