SAL Lab Research Assistant
Undergraduate Student, B.Sc. Applied Biology – Plant & Soil Science
Research interests:
- Utilizing agroforestry practices to meet conservation and production objectives in tandem
- Evaluating and improving food sovereignty and self-reliance among BC First Nations
- Non-timber forest products
- Exploring the potential of the native flora of the Northwest Coast to contribute to food production
SAL Research:
Currently I have been working on a project in affiliation with Hupacasath First Nation as a part of my NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award. I have been studying the environmental and biotic factors affecting sap flow rates in Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum Marsh) for the purpose of syrup production.
From the Summer of 2014 to present, I have also been working on the Lower Fraser Valley Nutrient Database project. We have worked to develop methods for preparing manure and plant tissue samples for analysis by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier-Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) in order to accurately assess their nutrient content.
In 2013 I worked with Bryanna Thiel on her project, “Evaluating Planted versus Remnant Hedgerows for Climate Change Mitigation on Farmland in the Lower Fraser River Delta”. I have assisted with field sampling of soils and gases as well as lab analyses.
In the fall of 2015 I will be completing an undergraduate thesis project with the SAL Lab funded by an NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award.
Presentations:
- “Device for Evacuation of Gas Chromatography Vials” – Poster, LFS Graduate Student Conference 2013
Affiliations
- Hupacasath First Nation – Agricultural Project Manager
Awards:
- NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2015)
- Dharma Master Chuk Mor Memorial Scholarship (2015)
- Derek Vallis Scholarship in Agricultural Sciences (2015)
- Trek Excellence Scholarship for Continuing Students (2014)
- Dave Currey Award in Applied Biology (2014)
- BC Institute of Agrologists Dean Blythe A Eagles Scholarship (2013)