Antimicrobial resistance and its impact on the legume-rhizobium mutualism
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Doyle, Department of Biology (rebecca.doyle@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Estimated start date is May 5th, 2025 until end of term, August 8th, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 4 students
Research Discipline: Plant-microbe interactions (plant biology, microbial ecology)
Proposed Training
Students will learn about antimicrobial resistance in bacterial populations associated with crops. They will gain skills related to aseptic technique, microbial culturing, and plant care, in addition to molecular biology skills (DNA isolations, PCR amplification).
Location of Training
Life Science Building Lab 504
Additional Notes
- Each volunteer will need to commit to 5 hrs per week for four weeks.
- Capacity for one volunteer at a time.
- Work is planned for 16 weeks.
- Up to 4 volunteer opportunities are therefore available over the spring/summer.
All mandatory safety training will need to be completed, including greenhouse-specific training. Must be enrolled in or have a credit in Biology 1M03 and a strong interest in microbiology, ecology, and/or evolution.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 1SB1 – Antimicrobial resistance Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025 [Applications have now closed]
Using bacteriophage to shape-up soil microbiomes
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Doyle, Department of Biology (rebecca.doyle@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Estimated start date is May 5th, 2025 until end of term, August 8th, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 4 students
Research Discipline: Plant-microbe interactions
Proposed Training
Students will learn about bacteriophage-bacteria interactions and how they can be used to benefit crops. They will gain skills related to aseptic technique, microbial culturing, and phage plaque assays.
Location of Training
Life Science Building Lab 504
Additional Notes
- Each volunteer will need to commit to 5 hrs per week for four weeks.
- Capacity for one volunteer at a time.
- Work is planned for 16 weeks.
- Up to 4 volunteer opportunities are therefore available over the spring/summer.
All mandatory safety training will need to be completed, including greenhouse-specific training. Must be enrolled in or have a credit in Biology 1M03 and a strong interest in microbiology, ecology, and/or evolution.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 1SB1 – Using bacteriophage Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025 [Applications have now closed]
Determining microbial isolate quality when individually inoculated green pea plants
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Doyle, Department of Biology (rebecca.doyle@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Estimated start date is May 5th, 2025 until end of term, August 8th, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 20 students
Research Discipline: Plant-microbe interactions (plant biology, microbial ecology)
Proposed Training
Students will learn about the BENEFIT Project: characterizing plant-growth promoting microbial isolates sourced from Canadian soils, with the goal to reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture. They will learn about the legume-rhizobium mutualism and gain skills related to aseptic technique, experimental design, plant care, and microbial culturing.
Location of Training
McMaster Biology Greenhouse
Additional Notes
- Each volunteer will need to commit to 5 hrs per week for four weeks.
- Capacity for five volunteers at a time.
- Two experiments are planned over the summer, for a total of 16 weeks.
- Up to 20 volunteer opportunities are therefore available over the spring/summer.
All mandatory safety training will need to be completed, including greenhouse-specific training. Must be enrolled in or have a credit in Biology 1M03 and a strong interest in microbiology, ecology, and/or evolution.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 1SB1 – Determining microbial isolate Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025
McMaster Biology Greenhouse Volunteer
Instructor: Dr. Susan Dudley, Department of Biology (sdudley@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Estimated start date is May 5th, 2025 until end of term, August 8th, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 20 students
Research Discipline: Plant Biology
Proposed Training
Training starts after the first two weeks after start of term, and will continue until the end of the term. Volunteers will be trained to take care of plants in the greenhouse, which will include trimming, planting, transplanting, propagating, fertilizing, watering, and weeding. As required, students may also need to treat plants that have been infected with either fungus or insects by removing bugs by hand. Other activities include cleaning and washing pots. Twice a year, there is a sale of plants propagated by volunteers, with the proceeds used to increase the collection and to pay for biocontrol of plant pests. Volunteers will be trained to give tours of the greenhouse to visitors.
Location of Training
Biology Greenhouse
Required Health and Safety Training on Mosaic which includes WHMIS 2015, Violence and Harassment Prevent AND FIre Safety, Ergonomics OR SAFE training. Students should enroll in these courses and complete the tests on Avenue.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 1SB1 – McMaster Biology Greenhouse Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025