Forestry Research Assistant – Natural Resources Canada
As a research assistant, I developed a wide range of skills and experience as a part of Natural Resource Canada. Located at the Northern Forestry Centre, a government research facility in Edmonton, I was given the opportunity to travel all around Alberta and work in forests affected by wildfire, measuring and collecting samples needed for various different research projects.
In addition, I’ve been isolating, growing and collecting mycelium, sorting insects to identify mountain pine beetles and currently, learning how to operate a PCR machine. The focus of this is to identify and learn more about the fungi associated to the blue and brown stains found in wood (these stains are found as a result of mountain pine beetle attacks).
Overall, in addition to gaining research experience in both the lab, the field, and travel to new places, this Co-op term has enabled me to meet many new people and exposed me to a variety of potential career options.