Researcher Étienne Artigau receives an award from the Fonds de recherche du Québec

Étienne Artigau, iREx researcher at the Université de Montréal, wins the 2e prix d’excellence des professionnels et professionnelles de recherche des Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT).

The award recognizes his contribution as a research professional, notably to astrophysics research and the training of young researchers.

A specialist in brown dwarfs, exoplanets and astronomical instrumentation, Étienne obtained his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the Université de Montréal in 2006. After a few years at the Gemini Observatory in Chile, Étienne returned to the Université de Montréal as a researcher in 2009, where he is actively involved in several projects led by the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic.

Today, he is the scientific leader of the NIRPS infrared spectrographs, installed at ESO’s 3.6-meter telescope in Chile, and SPIRou, installed at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawai’i. Étienne is also part of the team analyzing James Webb Space Telescope data.

Over the years, Étienne has distinguished himself by designing innovative observing programs and algorithms to identify and learn more about exoplanets and brown dwarfs in the solar neighbourhood. He is a core member of the iREx team, supporting a large number of projects led by himself and other researchers on the team.

“Étienne is a leading figure in our institution, unquestionably a world leader in high-precision velocimetry, a technique that enables us to detect new planets,” explains René Doyon, Director of iREx and the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic. “Étienne’s methods make it possible to do this with unprecedented performance. He is exceptionally generous, an inexhaustible resource of expertise and good advice for all iREx members, especially students.”

The members of iREx are very proud to count him among their ranks, and congratulate him on this much-deserved distinction. Well done, Étienne!

About the Prix d’excellence des professionnels et professionnelles de recherche des Fonds de recherche du Québec

The Prix d’excellence des professionnels et professionnelles de recherche are awarded by each of the three Fonds de recherche du Québec to recognize the contribution of research professionals to research, knowledge mobilization, training of the next generation or support for research groups, in all disciplines covered by the three Fonds. A sum of $5,000 is awarded annually by each Fund (1st prize: $2,500 2nd prize: $1,500 3rd prize: $1,000).