Bio
My name
is Robert Laporte, I am currently in my final year of my undergrad (cell and
molecular biology) at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada
My Background
I have had a strong interest in studying infectious disease for many years. I feel unique in a way in that I HAVE NOT LET SCHOOL INTERFERE WITH MY EDUCATION. What I mean is that I've known for a long time what I want to do with my life and realized early in my university education that there is much more in preparing yourself for the "real world" than any school curriculum can try to do. Therefore I began preparing for my career while I followed the courses the university offered in my program. Over the past few years I have learned an incredible amount from the internet surfing sites from other universities, as well as from being part of internet communities involved in microbiological research and immunology. I also learned a lot from reading biographies about my heroes in infectious disease research (from Leeunhoek to Reed to McCormick)
When I graduate from Concordia I am hoping to pursue further studies in immune regulation, where I will enhance my ideas for DNA vaccines and gene therapy. And where hopefully some of my little yellow stickies above my desk will become reality...
My Experience
I started working at ClinTrialsBioResearch in 1998 where I'm still a member of the IPB/Repro toxicology quality assurance team.
In 1999 I participated in a course sponsored by USAMRIID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease) and CDC entitled "Biological Warfare & Terrorism" where I learned much of what I'm about to share with you using this website.
This past summer I did my internship at Supratek Pharma Inc. located at the Armand Frappier Institute. I was a member of the gene therapy team which is involved in making DNA vaccines for melanoma and arthritis. Our school doesn't place us for internships, nor is it required, but I made one up anyways to get experience!) I hope this site stimulates other students to take initiative to take the first steps in following their dreams, after all, it was the internet that started me on my way...