Thomas Deluc, a French doctoral student in the colors of McGill and in love with Montreal

Thomas Deluc, a 27-year-old student from Agen in Lot-et-Garonne, embarked on the Quebec adventure in January 2018. Based in Montreal since, he is doing a thesis in neuroscience at the prestigious university McGill.

It's no secret that Canada attracts Europeans and the French are no exception, especially when it comes to Quebec. Many people cross the Atlantic and brave the severe cold in La Belle Province in the middle of winter to come to work or study. We were therefore able to meet Thomas, this new Montrealer with the characteristic accent of the South-West of France, so that he could tell us about his specialized studies as well as his time spent in Montreal over the past four years.

Why did you choose Canada, and Montreal in particular?

I have always wanted to go to Canada. I almost went there earlier during my biology studies. I wanted to do a semester there, but it couldn't happen and I thought maybe I'd go a little later for something else. Finally, I had an opportunity after my master's: I was put in touch with someone from McGill University and they asked me if I was interested in doing a thesis there. I was able to do an interview with my current supervisor and here is how I landed in Canada, Montreal, and McGill.

What can you tell us about McGill University?

I confess that at the beginning I did not know her. However, it is a large English-speaking university in Montreal that is very well known. There aren't too many English-speaking universities in Montreal, but many are French-speaking. There are a lot of students at McGill, a large number of campuses and a strong historical and cosmopolitan aspect, just like the city. People come from all over, the university is very good and I really thrive there.

How was the adaptation and integration in the country?

I was directly in the bath because I arrived in the middle of winter, by -26°. But, even being chilly, I acclimated well to the cold, it wasn't that complicated. I managed to get out of it and survive (laughs). The adaptation went quite well. I immediately made a roommate because I didn't know anyone there. This is also good advice for meeting people, many people do it and it allows you to integrate quickly.

How long do you plan to stay in Montreal?

I have been there for 4 years already. I must first finish my thesis, which should take one to two years maximum. But I do not rule out staying there longer because I like it. Everything remains to be determined, but I could well stay there for a while longer.

What can you tell us about this thesis you are doing in Canada?

First of all, I could have done it in France, but it was still quite complicated. There is not a lot of space and there are often funding problems. It is a bit complex to synthesize because I do it in English in the field of neuroscience. I work more specifically on chronic pain and on microglia, which are the immune cells of our central nervous system, of our brain. I am particularly interested in receptors that are part of a family of receptors called purinergic receptors, known to be involved in cellular pathways that can lead to chronic pain.

You have to understand that there are a lot of players involved. Everything is more complex than it seems. My goal is to understand how these receptors can be modulated. The first step was to determine by whom they can be. For example: can another receptor or a molecule modulate these purinergic receptors? So I managed to find a receiver capable of doing this. The second step consists in understanding which function can be modulated by this other actor.

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Among these functions, some are very important. Like phagocytosis which, in short, intervenes to eliminate cellular debris or cells that are not functioning normally. This type of function is of great importance in questions of chronic pain as well as in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Understanding whether they have been modulated may eventually allow us to act on these receptors for therapeutic purposes in the future.

Is it easy to become a student in Canada?

The administrative part is not obvious, there is always a ton of paperwork to fill out. I don't know all the universities, but in my case I had to be validated by a supervisor, which gives a better chance of being accepted at the university. To be accepted there, and even after, there are still a lot of papers to provide, some universities are extremely selective.

Is Montreal a city that moves?

The city moves a lot. Usually you don't even know that things are going on, you walk around, you hear music and you realize that a festival is going on. There is always something to do, which is very cool. Student life is also quite nice. Montreal is a very student city, there are many events organized depending on the university you belong to or the program followed. It's easy to find activities to do every week.

Are there certain French habits that you dropped in Canada?

I mostly dropped habits related to food. I had to limit my consumption of cheese, which is very expensive in Montreal, or bacon, which is impossible to find. These are the things I miss the most.

Do you have any recommendations for people who would like to move to Montreal?

In my opinion, the best advice is to make a roommate if you arrive without knowing anyone. Then I would say that investing in a good coat and good shoes is essential. However, it is better to wait to be on site to do so because the products will be more suitable and of better quality. Paradoxically, it is better to take summer things with you because the summer period is also very hot.

How is the cost of living in Montreal?

The city is quite expensive. If I had to compare with a French city, I think the prices are close to those of Bordeaux, where I also lived. Montreal, however, is not the most expensive city in Canada. The cost of living is much higher in Toronto.

Did certain cultural differences between France and Canada mark you?

The big difference in Canada, and in Montreal in particular, is that there is not this feeling of being constantly judged as one can sometimes feel in France. No matter what you choose to do, wear or study, you don't feel judged.