Meet the 2023 CSHS Student Committee

 


Chair of CSHS Student Committee and Student Representative for Quebec

My name is Sarah and I am a PhD candidate at the Université de Sherbrooke. I am conducting my research in a plant virology lab at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. My project is focused on the sustainable management of Botrytis, a fungal pathogen destructive to many horticultural crops. I am characterizing viruses that naturally infect Botrytis to identify ones that can reduce Botrytis’ pathogenicity. My ultimate goal is to develop a biopesticide for Botrytis that combines a virus that can reduce the pathogenicity of Botrytis with an RNAi gene silencing system. I look forward to being the CSHS student committee chair this year and seeing what our committee can accomplish! Please feel free to contact me if you would like to get involved with the CSHS student committee or if you would like to know more about my research.


CSHS Student Committee Co-chair and Student Representative for British Colombia

Hi! I’m Claudia Baldassi, a PhD student in Plant Science at UBC. My research project focuses on understanding the genetic control of red raspberry fruit color. Interestingly, the raspberry industry requires berries with different red intensities depending on the market targeted; dark red fruit is usually needed for processing applications, while bright, medium red colors are preferred for the fresh market. To date, the genetic determinants underlying red fruit color and specific shades of red are still unknown, making breeding for desired fruit color a challenging task. The goal of my project is to pinpoint the genetic variation underlying different shades of red and to develop molecular markers associated with such variation. Ultimately, my project could provide breeders with tools to optimize the selection of raspberry cultivars with preferred red intensities. When I am not in the lab, you can find me hiking in the Pacific Northwest or experimenting in the kitchen!  


Ontario Provincial Representative

My name is Sarah Koeppe and I am a masters student in the department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. I also completed my BSc at the University of Guelph with a major in Plant Science and focused my extracurriculars and course load around plant pathology and disease management strategies. My current research is being conducted in the lab of Dr. Melanie Kalischuk where I am researching the use of RNA interference as a method to control a fungal pathogen of strawberry. My research is looking into the role of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) construct length and the use of encapsulation methods to increase the overall of efficiency of RNAi when dsRNA is applied exogenously. The goal of my research is to further our understanding of RNAi and its role as a crop protection strategy and to provide the groundwork for the development of an RNAi-based control method. Outside of my research I love to go hiking to find interesting native plants and I love adding to and tending to my rapidly growing garden!  


Ontario Provincial Representative

My name is Ifesinachi Nelson Ezeh. I am a second-year master's student at the department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph. I completed my first MSc and BSc. from Saint Petersburg State Agrarian University, Russia with a major in Crop Production, focusing on resistance of wheat to leaf rust pathogen. My current research is being conducted in Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald's lab where I am studying the performance of Naio Orio robot in weed management of vegetable crops in the muck soil of the Holland Marsh and mineral soil at the edge of the marsh, and the collection of data for the optimization of Picketa-Leaf Evaluated Nutrient System (LENS) technology used for real-time leaf tissue assessment. We hope to empirically determine if the robots are as efficient as tractors, or better. Our primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of the electric agricultural robot, Naio Orio, in comparison to conventional means of cultivating and spraying in table beets and carrot crops on high organic matter and mineral soils. The hypothesis is that the robot is more effective than conventional weed management on both soil types. Our second objective is to assess the Picketa-LENS technology, which offers real-time tissue testing for crop nutritional status. The hypothesis is that the Picketa results are as accurate as lab tissue tests.

  

Student Representative for Nova Scotia

Aswin Jeyapandian is a Master's student at Dalhousie University, specializing in agriculture under the supervision of Dr. Lord Abbey. His research focuses on the impact of Marine waste based Biostimulants on the growth and productivity of plants, contributing to the development of sustainable agricultural practices. Aswin is deeply involved in both community and academic activities. He has completed an international internship, volunteered at Dalhousie Community Day 2024, and served as a chaperone for a 7-day Awtiket summer camp for Indigenous students.

During his undergraduate studies, Aswin was the secretary of the Dr. Salim Ali Nature Club, where he organized various events aimed at creating environmental and sustainability awareness among the public and school children. He also led several birdwatching sessions, reflecting his passion for nature and wildlife.

In his free time, he enjoys bird photography, playing football and badminton, and immersing himself in nature. Known for his dedication, competitive spirit, and approachable demeanor, Aswin is committed to making a lasting impact in his field and community.

Chamali Kodikara, a graduate student in Agriculture and Agri-food and the University of Manitoba, is focused on identifying bioactive compounds in Canadian Prairie berries using advanced techniques such as LC-HRMS and GC-MS at the Canadian Center for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine. Successfully detecting nearly 70 phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterols in prairie berries, she excels in her research. Chamali also serves as the President of the Graduate Students Association at the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, taking on leadership roles in various student organizations and contributing to scientific communities such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Her involvement includes chairing the Graduate Students Video Competition at IFT, representing students at the Nutraceuticals and Functional Food Division, and participating in the Women Resource Group. Committed to leadership, Chamali's professional goal is to complete her graduate studies, engaging in impactful research as a scientist, and emerge as an influential leader in her field.


Student Representative for Manitoba

NatalieChamali Kodikara, a graduate student in Agriculture and Agri-food and the University of Manitoba, is focused on identifying bioactive compounds in Canadian Prairie berries using advanced techniques such as LC-HRMS and GC-MS at the Canadian Center for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine. Successfully detecting nearly 70 phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterols in prairie berries, she excels in her research. Chamali also serves as the President of the Graduate Students Association at the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, taking on leadership roles in various student organizations and contributing to scientific communities such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Her involvement includes chairing the Graduate Students Video Competition at IFT, representing students at the Nutraceuticals and Functional Food Division, and participating in the Women Resource Group. Committed to leadership, Chamali's professional goal is to complete her graduate studies, engaging in impactful research as a scientist, and emerge as an influential leader in her field.

Chamali Kodikara is the new representative for Manitoba on the CSHS student committee. She is a graduate student at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the University of Manitoba and is focused on identifying bioactive compounds in Canadian Prairie berries using advanced techniques such as LC-HRMS and GC-MS at the Canadian Center for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine. Successfully detecting nearly 70 phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and phytosterols in prairie berries, she excels in her research.

 

Chamali also serves as the President of the Graduate Students Association at the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, taking on leadership roles in various student organizations and contributing to scientific communities such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Her involvement includes chairing the Graduate Students Video Competition at IFT, representing students at the Nutraceuticals and Functional Food Division, and participating in the Women Resource Group. Committed to leadership, Chamali's professional goal is to complete her graduate studies, engage in impactful research as a scientist, and emerge as an influential leader in her field.


Student Representative for Alberta Natalie

My name is Natalie LaForest and I am a graduate student at the University of Alberta. I completed my diploma in ecology from Lakeland College and have a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Horticulture Science from the University of Saskatchewan. My current research focuses on integrated weed management by investigating species of carabids (ground beetles) in different annual crops in Alberta. By using molecular gut content analysis we will be able to identify which species of weeds carabids are consuming in annual crops. In the summer I spend a lot of time gardening, and in the winter I spend a lot of time in greenhouses. One of my favourite horticulture events in Alberta is the Orchid Fair where I volunteered as a judge last year.


Student Representative for British Columbia Natalie

My name is Pin-Jui Chen, and I am currently a second-year master’s student in Plant Science at The University of British Columbia. It’s not surprising that we can notice variability within a vineyard regarding vine vigor and grape quality. The intra-vineyard variability could be substantial regarding vine vegetative growth, plant nutritional status, reproductive growth, grape technological maturity, and grape aroma. Understanding these variabilities is crucial for optimizing vineyard management and making informed wine production decisions. The quality of wine is a multifaceted concept, heavily influenced by a wide range of sensory attributes, among which aroma is a critical factor. Volatile terpenoids, which contribute to floral and citrus flavors, are key determinants of grape and wine quality in aromatic grape cultivars such as Riesling and Gewürztraminer. My research focuses on understanding these intra-vineyard variabilities and revealing the relationships among the aforementioned parameters. I also assess the potential use of remote sensing techniques for zone delineation, particularly for characterizing high terpenoid zones efficiently and cost-effectively. Moreover, I evaluate the effectiveness of variable rate fertilization as a strategy to improve intra-vineyard uniformity.