Sophie D’Amours

Sophie became Université Laval’s first-ever woman rector on June 1, 2017. A professor in the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering since 1995, she also served as vice-rector of research and innovation from 2012–2015.

During her mandate as vice-rector, she successfully led Université Laval's Sentinel North application in the Canada First Research Excellence Fund competition, earning the university an award of $98 million, the highest in the institution's history.

Her research involves business engineering, value chain management, and decision-making in the forestry sector, and she has held the Canada Research Chair in Planning Sustainable Forest Value Networks since 2009.

In 2008, the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec recognized Sophie’s exceptional contribution to the forestry sector with the Henri-Gustave-Joly-de-Lotbinière award. She was also honoured with the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Science and Technology and, along with her team, in 2012 she received the prestigious Brockhouse Canada Prize from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. In February 2017, Sophie was admitted to the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry as an international fellow.