Madison Rilling is General Manager of Optonique, Québec’s Photonics Cluster, which brings together and mobilizes all the players in the province’s photonics sector – industry, research centers & educational institutions – around the common objectives of innovation, growth and competitiveness.

Madison holds a Joints Honours degree in Mathematics and Physics from McGill University (Montréal, QC), as well as an accredited M.Sc. degree in Medical Physics and a Ph.D. degree in Physics from Université Laval (Québec, QC). Combining her training in optical design and radiation oncology, her research focused on developing clinical 3D radiation dose-measuring tools.

In addition to her technical expertise, Madison brings experience in provincial and federal government policy and research funding. During her PhD, Madison acted as a student advisor to Québec’s Chief Scientist, contributing to strategy and program development related to the funding and training of student researchers. She was the sole student to sit on the Board of Directors of the FRQNT, Québec’s provincial funding agency in natural sciences & engineering. Madison is currently a member of Canada’s Chief Science Advisor’s Youth Council and a board member of Science & Policy Exchange, which both enable scientists to leverage their technical expertise towards building sustainable bridges between academia, industry & government. She was awarded Optica’s prestigious 2021 Chang Pivoting Fellowship.