In a few months, Negar Joharinia, 32, will complete his master’s degree in research at the University of Montreal. She came from Iran in 2021 with the idea of settling in Quebec. But that won’t happen.
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Negar Joharinia will go to Ontario instead … “because of the changes in immigration that would make the procedures for her here more complex,” regrets her professor Roger Lippé, who recruited her in Iran to study in his laboratory Interactions in larger dimensions examined in depth. between viruses and our cells.
“The number of doctoral students in Canada willing to do scientific research is not enough to meet the demand,” he explains in his laboratory in the research center of the Sainte-Justine Hospital, where students from all over the world study.
The impending departure of Negar Joharinia, a master’s student in microbiology and immunology at the University of Montreal’s medical school, will see her lose a “very talented” student. “This is a disgrace for research,” said Mr. Lippé. Negar is super competent and very well trained. Who better than someone who has just been trained for this job? »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Roger Lippé, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at the University of Montreal
It’s a wheel. If we have good staff, do good research, can apply for other grants, we’ll start again. So it’s disabling in several ways, not just in the short term, it can also have longer term effects. That means we have to train someone new. We’re starting from scratch again.
Roger Lippé, Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at the University of Montreal
“I have to study”
For Negar, the problem is learning French. The student is taking courses part-time, but fears this will not be enough to obtain the Quebec Selection Certificate, a requirement for permanent residence.
“I really like Montreal,” she admits, “in a mix of French and English. But as far as I know, there are two programs that allow us to stay in Quebec after our studies. And in both cases you must demonstrate a good knowledge of French. This is the hardest part. Reaching this level takes a lot of time and energy, and I am a full-time student. I have to work full time. I’m taking French courses, but I still need to learn. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Negar Joharinia, a master’s student in microbiology and immunology at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine
French is not really a problem in the master’s degree program in research, as the language of communication is English. However, if Negar wants to apply for permanent residency, she must pass an advanced French language test. “In science, English is the international language,” explains Mr. Lippé. Therefore, everyone in my lab must be bilingual. We have no choice. They all need to understand English. »
He believes that Negar Joharinia would have been an ideal candidate for a research assistant position upon graduation. “His expertise would be very useful to advance our research. Who do we want in Quebec if not people with such skills? These are people who come to improve society. »