Education
University of Waterloo, Canada
Doctor of Philosophy
Geography, Illegal Wildlife Trade
Sep 2019 - present
University of Kent, UK
2017 - 2018
Master of Science with Distinction
Conservation and the International Wildlife Trade
University of Toronto, Canada
Bachelor of Science with Honours
Specialist in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Minor in History
2013 - 2017
Recognitions
UW/SSHRC Robert Harding & Lois Claxton Humanities and Social Sciences Grant
2023
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship Award
2021-2024
President’s Graduate Scholarship
2021
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (Declined)
2021
Lorne Russwurm Teaching Assistant Award
2020
President’s Graduate Scholarship
2020
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
2020
GRADflix Research Communication Award
2020
Exceptional Doctoral Student Scholarship
2019
Provost Doctoral Entrance Award for Women
2019
Project Grant provided by the Columbus Zoological Park Association
2018
Project Grant provided by the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
2018
Carin Wittnich Scholarship (University of Toronto)
2016
Research Skills
My academic and extensive practical placement history demonstrate that I am committed to lifelong learning, self-directed, and able to excel in both classroom and field learning environments. I have participated in a number of research and volunteer projects focusing on a variety of taxa, from snapping turtles and howler monkeys, to sharks and sperm whales. These experiences have given me the opportunity to develop skills relating to conducting effective literature searches, formulating a question, analyzing data, using statistics and presenting data. I am skilled in field methods such as interviewing, radio telemetry, behaviour sampling, performing photo-identification, wildlife rehabilitation including wound care and medication administration, as well as setting and checking traps for wildlife research. I also have experience doing lab work such as biochemical analysis, using ArcGIS, SPSS, NVivo, and Python.
Communication Skills
My fieldwork has taken place in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Greece, Costa Rica, and Uganda. Completing my masters abroad offered me the opportunity to not only learn and grow as a student, but also as an individual. Through my extensive travel background, immersing myself in new cultures, and by working with people from around the world, I have cultivated strong communication and leadership skills, and gained an appreciation of both biological and cultural diversity. I am recognised as a compelling public speaker and have presented my masters and initial doctoral research at numerous international conferences. In addition, I have experience teaching third year undergraduates and recently won an award in my Department for my engagement and dedication to teaching. Each set of experiences has contributed to my conservation knowledge and deepened my commitment to protect the world's biodiversity.
