Grad Student News Archives - Department of Biology /biology/category/news/grad-student-news/ Ӱԭ University Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:51:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Buxton Lab Students Turn Windows into Bird-Saving Art /biology/2025/17507/ Tue, 13 May 2025 19:59:24 +0000 /biology/?p=17507 Last weekend, students from Dr. ܳٴDz’s lab teamed up with the Conservation Collective to transform the windows of Nesbitt Building into a vibrant and life-saving work of art. The group painted a stunning bird-friendly mural designed to prevent bird-window collisions – a known hazard for migratory species navigating urban environments. The initiative was led by […]

The post Buxton Lab Students Turn Windows into Bird-Saving Art appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Buxton Lab Students Turn Windows into Bird-Saving Art

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 2 minutes

Grad Student News

News

Last weekend, students from teamed up with the Conservation Collective to transform the windows of Nesbitt Building into a vibrant and life-saving work of art. The group painted a stunning bird-friendly mural designed to prevent bird-window collisions – a known hazard for migratory species navigating urban environments.

The initiative was led by MSc student Stasha Lysyk, who studies bird-window collisions as part of her graduate research in Dr. Buxton’s lab. Her work has documented several fatal bird strikes at the Nesbitt Biology building, inspiring this community-based solution to make a meaningful difference.

The mural follows bird-safe design principles that reduce window reflectivity and visual confusion for birds, helping them avoid deadly impacts.

“’s amazing to see art and science come together for DzԲپDz.”

The post Buxton Lab Students Turn Windows into Bird-Saving Art appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Congrats to MSc Candidates Raegan Davis and Isaac Finkelstein at the CU Annual 3MT! /biology/2025/congratulations-to-msc-candidate-raegan-davis-annual-3mt/ Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:59:41 +0000 /biology/?p=17408 Ӱԭ University held its annual Three Minute Thesis Competition on March 27, 2025. Congratulations to our very own MSc Candidate, Raegan Davis, of the Cooke Lab for coming in Second Place with the talk “Dam it, I’m stranded: quantifying fish stranding downstream of hydropeaking facilities.” Congratulations to MSc Candidate Isaac Finkelstein of the Sherratt Lab for placing as […]

The post Congrats to MSc Candidates Raegan Davis and Isaac Finkelstein at the CU Annual 3MT! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Congrats to MSc Candidates Raegan Davis and Isaac Finkelstein at the CU Annual 3MT!

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

Ӱԭ University held its annual Three Minute Thesis Competition on March 27, 2025.

Congratulations to our very own MSc Candidate, Raegan Davis, of the Cooke Lab for coming in Second Place with the talk “”

Congratulations to MSc Candidate Isaac Finkelstein of the Sherratt Lab for placing as a finalist with the talk ““

You can read all the details about the 2025 competition here: .

The post Congrats to MSc Candidates Raegan Davis and Isaac Finkelstein at the CU Annual 3MT! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> PhD Student Katelyn Cunningham Presents at Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM /biology/2025/phd-student-katelyn-cunningham-presents-at-pembroke-and-area-field-naturalists-agm/ Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:09:11 +0000 /biology/?p=17395 PhD student Katelyn Cunningham studies under Dr. Steve Cooke and Dr. Sean Landsman and her research is focused on understanding the movement, ecology, and population genetics of two freshwater fish species in Algonquin Park. Cunningham is the special guest speaker at the Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM on April 15 – open to the […]

The post PhD Student Katelyn Cunningham Presents at Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

PhD Student Katelyn Cunningham Presents at Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

PhD student Katelyn Cunningham studies under Dr. Steve Cooke and Dr. Sean Landsman and her research is focused on understanding the movement, ecology, and population genetics of two freshwater fish species in Algonquin Park.

Cunningham is the special guest speaker at the Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM on April 15 – open to the public and will be doing a presentation on Lake Sturgeon and Musky in the Petawawa River system.

More information about the AGM and the club can be found here: https://www.recorder.ca/opinion/columnists/pembroke-and-area-field-naturalists-hosting-special-guest-speaker-at-agm.

The post PhD Student Katelyn Cunningham Presents at Pembroke and Area Field Naturalists AGM appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Arm Wrestling in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance /biology/2025/arm-wrestling-in-biol-4309-studies-in-human-performance/ Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:26:08 +0000 /biology/?p=17367 Ever wonder what happens in an upper-year Biology lab? It might not be what you think! Students in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance learn about electromyography (EMG) through… Arm Wrestling!  This course explores the biomechanical underpinnings of human performance including the quantitative analysis of human motion in normal activities and in athletic performance. Check […]

The post Arm Wrestling in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Arm Wrestling in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

Ever wonder what happens in an upper-year Biology lab? It might not be what you think! Students in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance learn about electromyography (EMG) through… Arm Wrestling! 

This course explores the biomechanical underpinnings of human performance including the quantitative analysis of human motion in normal activities and in athletic performance.

Check out this video from one of the lab sessions this Winter 2025 where Lab Coordinator Andras Dobai, with special guest Per Law from the Ӱԭ Arm Wrestling Club, lead the study of electromyography (EMG) through calibration, safety, techniques and data collection: . 

The post Arm Wrestling in BIOL 4309 Studies in Human Performance appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Dalal Hanna along with her Research Students examine Local Stream’s Ecosystem /biology/2024/dalal-hanna-along-with-her-students-examine-local-streams-ecosystem/ Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:18:46 +0000 /biology/?p=16077 On a sweltering July day, Ӱԭ University’s Assistant Professor Dalal Hanna, along with her research students conducted fieldwork at Shield’s Creek, a small stream near. This research, part of Hanna’s broader focus on freshwater ecosystems, aims to highlight the importance of these often-overlooked habitats. Dr. Hanna, driven by a childhood love for freshwater environments, emphasizes […]

The post Dalal Hanna along with her Research Students examine Local Stream’s Ecosystem appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Dalal Hanna along with her Research Students examine Local Stream’s Ecosystem

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

On a sweltering July day, Ӱԭ University’s Assistant Professor Dalal Hanna, along with her research students conducted fieldwork at Shield’s Creek, a small stream near. This research, part of Hanna’s broader focus on freshwater ecosystems, aims to highlight the importance of these often-overlooked habitats.

Dr. Hanna, driven by a childhood love for freshwater environments, emphasizes the need to connect people with local waterways to inspire better environmental stewardship.

to read the full story.

The post Dalal Hanna along with her Research Students examine Local Stream’s Ecosystem appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Biology Grad Student’s Thesis Explores Game Day Readiness in Female Athletes /biology/2024/biology-grad-students-thesis-explores-game-day-readiness-in-female-athletes/ Fri, 14 Jun 2024 15:41:09 +0000 /biology/?p=15791 Nick Westcott, our Biology Grad is the first researcher to assess the effect of resistance priming on female athletes. The implications of his data are important to strength and conditioning coaches who might seek to apply these practices with their professional female athletes. What was so exciting about Nick’s project on the effects of game-day […]

The post Biology Grad Student’s Thesis Explores Game Day Readiness in Female Athletes appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Biology Grad Student’s Thesis Explores Game Day Readiness in Female Athletes

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

Nick Westcott, our Biology Grad is the first researcher to assess the effect of resistance priming on female athletes. The implications of his data are important to strength and conditioning coaches who might seek to apply these practices with their professional female athletes.

What was so exciting about Nick’s project on the effects of game-day resistance priming was that it was directly related to his work as the strength and conditioning coach for the CU varsity athletes,” says Department of Biology Associate Professor Jeff Dawson, one of Westcott’s co-supervisors.

The post Biology Grad Student’s Thesis Explores Game Day Readiness in Female Athletes appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Team Insecta’s Research on Crickets as Food for Space Travel /biology/2024/team-insectas-research-on-crickets-as-food-for-space-travel/ Thu, 23 May 2024 14:10:00 +0000 /biology/?p=15444 As space exploration efforts accelerate and the global space race reaches new heights, NASA is grappling with providing astronauts with nutritious, easy-to-grow food in an environment devoid of gravity. Department of Biology’s student research team (Team Insecta) is exploring the suitability of crickets as a food source in space. Read the full story here! The team […]

The post Team Insecta’s Research on Crickets as Food for Space Travel appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Team Insecta’s Research on Crickets as Food for Space Travel

Published on May 13, 2025

Grad Student News

News

As space exploration efforts accelerate and the global space race reaches new heights, NASA is grappling with providing astronauts with nutritious, easy-to-grow food in an environment devoid of gravity. Department of Biology’s student research team (Team Insecta) is exploring the suitability of crickets as a food source in space.

The team members are guided by our Biology professors Heath MacMillan and Sue Bertram, and have been mentored by Matt Muzzatti, a PhD graduate post-doctoral fellow who is optimizing the diet of farmed crickets to enhance their nutritional value.

 

The post Team Insecta’s Research on Crickets as Food for Space Travel appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Aidan Wouters discusses about the crucial role of bats in nature /biology/2024/aidan-wouters-discusses-about-the-crucial-role-of-bats-in-nature/ Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:19:38 +0000 /biology/?p=15364 Ӱԭ Biology’s grad Aidan Wouters working with Christina Davy & Jeff Dawson was recently interviewed on iHeart podcast. Aidan is studying biomechanical implications of adaptation to ground-roosting in bats, with a focus on the eastern small-footed bat. International Bat Appreciation Day: The crucial role of bats in nature Click here! to listen to her podcast […]

The post Aidan Wouters discusses about the crucial role of bats in nature appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Aidan Wouters discusses about the crucial role of bats in nature

Published on May 13, 2025

Time to read: 1 minutes

Grad Student News

News

Ӱԭ Biology’s grad working with Christina Davy & Jeff Dawson was recently interviewed on iHeart podcast. Aidan is studying biomechanical implications of adaptation to ground-roosting in bats, with a focus on the eastern small-footed bat.

to listen to her podcast hosted by science communicator Dan Riskin.

 

The post Aidan Wouters discusses about the crucial role of bats in nature appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Ӱԭ Biology Students on CBC Radio! /biology/2024/carleton-biology-grads-on-cbc/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:08:55 +0000 /biology/?p=15305 What happens to crickets in space?   Our Biology Grads & Undergrads: Emily McColville, Sophie Kasdorf, Hunter Brzezinski & Cassandra Stabile working with Sue Bertram & Heath MacMillan were featured on CBC radio for their outstanding research on crickets. Their team is sending crickets at different life stages on Canada’s Falcon 20 aircraft, which will […]

The post Ӱԭ Biology Students on CBC Radio! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Ӱԭ Biology Students on CBC Radio!

Published on May 13, 2025

Grad Student News

News

What happens to crickets in space?

 

Our Biology Grads & Undergrads: Emily McColville, Sophie Kasdorf, Hunter Brzezinski & Cassandra Stabile working with Sue Bertram & Heath MacMillan were featured on CBC radio for their outstanding research on crickets.

Their team is sending crickets at different life stages on Canada’s Falcon 20 aircraft, which will fly in parabolas to simulate microgravity. They’ll be held in a secure case that’s regulated for temperature. The team is looking at “several different factors” from the flight, notably whether the crickets survive and if their age affects their likelihood of making it back alive.

According to Sophie Kasdorf, a mission specialist with Team Insecta, crickets could be suitable for space travel because they can be raised in a small space with limited resources. Read more

to listen to the recording.

The post Ӱԭ Biology Students on CBC Radio! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]> Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva – Winner of Ӱԭ University’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition! /biology/2024/ana-hernandez-martinez-de-la-riva-winner-of-carleton-universitys-2024-three-minute-thesis-competition/ Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:23:55 +0000 /biology/?p=15288 On March 28, 2024, Ӱԭ University held its annual Three Minute Thesis Competition. A first round was held in the morning and then 10 finalists competed for the top prizes in the afternoon. Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva, PhD student in our Biology department secured first place in the competition. Ana’s presentation is titled, Where is […]

The post Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva – Winner of Ӱԭ University’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>

Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva – Winner of Ӱԭ University’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition!

Published on May 13, 2025

Grad Student News

News

On March 28, 2024, Ӱԭ University held its annual Three Minute Thesis Competition. A first round was held in the morning and then 10 finalists competed for the top prizes in the afternoon.

Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva, PhD student in our Biology department secured first place in the competition.
Ana’s presentation is titled, Where is Jack? How to find plants when they are rare.

Congratulations Ana!

 

The post Ana Hernandez Martinez de la Riva – Winner of Ӱԭ University’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition! appeared first on Department of Biology.

]]>