Originally from Sherbrooke, I completed my bachelor’s degree in microbiology at the Université de Sherbrooke, where I developed an interest in developmental biology. I later shifted toward neuroscience during my master's degree in physiology, focusing on the relationship between attention, impulsivity, and white matter microstructure in school-aged children. I am currently completing my PhD in physiology, where I investigate the links between cognition, behavior, and neurophysiology using multimodal MRI and advanced statistical approaches. Outside from academia, I am a Formula 1 enthusiast 🏎️, a long-time hockey player 🏒, and an occasional golfer ⛳!

• Scientific member of the CIUSSS EMTL ethics committee, Montréal, Canada (2025-present) [current].
• Research Assistant, Dr Takser Team, Department of Pediatrics, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada (2020).
• Internship, Dr Takser Team, Department of Pediatrics, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada (2020).
• Internship, Dr Verlhac and Dr Terret Team, Collège de France, Paris, France (2019).
• Internship, Dr FitzHarris Team, Department of OBGYN, CHUM Research Center and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada (2019).
• Internship, Dr Valiquette Team, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada (2018).

1. Fan, Y., Shen, Y., Zhang, Y., Gagnon, A., Martinez, G., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Michael, A., Zhu, J., Bellenger, J.-P., Langlois, M.-F., Takser, L., & Gao, F. (2026). Halogenated flame retardants, thyroid function biomarkers, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related traits and neurodevelopment in children: Recent evidence from a Canadian prospective birth cohort study. Environmental Research, 297, 124144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.124144
2. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M. A., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2026). Regional brain age deviations reveal divergent developmental pathways in youth. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2026.03.010
3. Gagnon, A., Boré, A., Valcourt Caron, A., Edde, M., Thoumyre, S., Lepage, J.-F., Talati, A., Posner, J., Ouellet, A., Brunet, M. A., Takser, L., Rheault, F., & Descoteaux, M. (2026). sf-pediatric: A robust and age-adaptable end-to-end pipeline for pediatric diffusion MRI. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.01.19.700454
4. Renauld, E., Boré, A., Poirier, C., Valcourt-Caron, A., Karan, P., Théberge, A., Théaud, G., Edde, M., Poulin, P., Girard, G., Houde, J.-C., Gagnon, A., St-Onge, E., Little, G., Legarreta, J. H., Thoumyre, S., Grenier, G., El Yamani, Z., Ocampo Pineda, M., … Descoteaux, M. (2026). Tractography analysis with the scilpy toolbox. Aperture Neuro, 6. https://doi.org/10.52294/001c.154022
5. Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Desautels, A.-S., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., Brunet, M. A., & Takser, L. (2025). Beyond discrete classifications: A computational approach to the continuum of cognition and behavior in children. npj Mental Health Research, 4(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-025-00163-5
6. Zhang, Y., Gao, F., Gagnon, A., Fan, Y., Martinez, G., Gillet, V., Michael, A., Zhu, J., Posner, J., Bellenger, J.-P., Baccarelli, A., Takser, L., & Shen, Y. (2025). Associations of Legacy and Emerging Halogenated Flame Retardant Exposures with Childhood Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-Related Traits and Brain Functional Connectivity in a Canadian Birth Cohort. Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c08031
7. Lunsford-Avery, J. R.*, Gagnon, A.*, Raffanello, E., Woodruff, J., Ouellet, A., Gillet, V., Bouchard, V., Talati, A., Takser, L., & Posner, J. (2025). Sleep and fatigue complaints during pregnancy versus perinatal depression: Impact on toddler cognition. Journal of Affective Disorders, 120119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120119 *: co-first authors.
8. Hardy, I., Gagnon, A., Croft, E.-K., Tremblay, L., Lebel, R., Roy-Lacroix, M.-È., Takser, L., Ouellet, A., & Gris, D. (2025). Neurodevelopmental impacts of betamethasone administered in the late preterm period: An experimental study in CD-1 mice. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 110, 107523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2025.107523
9. Abou Chakra, C. N., Gagnon, A., Lapointe, S., Granger, M.-F., Lévesque, S., & Valiquette, L. (2024). The Strain and the Clinical Outcome of Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Meta-analysis. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 11(3), ofae085. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofae085
10. Wang, Y., Gagnon, A., Raffanello, E., Xiu, Y., Bouchard, V., Talati, A., & Posner, J. (2024). 56. Charting the Influence of Maternal Depression Throughout Pregnancy on Neonatal Thalamocortical White Matter Connectivity. Biological Psychiatry, 95(10), S98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.234
11. Gagnon, A., Grenier, G., Bocti, C., Gillet, V., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2023). White matter microstructural variability linked to differential attentional skills and impulsive behavior in a pediatric population. Cerebral Cortex, 33(5), 1895–1912. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac180
12. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., & Takser, L. (2022). Better characterization of attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in children with ADHD: The key to understanding the underlying white matter microstructure. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 327, 111568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2022.111568
13. Sussman, T. J., Baker, B. H., Wakhloo, A. J., Gillet, V., Abdelouahab, N., Whittingstall, K., Lepage, J.-F., St-Cyr, L., Boivin, A., Gagnon, A., Baccarelli, A. A., Takser, L., & Posner, J. (2022). The relationship between persistent organic pollutants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder phenotypes: Evidence from task-based neural activity in an observational study of a community sample of Canadian mother-child dyads. Environmental Research, 206, 112593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112593
14. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Baccarelli, A., & Takser, L. (2022). White matter microstructure associated with the range of attentional and impulsive performance in school-aged children. European Psychiatry, 65, S83. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.251

1. IBRO travel award for the Canadian Association for Neuroscience conference, 2026.
2. CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Program on Neuroscience & AI, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (Lisbon, Portugal), 2025.
3. Travel award from the Mother-Child research axis at the Université de Sherbrooke Research Center, 2025.
4. Travel award for an international conference from Neurosciences Sherbrooke, 2025.
5. Oral presentation award at the 22^nd scientific day of the department of pediatrics, Université de Sherbrooke, 2024.
6. CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarships — Doctoral (CGS D), #493956, 2023.
7. Experience Venture Scholarship for an entrepreneurial project, 2023.
8. Investissement Québec Scholarship for an entrepreneurial project, 2023.
9. Deloitte Scholarship for an entrepreneurial project, 2023.
10. Finalist in the popular science competition of the Université de Sherbrooke, 2023.
11. Publication award from the Centre de Neuroscience de Sherbrooke for article Gagnon A., 2023, Cerebral Cortex, 2023.
12. Fondation J.A. DeSève Doctoral Scholarship - Université de Sherbrooke, 2023.
13. Dean's Honor list for academic and research excellence, 2021-2022.
14. Fondation J.A. DeSève Master's Scolarship - Université de Sherbrooke, 2021.
15. First prize for scientific communication during the scientific day of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Université de Sherbrooke, 2020.
16. Internship scolarship from the Faculty of Medicine and Health of the Université de Sherbrooke, 2020.
17. Paul Desmarais Fund scholarship for an international internship, 2019.
18. Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Quebec scolarship for an international internship, 2019.

1. Zhang, Y., Shen, Y., Fan, Y., Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Bellenger, J.-P., Baccarelli, A., Takser, L., & Gao, F. (2026). Multi-omics gut microbiome species and functional modules linking metal exposures to children's neurodevelopmental health in a Canadian birth cohort [Conference presentation]. ISEE North America Chapter Meeting, Baltimore, MD, USA.
2. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M. A., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2026). From brain age deviations to developmental trajectories in adolescence [Poster presentation]. Canadian Association for Neuroscience Meeting, Montreal, QC, Canada.
3. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M. A., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2026). Regional brain age deviations reveal divergent developmental pathways in youth [Poster presentation]. 81st Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, New York, NY, USA.
4. Nicolas, F., Gagnon, A., Binh, T., Pokora, N., Hart, L. A., Gillet, V., Whittingstall, K., Lepage, J.-F., Takser, L., Ouellet, A. B., & Larivière, S. (2026). Les effets de l'exposition prénatale sur le développement du cerveau chez les nourrissons [Poster presentation]. AIM-CIMUS Scientific Day, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
5. Gillet, V., Gagnon, A., Haroune, L., & Ouellet, A. (2026). Exposition prénatale au cannabis : le méconium est-il un indicateur de confiance? [Oral presentation]. Congrès provincial de la recherche mère-enfant, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
6. Gagnon, A., Boré, A., Valcourt Caron, A., Edde, M., Thoumyre, S., Rheault, F., Brunet, M. A., Takser, L., & Descoteaux, M. (2025). nf-pediatric: A robust and age-adaptable end-to-end connectomics pipeline for pediatric diffusion MRI [Oral presentation]. International Society for Tractography Conference, Bordeaux, France.
7. Vas, R. K., Gagnon, A., Potvin, G., Bouchard, V., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Talati, A., Takser, L., & Lalwani, A. K. (2025). Effects of prenatal maternal depression and antidepressant exposures on offspring ENT outcomes [Poster presentation]. AAO-HNSF 2025 Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
8. Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Desautels, A.-S., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., Brunet, M. A., & Takser, L. (2025). A computational framework for capturing the real-world continuum of cognition and behavior [Poster presentation]. Canadian Association for Neuroscience Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada.
9. Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Desautels, A.-S., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., Brunet, M. A., & Takser, L. (2025). Modeling cognition and behavior as a fuzzy network: Findings from 3 independent pediatric cohorts [Poster presentation]. 80th Society of Biological Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada.
10. Zhang, Y., Gao, F., Gagnon, A., Fan, Y., Gillet, V., Michael, A., Posner, J., Bellenger, J.-P., Baccarelli, A., Takser, L., & Shen, Y. (2025). Associations of halogenated PBDE replacements exposure with childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes in a Canadian birth cohort [Poster presentation]. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA.
11. Zhang, Y., Gao, F., Gagnon, A., Fan, Y., Gillet, V., Michael, A., Posner, J., Bellenger, J.-P., Baccarelli, A., Takser, L., & Shen, Y. (2025). Associations of halogenated PBDE replacements exposure with childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes in a Canadian birth cohort [Poster presentation]. Society of Toxicology Lone Star Chapter, Texas, USA.
12. Valcourt Caron, A., Boré, A., Edde, M., Gagnon, A., Thoumyre, S., Royer, A., Rheault, F., & Descoteaux, M. (2025). nf-neuro: developing maintainable pipelines for seamless processing of diffusion MRI [Poster presentation]. ISMRM Workshop on 40 Years of Diffusion, Kyoto, Japan.
13. Valcourt Caron, A., Boré, A., Edde, M., Thoumyre, S., Gagnon, A., Rheault, F., & Descoteaux, M. (2024). Mining diamonds with wooden hammers: Getting diffusion MRI processing into the age of steel [Oral presentation]. Nextflow Summit, Boston, MA, USA.
14. Wang, Y., Gagnon, A., Raffanello, E., Xiu, Y., Bouchard, V., Talati, A., & Posner, J. (2024). Charting the influence of maternal depression throughout pregnancy on neonatal thalamocortical white matter connectivity [Oral presentation]. Society of Biological Psychiatry 79th Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, USA.
15. Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Desautels, A.-S., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., Brunet, M. A., & Takser, L. (2024). Investiguer la cognition et le comportement d'un angle flou: les résultats de 3 cohortes pédiatriques [Oral presentation]. Department of Pediatrics Scientific Day, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
16. Gagnon, A., Gillet, V., Desautels, A.-S., Lepage, J.-F., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., Descoteaux, M., Brunet, M. A., & Takser, L. (2024). Adopter la nature floue de la cognition et du comportement et sa relation avec les facteurs environnementaux: une étude multi-cohortes [Poster presentation]. Congrès provincial de la recherche Mère-Enfant (CPRME), Québec, QC, Canada.
17. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2024). Mapping the behavioral and cognitive profiles of the ABCD dataset: A data-driven fuzzy clustering and graph theory approach [Oral presentation]. ABCD Insight & Innovation Meeting (AIIM), Bethesda, MD, USA.
18. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2023). Understanding the brain and cognitive profiles in school-aged children [Oral presentation]. Talk Connect! Colloquium, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
19. Gagnon, A., Brunet, M., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2023). Higher white matter microstructure could be associated with higher cortical activity in connecting regions [Poster presentation]. American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA.
20. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., & Takser, L. (2022). La microstructure de la matière blanche est associée avec le comportement impulsif chez les enfants d'âge scolaire [Poster presentation]. Annual Retreat of the Mother-Child Research Axis of the CHUS Research Center.
21. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., & Takser, L. (2022). White matter microstructure associated with the range of attentional and impulsive performance in school-aged children [Poster presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP), New Orleans, LA, USA.
22. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Baccarelli, A. A., Posner, J., & Takser, L. (2022). White matter microstructure associated with the range of attentional and impulsive performance in school-aged children [Poster presentation]. Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS), San Francisco, CA, USA.
23. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Baccarelli, A. A., & Takser, L. (2022). White matter microstructure associated with the range of attentional and impulsive performance in school-aged children [Poster presentation]. 30th European Conference of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), Budapest, Hungary.
24. Gagnon, A., Descoteaux, M., Bocti, C., Grenier, G., Gillet, V., Posner, J., Baccarelli, A. A., & Takser, L. (2021). La relation entre la microstructure de la matière blanche et le spectre d'attention et du contrôle de l'impulsivité chez les enfants d'âge scolaire [Oral presentation]. 19th Scientific Day of the Pediatric Department of the Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
25. Gagnon, A., Larouche, A., Boivin, A., Gillet, V., Descoteaux, M., & Takser, L. (2019). Les caractéristiques des fibres neuronales: un indicateur des performances cognitives des enfants? [Oral presentation]. 16th Scientific Day of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Université de Sherbrooke) for undergraduates, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.

• Student Representative, Physiology Graduate Study Program, Université de Sherbrooke (2023-present) [current].
• Member, Mother-Child Research Axis Student Committee, CHUS Research Center (2021-present) [current].
• Volunteering for the 13th Foundation of Pediatric Research (formerly Star Foundation) wine auction for pediatric research (2025).
• Judge at the undergraduate scientific day of the medicine and health faculty, Université de Sherbrooke (2024).
• Organizing committee member, Brain Week (2024).
• Volunteering for the 12th Star Foundation wine auction for pediatric research (2024).
• Organizing committee member, 11th Scientific Day of Sherbrooke Neuroscience Center (2023).
• Organizing committee member, Brain Week (2023).
• Volunteering for the 11th Star Foundation wine auction for pediatric research (2023).
• Volunteering for the 10th Star Foundation wine auction for pediatric research (2022).
• Volunteering for the 9th Star Foundation wine auction for pediatric research (2021).

• American Journal of Psychiatry (7)
• BMC Psychiatry (4)
• Discover Mental Health (2)
• Journal of Psychiatric Research (2)
• Network Neuroscience (1)
• NeuroImage (4)
• Scientific Data (1)