Field Research Project: Biogeoscience Institute(BGI) associated with the University of Calgary in Kananaskis, AB
Important Note: Students will be required to take the three 1-unit courses associated with this field project: 2SG1: Part 1; 2SG1: Part 2; 2SG1: Part 3
Supervisor: Dr. Sara Smith, Department of Biology; Mt. Royal University (ssmith6@mtroyal.ca)
McMaster Liaison: Dr. Sunita Nadella
Location of Training: Barrier Lake Field Station at the Kananaskis Biogeoscience Institute; University of Calgary. Students will be housed in cabin style shared accommodation at the BGI. The Office of Undergraduate Research will cover the cost of, travel, accommodation, and associated research fees. Selected students will be responsible for booking their own travels and will be reimbursed after the trip on submitting their flight ticket and boarding passes
Dates: June 29, 2025 – July 10, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 10 students
Research Discipline: Biogeoscience
Alpine habitats pose unique challenges and opportunities for invertebrates, influencing their adaptations, distribution, and vulnerability to environmental changes, including climate change. Alpine wetland also play an important role in the global carbon balance but are experiencing severe degradation under climate change and human activities. Students will have the opportunity to train in the following activities to study invertebrate biodiversity and estimate carbon storage capacity of alpine forests.
- Naturalist Observations
- Hypothesis Generation
- Prediction Formulations
- Robust experimental design
- Field Research Methods
- Sweep net invertebrate sampling
- Biotic measurements of edge effects
- Tree Identification
- DBH measurements of trees (diameter at breast height)
Students will gain knowledge of Alpine Forests and Wetland Ecology in this project. They will learn skills in research design, hands-on and lecture-based experience in field research and exploratory data analysis.
Part 1 Proposed Training
June 30, 2025 – July 4, 2025
Alpine habitats pose unique challenges and opportunities for invertebrates, influencing their adaptations, distribution, and vulnerability to environmental changes, including climate change to understand these effects in a research setting 10 students will be trained on the following:
- Naturalist Observations
- Hypothesis Generation
- Prediction Formulations
- Robust experimental design
- Field Research Methods
- Sweep net invertebrate sampling
- Biotic measurements of edge effects
Prerequisites
- Level 1 & 2 Undergraduate Science students
- Completion of a basic Ecology course is preferred.
- Students with career interests in the field of environmental science or conservation biology will be an asset
Part 2 Proposed Training
July 5, 2025 – July 7, 2025
Alpine wetland plays an important role in the global carbon balance but are experiencing severe degradation under climate change and human activities. 10 Students will have the opportunity to engage in the following activities to estimate carbon storage capacity of alpine forests.
- Tree Identification
- DBH measurements of trees (diameter at breast height)
- Estimating carbon in a tree involves two basic steps,
- (1) determine the dry weight of the wood, and
- (2) determine how much of that wood is carbon
Prerequisites
- Level 1 & 2 Undergraduate Science students
- Completion of a basic Ecology course is preferred.
- Students with career interests in the field of environmental science or conservation biology will be an asset
Part 3 Proposed Training
July 8, 2025 – July 9, 2025
10 students will receive training to approach exploratory data analysis that involves analyzing datasets to summarize the main characteristics of observations, using statistical graphics and data visualization methods to uncover patterns and relationships.
- Biological data analysis
- Data processing and cleaning
- Data visualization
- Introduction to R
- Statistical Analysis
Prerequisites
- Level 1 & 2 Undergraduate Science students
- Completion of a basic Ecology course is preferred.
- Students with career interests in the field of environmental science or conservation biology will be an asset
Students are required to take Part 1-3 of the course which would comprise 3-units.
To apply for all 3 courses, please fill out the following Application Form.
Deadline: April 10, 2025
Collection of eDNA Samples to Confirm Breeding Habitats of Endangered Jefferson Salamanders in Southern Ontario
Instructor: Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser, Department of Biology (chowfras@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Week of May 5, 2025 – May 9, 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 5 students
Research Discipline: Ecology and Conservation Biology
Proposed Training
Between May 5 to May 9, 2025 (exact dates to be determined based on weather conditions) up to 5 students will assist Dr. Chow-Fraser and graduate student Eli Winward survey vernal pools in southern Ontario for presence of eggs or larvae of the endangered Jefferson Salamander. The course will consist of two days: Day 1 morning (9am-noon) learning about eDNA and how to sample vernal pools safely. Day 1 afternoon (1-4 pm) go into the field to sample in a vernal pool and to collect eDNA samples and to approximate morphometric information about the vernal pool and estimate canopy cover. Day 2 (9 am to 4 pm) drive to several vernal pools and assist in collecting eDNA samples for a research project. No prior experience is required—equipment and on-site training will be provided. Please note that these two days may not be consecutive due to weather.
Location of Training
Campus and vernal pools within 60 km of Hamilton
Additional Notes
- Requires travel off campus during daytime.
- Students must provide their own lunch and snacks during field sampling.
- Students must be prepared to hike in wooded areas and carry water samples or heavy backpack.
Completion of Biology 2F03 or equivalent is preferred. Students with career interests in the field of environmental science or conservation biology will be an asset.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 2SG1 – Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025 [Applications have now closed]
Collecting Terrestrial Invertebrates to Characterize PFAS Concentrations in the Food Web of European Starlings
Instructor: Dr. Emily Choy, Department of Biology (choye1@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: 2 weeks in May 2025
Enrolment Capacity: 5 students
Research Discipline: Ecology
Proposed Training
During May, students will assist graduate student Julianna Colafranceschi in collecting terrestrial invertebrates from a landfill in Brantford, Ontario and a rural reference site in Delhi, Ontario, helping to characterize PFAS throughout the food web of European starlings nesting in those areas. Students will first learn how to deploy pitfall and malaise traps that will be used to collect these organisms. In the weeks following the initial set-up, students will collect additional invertebrates using sweep nets. In the lab, students will learn to identify the taxonomic order of terrestrial invertebrates using a light microscope and iNaturalist software. No prior experience or training is required – all necessary information and equipment will be provided on-site.
Location of Training
McMaster Campus; Mohawk Street Landfill (20 Morrison Road, Brantford, ON)
Additional Notes
- Much of the training will take place off-campus in Brantford and Delhi.
- Students are not required to drive, as transportation will be provided.
- Training involves moderate physical activity.
- As students will be out for a few hours at a time, they are encouraged to bring food, water, and comfortable clothing.
Completion of Biology 2F03 or equivalent is preferred. Students with career interests in environmental science, avian conservation biology, or ecotoxicology will be an asset.
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 2SG1 – Dr. Emily Choy Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025 [Applications have now closed]
Field Trail Sampling: Nodule and Soil Collections from Green Pea Experiment
Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Doyle, Department of Biology (rebecca.doyle@mcmaster.ca)
Dates: Estimated to be last week of May, as exact dates will depend on when peas are planted in April.
Enrolment Capacity: 5 students
Research Discipline: Plant biology, agriculture
Proposed Training
Group of up to five students will leave from LSB to Ridgetown to meet SyM3 lab collaborators, take a tour of commercial pea fields, and sample nodules from an on-going field trial. They will then head back to the lab and help with nodule processing, including surface sterilization, crushing, streaking out contents, and culturing/archiving bacteria inside (e.g. DNA isolations and PCR amplification).
Location of Training
University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus: 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada, N0P 2C0
Additional Notes
- Travel off campus required – about a 2 hr drive from campus.
- Students will be brought to/from Ridgetown, and then work from LSB thereafter.
All mandatory safety training will need to be completed. Enrolled in or credit in Biology 1M03 and strong interest in plant biology, microbiology, ecology, and/or evolution
To apply for this course, please fill out the following SCIENCE 2SG1 – Dr. Rebecca Doyle Course Application Form – Spring/Summer 2025 online.
Deadline: March 28, 2025 [Applications have now closed]