APB Scholarship winners

APB Scholarships Recipients for 2009

The Association of Professional Biologists recognizes the importance of both initial and continuing education within the profession of applied biology. We extend our congratulations to all of the 2009 scholarship recipients. On behalf of its members, the Board of Directors has authorized awarding the two $1000 scholarships for 2009 to Josephine Symonds, BIT (the graduate award) and Melany Rosberg, St. (the undergraduate level award).

Congratulations Josephine.

Josephine Symonds, BIT is currently in a MSc program at UBC. “Under the supervision of Dr. Jason Pither, my research will be focused on invasive species and nectar resources in the endangered antelope-brush (Purshia tridentate) ecosystems of the South Okanagan, with particular focus on the habitat resources of the Behr’s hairstreak (Satyrium behrii Columbia), a federally threatened butterfly that obligately uses antelope-brush as its larval host plant. This research will contribute significantly to the conservation and management of Behr’s hairstreak and other species at risk that use antelope-brush habitats in the South Okanagan. My degree will also include coursework in the areas of spatial ecology, advanced data analysis, and applied biology. These courses will improve my technical skills in experimental design and conservation approaches, as well as improve my oral and written communication skills, all of which will benefit my subsequent professional biologist work.”

During her undergraduate degree, “I had the opportunity to participate in an animal ecology field course in the Ecuadorian tropical wet forest … Field research skills obtained during this field course included mark-recapture surveys to assess population size, mist-netting to determine bird species assemblages by habitat type, and determine optimal quadrat size to assessing plant abundance. As part of this course I also conducted original research to compare butterfly diversity and abundance between disturbed and undisturbed sites, though which I gained experience planning and implementing field programs, trouble-shooting in the field, conducting statistical data analysis and literature reviews, and writing for
scientific manuscripts.”

Congratulations Melany.

Melany Rosberg, St. is currently completing her Animal Biology degree at TRU. “With a father who immersed me in his profession as a biologist, APB Scholarship Recipients for 2009!!! the experience motivated me to learn everything he knew… Growing older, I realized I had a compassion for animal life, and did everything I could to gain experience in this field. This included volunteering with the BCIT Fish, Wildlife and Recreation department”.

“I have found that I have a passion for large mammals including Cougars, Bears and Caribou. With my degree I plan on pursing this by working to help preserve their existing habitat and environments while studying their natural behaviour. I also want to direct my studies towards endangered species. The number of species whose habitats are being lost is increasing and I feel that this is an area of biology that I could contribute to in the future.”

During the past summer, Melany was working with a summer youth program called “Catching the Spirit” with MetroVancouver Regional District. “It is an outdoor youth program that endeavours to develop leadership and social responsibility skills by involving youth in restoration and stewardship projects, nature immersion and new technology skills including GPS systems. I have found that Catching the Spirit is an effective way to instil knowledge of sustainability and conservation to the upcoming generation in a fun outdoor setting.”

Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) Scholarship Recipients for 2009

The APB Scholarship program was expanded for 2 years (2008 and 2009) due to an agreement with Environment Canada through the Environmental Damages Fund. On behalf of
Environment Canada, the APB and it’s members, the Board of Directors has authorized awarding the 3 $2000 scholarships for 2009 to Natashia Bose-Roberts, Lily Kotzava, and
Brieanne Matier

Congratulations Natashia.

Natashia Bose-Roberts is currently in the fourth year of her Microbiology degree at UBC Okanagan and will be completing her Honours thesis. “My interest in biology started when I
was a child; I received a microscope at the age of 8 and a whole new world opened up to me. From that point on I was looking at everything I could find with 10x magnification, from leaves and bugs to the dust I found on the floor. It interested me to know that there were things that existed apart from what we could see with the naked eye.”

“This fascination with the microscopic world has lead me into the microbiology degree which I am now pursuing. The microbiology degree program offered at the Okanagan campus is centered largely on human interactions with microorganisms; it is only once I began working as a research assistant that I realized the environmental impact these microorganisms truly have.”

“I was hired as a research assistant to Dr. Louise Nelson; the project centered around formulating a biological control for post-harvest pathogens of pome fruit … The proposed biological control uses plant growth promoting rhizobacteria which have anti-fungal properties and are found naturally in the soil. The application of these bacteria to pome fruit
after harvest could potentially eliminate the need for synthetic fungicides.”

Congratulations Lily.

Lily Kotzava is currently working on her MSc at UBCO. “My interest in biology stems from a young age, born in Bulgaria, some of my fondest childhood memories are from spending time on our family farm. I loved to explore the world around me; intrigues by every animal and plant I had countless questions about each of them and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.”

“This passion for the natural world led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Biology. In my 3rd year at The University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) … I was employed o do some microscopic work counting fungi on the roots of young trees inoculated with truffle spores with the ultimate goal of the project being initiate truffle agriculture in the Okanagan.”

“During my 4th year I undertook a directed study in the field of molecular insect physiology under the supervision of Dr. Rheault. My project was titled “The Characterization of Copper
Transport by the Malpighiam tubules of Drosophila melanogaster” and was one of the most intriguing and difficult things I have done.”

“It is during this time that I first realized that my interest in biology really could be more than an interest but a rewarding career … My [MSc] thesis is on metals toxicology and the transport physiology of metals in the Malpighian tubules of Aedes aegypti: the yellow fever causing mosquito. My work is environmentally relevant because current trends in aquatic
toxicology focus on fish as model organisms, yet few studies have investigated the toxic effects of metals on insects. Occupying every biome on earth, insects have great potential
as sentinel animals in metal toxicology, however relatively little is known about how insects cope with metal contaminations and the mechanisms that are involved in metals detoxification and excretion. As well as being environmentally relevant my project is also medically and economically relevant because mosquitoes are vectors of diseases like malaria and yellow fever. A better understanding of their physiology and ability to ion-regulate will aid in developing novel target specific pesticides which are environmentally benign.”

Congratulations Brieanne.

Brieanne Matier is currently enrolled in a MSc program in the field of cell and molecular physiology. “I first became interested in research while working at the Okanagan Sterile Insect Release, where I encountered the economic hardships endured by many orchardists in the Okanagan Valley due to the Codling moth endemic. The root issue involved ineffective pesticides for this invasive species and has resulted in harsher and more expensive chemicals being used and these factors have contributed to the decline of the hard
fruit industry in the valley.”

“An effective solution to the Codling moth endemic could be one application of the research I will be conducting during the course of my Masters degree. The goals of my project are to identify and functionally characterize organic cation transporters (OCT’s) in Drosophila melanogaster. OCT’s are responsible for the secretion of xenobiotics such as organic pesticides and plant toxins from the hemolymph of insects, through a trancellular route, and into the lumen of the Malpighian tubules where the primary urine is modified and eventually excreted. One of the long-term applications of identifying the individual OCT’s and where they lie in insect could be the development of benign transport blockers that would allow insect pests to be controlled without the used of dangerous and toxic pesticides. Once applied, the transporter blocker inhibits the insects’ ability to excrete any organic toxins, whether natural or synthetic, leading to the eventual mortality of the insect. The specificity of the transporter and blocker would need to be assessed to ensure that these blockers affect no other species. The applications of pest control are broad; for example, in our lab we also house Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito responsible for spreading
disease in may countries worldwide, which also currently has no effective control measures.

“Last summer, I became involved with a facility, based out of Kelowna, called CrocTalk Conservation and Rescue, where I volunteer as an assistant animal handler and as a spokesperson … I am actively involved in the research at CrocTalk’s facility, as their research is based on bonding with animals and animal behaviour … At this facility, I have been exposed to a number of endangered and at risk species and have had the opportunity to learn a number of tragic statistics involving these amazing animals.”

“My long term research and career goals include finding a reason to conserve crocodilian species through research into the field of disease research. Recent research has been published on the abilities of crocodilian immune systems to combat a number of bacterial infections to which humans are susceptible, as well as viral infections for which we have no vaccine. I am interested in working to identify immune pathways in crocodilians and what differences exist between our immune systems and theirs.”

BIONews Volume 19, Number 3