Courses in Environmental Sustainability
GEOG 1100: Introduction to Environmental Studies and Sustainability – Winter 2025
In the second semester of my third year, I completed GEOG 1100, Introduction to Environmental Studies and Sustainability. Through this course, I was able to learn about the geographical effects of climate change and concepts such as food webs and nutrient cycles. I learned the history of the environmental movement and how society’s views of climate change have shifted between anthropocentric to ecocentric perspectives. From these ideas, I have developed a greater appreciation for how we are meant to interact with nature as something not created for human use, but as something we must treat with respect as its own entity.
BIOL 2160: Introductory Microbiology – Fall 2023
In the first semester of my second year, I completed BIOL 2160, Introductory Microbiology. This course taught me about how interconnected our ecosystems are, from the tallest trees to the tinniest microbes. The concepts of bioremediation and microbe driven waste management were introduced which reinforced the importance of working with nature to help restore the environment we all depend on.
Employment Related Activity – Green Jobs
NSERC USRA – Summer 2025
Continued work in collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Van Hamme to investigate the ability of Gordonia sp. strain NB4-1Y to degrade environmentally concerning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A time course experiment was conducted with the end goal of measuring gene expression over time when NB4-1Y is provided with various sulfur sources including PFAS. Gene expression will be measured using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) primer and probe assays I developed. This work will be published and contribute to the rapidly growing knowledge base on bioremediation attempts for PFAS contaminated sites. PFAS have piqued interest in scientific communities across the globe as its dangers have become more well known to the public, therefore research like mine is important and relevant.
NSERC USRA – Summer 2024
Continued work with Dr. Jonathan Van Hamme regarding environmentally concerning PFAS and PFAS degrading bacteria, specifically NB4-1Y and JVH1. The work involved many independently organized time course experiments where PFAS degrading bacteria were grown using various sulphur sources. The methods developed were used later during my directed study and honours project. Additionally, sequenced the complete genome for Rhodococcus sp. JVH1 and published on the National Centre for Biotechnology Information database. Through my research experience, I’ve learned the importance of bioremediation and how reversing environmental damage already done is just as important as preventing damage yet to come.
Environmental Organization
Westsyde Secondary Climate Action Club – Fall 2021 and Winter 2022
Was a founding member of the Westsyde Secondary Climate Action Club. The club strived to create positive, sustainable change and focused on addressing climate change issues within our school and community through education and action. After being designated as the social media coordinator of our club, I focused on educating the student body about climate change through informational advertisements. Reaching out to similar clubs at other schools in hopes to collaborate on future projects was another one of my responsibilities. Connecting with other groups outside of our immediate community offered opportunities for us to work on a greater scale towards the common goal of educating others and putting into practice a more sustainable approach to living. The club also participated in and organized many events such as the Kamloops Film Festival’s first ever Sustainability Evening, tree planting on campus, and a school wide event called Earth Week.
Extra-Curricular Knowledge Sharing
TRU URIC and SUPER Conference Presentations – Winter 2025
Produced a poster titled “Quantitative PCR assay development for monitoring genes suspected of contributing to PFAS degradation by Gordonia sp. strain NB4-1Y” and presented at the 2025 TRU Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference and 2025 TRU Science Undergraduate Poster Exhibition of Research. The poster presentation focused on research completed during my directed study project with Dr. Jonathan Van Hamme regarding environmentally concerning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their degradation by a microbe, NB4-1Y.
In a Nutshell Research Competition – Winter 2025
Orally presented my work under Dr. Jonathan Van Hamme to investigate the ability of Gordonia sp. strain NB4-1Y to degrade environmentally concerning perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, in a undergraduate 3-minute thesis competition. The presentation involved delivering an engaging presentation of my research to a non-specialist audience using only one static slide. Through preparing the presentation I was able to learn how to clearly and concisely portray the environmental severity of PFAS contamination to a non-specialist audience.
Give Back Project
CSM 74th Annual Conference Poster Presentation – Summer 2025
Travelled to Montreal, Quebec, Canada to present my directed study project supervised by Dr. Jonathan Van Hamme at the 74th Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists. The poster was titled “Quantitative PCR assay development for monitoring genes suspected of contributing to PFAS degradation by Gordonia sp. strain NB4-1Y” and presented orally at the conference. At the conference I was able to disseminate my research and network with other researchers specializing in PFAS. During the conference, I was also able to attend various lectures and seminars focused on cutting edge microbiology. Many of the talks centered on microbial communities from thawing permafrost in the Artic and Antarctic due to the effects of climate change.
