Prof. Dr. Christian Karpfinger is a faculty member at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), working within the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT) in the Department of Mathematics (M11). He is based in Garching bei München, Germany, with his office located in room MI 2.12.37. His research and teaching activities focus primarily on algebra, field theory, and mathematics education. Christian Karpfinger's research interests span multiple areas of algebra including: Valuation theory and field extensions Transcendental field extensions Near-fields and ordered algebraic structures Automorphism groups Cryptology and its algebraic foundations Mathematics education and textbook development His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to algebraic theory, particularly in valuation extensions and field theory. Karpfinger's work shows a progression from foundational studies in transcendental extensions to more specialized work on near-fields and ordered structures. His research has practical applications in cryptology and theoretical mathematics. Christian Karpfinger is an active educator who has taught numerous mathematics courses at TUM, with a focus on linear algebra, algebra, and cryptology. He has authored or co-authored several influential mathematics textbooks that are widely used in German universities.
Jean Bousquet is a distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics at Université Laval, where he serves as a Regular Member of the Centre d'études de la forêt (CEF). He held the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Forest Genomics (Tier 1) from 2001 to 2022, making him one of the first to receive a third term renewal for this senior-level chair. As a founding member of the Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS) and academic director of the FastTRAC team funded by Genome Canada and Genome Quebec, Professor Bousquet has established himself as a leader in forest genomics research. Professor Bousquet completed his academic training with a B.Sc. in Forest Engineering from Université Laval in 1984, followed by studies in forest genetics at Université Laval and the Petawawa National Forestry Institute (1984-1986). He earned his Ph.D. in Forest Genetics from Université Laval and the University of Alberta (1986-1989), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular phylogeny of trees at Oregon State University (1989-1990). His research focuses on forest genomics and population genetics of conifers, with particular expertise in phylogeography of conifer genomes, development of genomic resources, and predictive genomics for tree breeding. Professor Bousquet's work has significantly advanced our understanding of genetic diversity and adaptation in forest trees, particularly in spruce species. His recent publications demonstrate continued leadership in analyzing drought responses, genomic selection methods, and comparative genomics across conifer species, with a strong emphasis on climate change adaptation. Professor Bousquet's research has important implications for climate change adaptation in forests, as his team develops methods to accelerate the development of tree varieties that are more productive and resilient to abiotic and biotic stresses. This work is becoming increasingly critical as climate change poses new challenges to forest ecosystems. Prix Grand Diplômé de l'Université Laval et médaille Gloire de l'Escolle (2014) Prix Acfas – Michel-Jurdant 2013 (Sciences de l'environnement) FastTRAC team received Impact pour l'excellence en science award from Natural Resources Canada (2020) FastTRAC team received Mérite pour l'excellence en science award from Natural Resources Canada (2019) As an advisor, Professor Bousquet has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students throughout his career, including current students Édouard Reed-Métayer (Ph.D.) and Juliette Bourgeois and Vincent Quevillon (M.Sc.). His research is primarily supported by NSERC, Genome Canada, Genome Quebec, Natural Resources Canada, MRIF, and FRQ-NT, reflecting the significance and impact of his work in the field of forest genomics. Professor Bousquet leads research within the Canada Research Chair framework and collaborates extensively with the FastTRAC and Spruce-Up projects, which focus on developing genomic tools for forest tree improvement. His laboratory is part of a larger network of researchers working on conifer genomics, with particular emphasis on applying genomic selection techniques to accelerate breeding programs for climate-resilient tree varieties.
