INTRODUCTION.

Explain how you qualify for the Undergraduate Research certificate by providing a brief overview of your research experiences. The introduction should be approximately 300 words.

Remember that you have the freedom to make this homepage your own; feel free to change the image to fit your personality and research journey!

THE STANDARDS.

Research is a process, so students are asked to demonstrate evidence supporting their engagement throughout their studies. This process normally involves generating a research proposal, engaging in recognized research activities, and sharing results via disciplinary-appropriate forms of knowledge mobilization. Students may submit evidence of research from a single significant research project (e.g., Honors thesis, UREAP project, NSERC USRA, Graduate Exhibition) or from multiple research activities (e.g., class research projects, research assistantships, volunteer research activity with a faculty mentor, etc.). Other relevant experiences may include the Knowledge Makers, Research Apprentice Program, Research Coach Program, Directed Studies, service-learning involving research, capstone projects, and major public performances. 

Research at TRU takes many forms, so evidence that demonstrates students’ ability to understand the research process, evaluate existing research, analyze information, draw conclusions and disseminate new knowledge will vary by discipline. 

All written evidence submitted must be clearly structured in Standard English, with few if any errors, and reference given to appropriate sources such as regulatory, professional, and scholarly works.

It is likely that multiple standards will be met based on a single research project; however, students must provide separate forms of evidence in order to demonstrate they have met the standards, even if they are all from the same experience. 

Below you will provide detailed explanations of each criterion by editing the drop-down accordion, either directly pasting your evidence or by uploading PDF documents through the “file” block. That way, you will have all of your proof the way you want to showcase it and right here, on one concise page!

Understanding the Research Process

Students analyze and discuss examples of writing from scientific and technical literature to improve their communication skills for lay and scientific audiences. Students learn to identify and produce writing styles and formats appropriate for science-based contexts and audiences, as well as develop skills in writing and documenting research documents on science and technology topics.

Literature Review: Bioremediation and the Application of Bacteria in Combating Anthropogenic Oil Spill Pollution

This literature review examines the role of bacterial bioremediation in addressing oil spill pollution, focusing on its effectiveness compared to conventional cleanup methods. Oil spills pose significant environmental threats, with past disasters such as the BP Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez spills demonstrating the limitations of chemical dispersants, mechanical extraction, and burning techniques. Bioremediation offers a promising alternative by utilizing oil-degrading bacteria to naturally break down hydrocarbons, reducing environmental harm while maintaining ecosystem balance.

For this project, I was responsible for writing the introduction and discussion sections. In the introduction, I outlined the severity of oil spills, the challenges posed by crude oil’s complex hydrocarbon composition, and the need for innovative, eco-friendly remediation methods. The discussion section analyzed the potential of bioremediation, exploring different bacterial strains, their metabolic pathways, and the environmental factors influencing their effectiveness. Additionally, I evaluated the advantages and limitations of bioremediation, emphasizing the need for further research on biodegradation rates in real-world conditions.

Literature-Review-Download

Students are introduced to statistical procedures for biological research. Topics include the nature of data, probability, hypothesis testing, goodness of fit, analysis of variance, correlation, and regression. The computer lab laboratory provides students with hands-on computer experience in graphical and statistical analysis.

Research Project: Weather Impact on Mental Well-Being in Canadian and Latin American Students Living in Canada

As part of this research project, I contributed to investigating how seasonal weather changes affect the mental well-being of international Latin American students compared to domestic Canadian students. My primary responsibilities included data collection, ensuring accuracy and consistency in responses. Additionally, I authored the introduction and methodology and discussion sections of the research paper, providing a structured foundation for the study by outlining its purpose, significance, and experimental approach.

Weather-Impact-Research-ProjectDownload

Students are introduced to the physiochemical basis for cellular activity, with emphasis on energy relationships, functions of cell parts, integration and internal control of cellular activities, and the mechanisms of influence of external factors. Laboratory work provides hands-on experience with the techniques and apparatus used to study cell function.

Research Project: The Effect of pH on the Proliferation of Endothelial Cells

As part of a team-based research project, I contributed to the investigation of how pH variations influence endothelial cell proliferation. My primary responsibilities included preparing the cell culture media, ensuring consistent feeding of the endothelial cells, performing sub-culturing techniques, and conducting the scratch assay to assess cell migration. Additionally, I was responsible for drafting the methodology section of the research paper, detailing the experimental procedures with precision and clarity.

The Effect of pH in Proliferation of Endothelial Cells Research Project Download

This is a laboratory course designed to give students practical hands-on experience with the instrumentation discussed in CHEM 3100: Instrumental Analysis. Students focus on the needs of chemical biologists while performing a variety of chemical analyses and gaining independent experience in analytical experimental design and method application to real samples.

Research Project: Determination of Heavy Metals in Cocoa Powder by ICP-MS Method after Microwave-Assisted Digestion

This study aimed to determine the concentration of trace heavy metals in four different cocoa powder brands using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples were digested with concentrated nitric acid in a microwave digestion system before being analyzed for metal content. The results provided insight into the presence of potentially harmful heavy metals in commonly consumed cocoa products.

For this project, I was responsible for the results section, data analysis, discussion, and conclusion. My role involved interpreting ICP-MS data, identifying trends in heavy metal concentrations, and assessing potential health implications. I conducted statistical analyses to ensure data reliability, discussed findings in the context of existing literature. Additionally, I synthesized the key outcomes in the conclusion, highlighting their significance and suggesting directions for future research.

Determination-of-Heavy-Metals-in-Cocoa-PowderDownload

This course is designed to allow students to undertake an investigation on a specific topic as agreed upon by the faculty member and the student.

Directed Studies Research: Sample Preparation Methodology for Detection of Bacteriophage Structural Proteins Using MALDI-TOF-MS

As part of my directed studies research under the supervision of Dr. Naowarat Cheeptham and Dr. Kingsley Donkor, I investigated the development of a methodology for identifying bacteriophage structural proteins using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The study focused on optimizing sample preparation techniques, including SDS-PAGE, in-gel trypsin digestion, and mass spectrometry analysis, to improve the identification of bacteriophage proteins.

My research involved the propagation of three bacteriophage strains (EC1KELCTY, EC1KELHOS, and EC3KAMCTY), preparation of phage lysates, and protein extraction using SDS-PAGE. Structural proteins were excised from gels, digested with trypsin, and analyzed using MALDI-TOF-MS to obtain mass spectra. Data analysis using the MASCOT search engine provided insights into the effectiveness of the methodology, highlighting the need for further optimization, such as incorporating desalting steps to improve spectral accuracy.

This project contributes to advancing phage proteomics by refining methods for bacteriophage protein identification, which has potential applications in microbial diagnostics, therapeutic development, and biofilm treatment strategies.

Bacteriophage Project Research ReportDownload
Poster_Research_Ale_0.3Download

This course will focus on analytical method development, including sampling and sample handling, extraction, determination, and data acquisition. The analysis of organic and inorganic compounds in a variety of matrices will be discussed. Case studies from the literature will illustrate typical applications.

Lectures and seminars examine the interface of chemistry and biology, and practical laboratory experience introduces students to advanced chemical biology techniques. The emphasis is on providing the knowledge and theory behind biological systems from a chemical perspective, while exposing students to the modern laboratory techniques that are of current value in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. These industries require professionals who have a strong background in organic chemistry, molecular biology and genomics. Current journal articles are incorporated into a problem-based learning approach that has students researching background material in order to complete an assigned project experiment.

REFLECTIVE ESSAY.

Instructions:

Write a 1000-word limit reflection on the knowledge, skills and/or attributes you have gained as a result of your research activities.

What you need to cover:

  • Describe your mindset and attitudes prior to your research involvement
  • How did participating in these research activities change or shift your way of thinking, behaving, or communicating?
  • Why are your research activities important?
  • How will your research experiences impact you in the future?

Formatting for the essay:

  • 12-point font, double-spaced, no more than 1000 words

What we DO want in the essay:

  • Use the knowledge, skills, attitudes and awareness section for reflection
  • Clearly communicate your learning or shift to us (the committee) by using explicit examples
  • Proofread essay
  • Follow the formatting guidelines stated above

What we DON’T want in the essay:

  • We do not want a list of accomplishments
  • We do not want anything exceeding 1000 words
  • Please do not simply repeat events that are evident in the portfolio

Note: All of the instructions listed above should be replaced with your personal writing or deleted prior to submitting