Chair of CSHS Student Committee

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 the pathogenicity of Botrytis. 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. 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.

Quebec Representative

Ernesto is a PhD student in Food Science at Laval University. His research is all about helping Canadian growers get the most out of Haskap (Lonicera caerulea) berries – an exciting and relatively new crop with a lot of potential. One of the biggest challenges with haskap is how quickly the berries spoil after harvest, so he's working on developing better storage strategies and exploring postharvest abiotic stress treatments to extend shelf life and preserve quality.

However, his work doesn’t stop there. He also dives into what happens before harvest, studying how the berries grow and change through different stages—looking at their physiology, chemical makeup, and even their 3D structure using imaging tools. By putting all of this together, his goal is to provide solid, science-based solutions to support local growers and encourage more people to consider haskap as a strong alternative crop.

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.

Nova Scotia Representative

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.

Nova Scotia Representative 

I’m Qiucheng Jiang, a second-year master’s student at Dalhousie University. I’m studying the effect of caffeine on tomato seedling growth and drought stress tolerance. In my spare time, I enjoy playing basketball. I’m glad to be part of the CSHS community and look forward to working with other members.

Manitoba  Representativer

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.

Alberta Representative

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.