Curriculum Vitae / Résumé
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Highlights of Qualifications
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  • 5 years of experience evaluating the fate and effects of chemicals in the environment through collaborative work with stakeholders including government, non-governmental organizations, municipalities, industry, universities, and associations
  • Successfully completed a Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology and is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy in Aquatic Toxicology
  • A skilled scientist who is trained to be a critical thinker; be unbiased in research; design and coordinate scientifically-sound experiments; synthesize, analyze, and summarize information for dissemination to various audiences as evidenced by graduate research work
  • A skilled teacher who is committed to being respectful of diversity; generating enthusiasm in students; help students complete projects within tight deadlines; provide constructive criticism on students’ scientific writing style; encourage students to be critical thinkers
  • Effective communicator who publishes in refereed scientific journals; is awarded for research ideas and novelty; is recognized for public speaking (best presenter award in a national conference)
Education

​Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Candidate: Aquatic Toxicology, Sep 2016 – Present
University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences, Guelph, ON
Thesis: Microcystins in the Great Lakes: Mechanisms of toxicity and risks from consumption of fish
​Advisor: Dr. Paul K. Sibley

Master of Science (M.Sc.), Environmental Toxicology, May 2016
University of Guelph, School of Environmental Sciences, Guelph, ON
Thesis: Evaluating the effects of triclosan on field crops and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in biosolids-amended soil
Advisor: Dr. Paul K. Sibley

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Toxicology, Dec 2014
University of Guelph, College of Physical and Engineering Sciences, Guelph, ON
Thesis: Evaluation of antimicrobials in major agricultural products following land application of municipal biosolids
Advisor: Dr. Paul K. Sibley
Professional Experience

​Graduate Researcher (Ph.D.), Sep 2016 – Present
Aquatic Toxicology Unit, Ministry of the Environment, Toronto, ON
  • Circumvent over $100,000 cost to purchase analytical standards through the development of a method for producing cyanobacterial toxins
  • Test the fate and effect of chemicals in the environment by designing and coordinating large-scale experiments investigating the uptake and depuration kinetics of cyanobacterial toxins in 3 fish species relevant to Lake Erie, providing evidence as to whether humans are at risk from fish consumption
  • Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as toxin measurements, dose-response relationships, proteomics, lethality, and reproduction effects in exposed aquatic (in)vertebrates
  • Analyze data to determine validity, quality, and scientific significance and to interpret correlations between the effects of chemicals and adverse effects in aquatic (in)vertebrates
  • Collaborate with experts across multiple disciplines from provincial (Ministry of the Environment) and academic research institutions (Guelph, Ontario Institute of Technology, Toronto) to conduct robust experiments on the fate and effect on chemicals in the environment; results are published in refereed scientific journals
  • Provide scientific guidance, support, and coordination to management within the Ministry of the Environment and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters regarding the potential for cyanobacterial toxins to threaten the health of fish
  • Communicate scientific information to the public, organizations, and internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, and training sessions
  • Supervise and mentor one graduate researcher and two undergraduate researchers
  • Awarded over $35,000 in research funding in recognition of demonstrating a novel approach to understanding the mechanisms of toxicity from cyanobacterial toxins in fish relevant to the Great Lakes

Graduate Teaching Assistant (Course: Project in Environmental Sciences), Sep 2017 – May 2019
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
  • Guide over 150 fourth-year undergraduate students step-by-step on how to approach an environmental
  • problem presented by an external client, and to come-up with science-based solutions for the clients within tight deadlines
  • Provide students with constructive criticism on their scientific writing style while encouraging them to be critical thinkers
  • Grade student assignments, such as proposals, poster presentations, and final reports.
  • Develop teaching materials, such as rubrics
  • Troubleshoot challenges within student groups by implementing a plan of action that respects their diversity of circumstances while increasing their success in the course

Graduate Teaching Assistant (Course: Pesticides and the Environment), Sep 2016 – Dec 2016
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
  • Helped over 100 students understand the role and use of pesticides by various facets of society and the effect of these pesticides on biological activities in the environment

Research Technician, May 2016 – Aug 2016
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
  • Managed laboratory functions including organization, extraction, and identification of field samples needed for 2 M.Sc. thesis projects

Graduate Researcher (M.Sc.), Jan 2014 – May 2016
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
  • Designed original experiments to assess the risk of an antimicrobial chemical (triclosan) to adversely affect 3 cash crops grown in 4 types of municipal biosolids, amended with soil
  • Engaged in collaborative work with stakeholders from government (Ministry of the Environment), nongovernmental organizations (Canadian Water Network), municipalities (Calgary, Halton Hills, Toronto), industry (Lystek), universities (Guelph, Ryerson, Toronto, Trent), and associations (Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association) to investigate the risk of chemical exposure from biosolids to crops
  • Managed laboratory functions including setup, takedown, extraction, and identification of triclosan in vector
  • Synthesized, analyzed, and summarized scientific information in the form of oral briefings, refereed scientific journal publications, written documents, press articles, and conferences, making it accessible and understandable to key stakeholders and the general public
  • Recognized for novelty in research through an award from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association and being named Highly Qualified Personnel for contribution to biosolids in a report released by the Canadian Water Network
Professional Memberships

International Association for Great Lakes Research
Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry for North America
Laurentian Chapter for the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Grants

Rockefeller Foundation’s 2050 Food System Vision Prize (Semi-Finalist) Oct 2019 – Jul 2020
Amount: $200,000 USD, New York City, NY
Proposal: Envisioning a food system based on truly integrative agricultural practices for 2050
  • I led a Semi-Finalist team that was selected for The Food System Vision Prize launched by The Rockefeller Foundation and powered by SecondMuse and OpenIDEO. This effort called on organizations around the world to envision a nourishing, regenerative food system for 2050. My team was selected as one of 79 Semi-Finalists from over 1,300 submissions across 199 countries for this prestigious Prize.
  • Our submission was highlighted during the global event ‘Reimagining Food Systems: Driving Action for a Post-COVID World’, hosted by the Eat Forum and the Rockefeller Foundation Event.
  • We partnered with the City of Guelph, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Canada, Arrell Food Institute (University of Guelph), and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to develop a framework outlining a set of practices that will maximize food production and minimize environmental footprints.
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Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Fisheries Research Grant Mar 2018
​Amount: $4,000 CAD, Peterborough, ON
  • Successfully awarded $4,000 research grant to support Ph.D. research on fish and wildlife topics that helped to improve Ontario’s resource management
Awards and Honours

2020 - Research Scholarship ($2,000), IAGLR
2019 - Ontario Graduate Scholarship ($15,000), University of Guelph
2018 - Student Travel Award ($500), SETAC North America
2018 - Ontario Graduate Scholarship ($15,000), University of Guelph
2017 - NSERC CREATE Tri-Council Scholarship ($3,000 /2 years), University of Guelph
2017 - NSERC CREATE Scholarship ($21,000 /2 years), University of Guelph
2016 - University Graduate Scholarship ($3,000 /3 years), University of Guelph
2016 - Graduate Excellence Entrance Scholarship ($30,000 /1 year), University of Guelph
2016 - Best Presenter Award ($500), SETAC North America
2016 - Student Travel Award ($500), SETAC North America
2015 - Dean’s Scholarship ($500), University of Guelph
2014 - Research Scholarship ($1,000), Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
2013 - André Auger Citizenship Award, University of Guelph
2011 - Film Contest Winner, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change