Biography:

Intrigued by nature's chemical complexity, Dr. Ignea focuses her research on the discovery and production of high-value compounds by biological synthesis using Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology approaches. She followed an unconventional career path switching gears to Science after a Pedagogical career (Full Professor status) and Law degree. With an BEng in Biotechnology obtained from USAMVBT in Romania, she specialized in Natural Products and Protein Biotechnology in Greece, where she earned her PhD from University of Crete. She is the recipient of two prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowships from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions carried out at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, where she pioneered synthesis of new-to-nature terpenoids in yeast. 

Memberships: 

Centre for Structural Biology Research (CRBS), Biological and Biomedical Engineering (BBME), The Trottier Institute of Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED), McGill Systems Sustainability Initiative (MSSI), McGill Win4Science, Quebec Circular Economy Research Network (RQREC), Quebec Sustainable Agricultural Network (RQRAD), AIChE - Women in Chemical Engineering, AIChE - Society for Biological Engineering, American Chemcical Society (ACS), CIHR College of Reviewers, Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA-ACEG).

Fun Fact:

She loves dogs (owner of 2 greyhounds) and opera.

Favourite Quote: