JCURA Projects 2024

Researching

Explore the student projects

See our 2023-2024 JCURA student award projects on display in the Michelle Pujol Room and Upper Lounge, Student Union Building on March 20, 2024 from 11:30 – 3:00pm

Save the event to your calendar and learn more by visiting our website at uvic.ca/jcura.

Education

Caitlin Mann

Caitlin Mann

Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Beyond the Surface: Exploring the Relationship Between Body Image and Perceptions of Physical Skill Competence in Female Adolescents

Bio

My name is Caitlin Mann and I am in my final semester of the BSc Kinesiology program and last season competing for the Vikes XC & Track varsity team. My interest in research began as being a research participant for studies exploring RED-S in female student-athletes. These experiences inspired me to pursue research in female psychological and physiological health. In the future, I wish to pursue a master’s degree in a healthcare-related field and continue conducting research in underrepresented areas with the goal to improve patient care. Apart from academics and athletics, I enjoy being outdoors with friends and exploring the island.

Declan Sanders

Declan Sanders

Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education

Unlocking Athletic Potential: How Skin Exposure Impacts the Brain and Performance

Bio

My name is Declan Sanders and I am a BSc Kinesiology student completing my Honours project with the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory. Over the past four years at UVic, I have developed skills in research, data analysis, exercise prescription, movement analysis, and more. In addition to my academic studies, growing up on Vancouver Island has instilled in me a passion for outdoors and athletics that inevitably led to selecting Kinesiology as my degree. I am driven to pursue a career in the healthcare industry where I can make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of others.

Frances Rush

Frances Rush

Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Running on Empty: Impacts of Endurance Exercise on Cognition

Bio

Frances is a fourth-year kinesiology student and research assistant in the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory at UVIC. When she is not busy with her two children, she can be found running, biking or hiking around Victoria. Prior to finding her renewed passion for science, Frances was a Visual Fine Arts Major at the University of Calgary and University of British Columbia. Her current field of study focuses of the intersection between physical and cognitive health. Her hobbies include dance, volunteering as an athletic trainer for the Vike’s Hockey Club, and the Women in Science peer mentorship program.

Francesca Anderson

Francesca Anderson

Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Dressing for Success: The Impact of Clothing on Somatosensory Processing

Bio

My name is Francesca Anderson, and I am a BSc Kinesiology student. For over two years, I have been a research assistant in Dr. Olave Krigolson’s Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience lab. The theoretical side of this lab explores the neural mechanisms that underlie human learning and decision-making while the applied side utilizes mobile neuroimaging technology to solve real-world problems. My goal is to integrate my kinesiology background and interest in applied neuroscience to focus on neurorehabilitation post-graduation. When I’m not in the lab, you’ll find me volunteering at Kids Physio, assisting in physiology labs, or training for powerlifting competitions.

Mckinley Kemp

Mckinley Kemp

Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Mind Matters: Neural Differences in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Bio

Mckinley Kemp is a fourth-year kinesiology student focusing on neuroscience, motor control, and supporting cognitive differences in daily activity. As a research assistant in the Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Victoria, she explores various topics, including age-related pathology, autism, and decision-making. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in pediatric neurorehabilitation.

Engineering and Computer Science

Adriel Ellis

Adriel Ellis

Mechanical Engineering

Shoulder Arthroplasty: Experimental Validation of Computer Generated Patient Specific Guides

Biography

Adriel Ellis is in their final undergraduate year studying Biomedical Engineering, under the mechanical stream. As a longtime resident of Vancouver Island, he moved to Victoria in 2020 to complete his degree. His academic interests include prosthetics, human factors design, project management and physiology. This JCURA project has allowed Adriel to develop new skills in research, including data analysis, procedure development, and other general technical skills. They are grateful for the professors, lab technicians, and students who helped them along the way. In their spare time, they enjoy reading and playing tabletop RPGs or video games with friends.

Angadh Singh

Angadh Singh

Computer Science

Solving Computationally Hard Problems Using Quantum Computing

Biography

Angadh, in his fourth year of Computer Science at the University of Victoria, has dedicated himself to the emerging field of quantum computing. His academic and professional pursuits are closely aligned with his interest in quantum software development, quantum algorithms, and software engineering. Through his research, coursework, co-op experiences, and personal projects, he explores these areas with a commitment to deepening his understanding. Angadh appreciates the collaborative spirit of his peers, acknowledging the invaluable learning gained from working together in this advanced domain.

Celina Nguyen

Celina Nguyen

Mechanical Engineering

Using Additive Manufacturing to Reinvent the Wheel: Non-Pneumatic Tire

Biography

Celina Nguyen completed her final academic semester in December 2023, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. She possesses a strong interest in engineering design and 3D modeling. Outside of her academic pursuits, Celina places a high priority on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in activities such as weightlifting, biking, and hiking.

Erwin Li

Erwin Li

Mechanical Engineering

Hydrogen Liquefaction Facility in Kitimat to Supplement Hydrogen Injection into Natural Gas Pipeline

Biography

I am a mechanical engineering student in my final year of study. Throughout my studies, I have gained a keen interest in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy systems. In particular, I enjoy studying all the new technologies that a modern, low-carbon energy system would use.
I am always motivated to learn more about how our energy systems can be decarbonized, especially the steps that need to be taken and the difficulties that we will face along the way. After I complete my undergraduate degree, I will begin my graduate studies, likely researching deeper into future energy systems.
Jonah Wright

Jonah Wright

Civil Engineering

Revising Building Design Practices and Policies via Mapping: A Response to the BC Housing Crisis

Biography

I am a 4th year civil engineering student in my last year at the University of Victoria. Main academic interests include structural, building science, building performance and policy with a focus on low-rise residential wood construction (and obviously the BC Housing Crisis). Have previous experience working in the consulting and construction industry through various co-ops and am eager to learn more! Downtime is filled with music, cycling, squash and pottery. Planning on going on a backpacking trip through Spain after graduation. If you have any interest in the project, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Nathaniel Leonard

Nathaniel Leonard

Civil Engineering

Reverse osmosis at the nanoscale: investigating desalination membranes using classical molecular dynamics

Biography

A real BC kid, Nathaniel (Nathan) Leonard is a third-year chemistry undergrad who loves coffee, plants, morning dew, and complaining. Nathan is an enthusiastic chemist, who is chiefly interested in synthetic organic and main group chemistry. Nathan loves an excuse to apply math, and is fascinated with all the cool ways chemists can couple their synthetic work with computational methods to better understand their molecules.

Noah Janssen

Noah Janssen

Computer Science

Developments in The Cubing Problem

Biography

My name is Noah Janssen and I am a 4th year-standing student at the University of Victoria in the Department of Computer Science. I grew up in Nanaimo, British Columbia, before moving to Victoria to attend Uvic. My interests are in theoretical computer science, specifically proving the existence or the lack of existence of algorithms to solve problems with certain speeds. My motivation for this is a lifelong obsession with finding truth and proving it with absolute certainty. This is my aim when I set out to discover or prove the impossibility of a new algorithm for a specific task.

Siyi Liu

Siyi Liu

Computer Science

Computer Classification of News

Biography

Hello! My name is Siyi, and I’m from China. I am currently a fourth-year computer science student. My greatest wish is to create a robot that is indistinguishable from humans, without considering ethical implications. This aspiration has fueled my curiosity for research. I am immensely grateful to Dr. George Tzanetakis for his patient guidance this year, and to JCURA for providing me with this research opportunity. I am excited about the prospect of delving into more captivating research projects during my future graduate studies. In my leisure time, I enjoy engaging in novel activities that require minimal physical exertion.
Trong Hieu Vuong

Trong Hieu Vuong

Computer Science

Physical Data Visualization and Teamwork Accountability

Biography

Trong Hieu Vuong is a fourth-year Computer Science student at the University of Victoria, specializing in Software Systems. His experience spans Full-stack development, Software Testing, iOS development, and DevOps engineering. Motivated by his background in Computer Science and Visual Arts, he conducts research integrating technology and visualization. His project utilizes React.js, Arduino, 3D design, and printing to create a web-controlled physical system. Trong Hieu is passionate about utilizing technology to improve productivity.

Anish Sivakumar

Anish Sivakumar

Electrical & Computer Engineering

Three-Phase PWM Schemes and Impacts on Motor Condition Monitoring

Biography

Anish is a 5th year Electrical Engineering student at UVic interested in motor drives and controls. He has completed co-op placements at companies building medical devices, nuclear fusion prototypes, quantum computers, and electric vehicles and batteries. The JCURA project has allowed him to explore his interest in motors and led him to intern on Tesla’s Motor Controls team. In his free time, Anish enjoys hiking, climbing, and training Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Fine Arts

Ava Tompkins

Ava Tompkins

Technology and Society

The Metaverse

Biography

Ava Tompkins is an innovative and ambitious business student with a passion for organizational management and technology. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Victoria, Ava has excelled in coursework focused on leadership and digital tools. With a keen eye for innovation and a collaborative spirit, she has actively participated in university-led initiatives designed to improve skills in communication and teamwork, such as business case competitions and networking events. Eager to make a positive impact in the business world, Ava strives to leverage her expertise to drive meaningful change and success in future ventures.

Claire Jorgensen

Claire Jorgensen

Visual Arts

This is the Space I Take Up

Biography

Claire Jorgensen is a visual artist who uses paintings, installation, and photography to explore themes of identity. Perhaps because Jorgensen came of age alongside social media, the construction of self is central to her practice. These constructions are informed by the shared identity of family, or that of the perceived and objectifying gazes of others. Jorgensen’s art allows her to explore, create and share the complex understanding of self-identity. Recontextualizing her self-image, Jorgensen presents the viewer with multiple ways of seeing and being seen.
Dayne Pettyjohn

Dayne Pettyjohn

Writing

The Glass House: Creating and Maintaining Investment in Stories through Interactive Narrative​

Biography

Hi! I’m Dayne, a fourth year English Honours and Writing student! Typically, my focus in writing is creative non-fiction, with my work exploring the way my Métis, Mexican, and Jewish ancestry intertwine, relate, and inform my world. However, interactive narrative is my absolute favourite way to tell a story! I love to write interactive narratives that incorporate adventure, fantasy, and horror genres. I hope you will enjoy reading and learning about this project as much as I have enjoyed the opportunity to create a board game in the name of academia!

El Newell

El Newell

Theatre

The Well-Made Porn: The Dramaturgies of Erotic Webcamming

Biography

El Newell is a third-year Theatre student focusing her studies in theatre creation and design, with a certification in American Sign Language. El’s research interests focus primarily on the intersections between theatre and the erotic, and spectatorship and theatricality in the unorthodox. Her passion for writing expresses itself both in her theatre research and her playwriting career. El is a multi-disciplinary creator, focusing on curating experiences of liminality while simultaneously sparking conversation- aspects she hopes to carry into her research. After El graduates, she hopes to move abroad and obtain an MFA in directing for the theatre.

Elisabeth Hinshelwood

Elisabeth Hinshelwood

Art History and Visual Studies

Interpreting Kali’s Complexities

Biography

Elisabeth Hinshelwood (they/she) is in the fifth year of a BA Art History Honours program, with a minor in Museum studies. Her research focuses on feminist interpretations of art, ranging from prehistoric to contemporary. They are particularly focused on deconstructing the male gaze, and giving women back their voices in the art historical canon. She plans to continue her research on these topics through work in academia and cultural heritage.
Heather Macnab

Heather Macnab

Art History and Visual Studies

Decorating the Home of the Nouveau Riche: Establishing Legitimacy Through the Antique

Biography

Heather Macnab is a fifth year student living and studying on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples, with a major in both Art History and Visual Studies, and History. Her research interests include interactions of gender, race, and colonialism within the Canadian context. She is interested in decolonial public storytelling and museum work and plans to continue to work and study in these areas following her degree.
Lucas Hung

Lucas Hung

Music

Who are We Playing for? Fairness in Piano Competitions

Biography

A sense of endless curiosity pervades Lucas Hung’s studies in musicology, Germanic studies, and piano performance at the University of Victoria. His research explores various modes of storytelling and how ideas are translated into perceivable reality; projects include analyzing atonal soundscapes in Pierrot Lunaire, youth in post-WWII German film, and challenges facing arts organizations in BC. Lucas also enjoys organizing concerts (Vancouver Recital Society, Early Music Society of the Islands) and performing in senior homes. He is grateful for the mentorship he receives from Dr. Joseph Salem, May Ling Kwok, and Dr. Peter Gölz.

Rowan Watts

Rowan Watts

Theatre

Performing the Intercultural Archive: Lina de Guevara’s Puente Theatre in Special Collections

Biography

Rowan Watts is in his final year of a double major in Honours English and Theatre. Rowan is a Lowens fellow, a research assistant for the Braided Narratives project, the Vice President of the English Students’ Association, the Managing Editor of The Albatross, a staff editor at the Martlet Independent Newspaper, the recipient of the Beck Student Research Travel Award, and played Hason in Luis Alfaro’s Mojada (Phoenix Theatre). His research interests include the environmental humanities and ecological literary criticism. He is currently writing his honours thesis on digital environmental humanities approaches to network theory in contemporary eco-fiction.

Human and Social Development

Adi G

Adi G

Nursing

Trans+ people’s experiences of in-hospital gender-affirming surgery: An interpretive description

Biography

Adi is a fourth-year student finishing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Additionally, he is a co-president of the UVic Nursing Student Society. Adi would like to thank Dr. Allie Slemon for her guidance, support, and unwavering enthusiasm for this project. Without her mentorship (and edits), this project would not have been possible.

Karen Chiem

Karen Chiem

Nursing

Café Scientifique: Sharing Best Strategies for Inclusion of Mental Health Patients and Families in Research

Biography

My name is Karen Chiem, and I am a fourth-year nursing student. I pursued nursing because of my passion for making a difference in people’s lives, whether small or big. Nursing combines my interests in health, science, and the human body. I also enjoy connecting with people and learning from them as well. I have an interest in health education and promotion in Nursing. I am excited to start my career as a med-surg nurse at the hospital after graduation. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, watching TV, learning about plants, and gardening, and finding new places to explore!
Amelie Wang

Amelie Wang

Health Information Science

Exploring Language Availability, Understandability, and Readability of Patient Medication Information

Biography

Amelie is a third-year Health Information Science student who has completed a work term with the PHSA and is now working with Fraser Health. She is passionate about healthcare transformation and contributing to a patient-centered field that is committed to improving consumer health outcomes. Outside of school, she enjoys knitting, spending time with friends and family, and travelling.
Amelie would like to express her gratitude towards the facility, and especially supervising faculty member, Dr. Helen Monkman for her guidance, encouragement, and support.
Erin Lavery

Erin Lavery

Public Health & Social Policy

Examining the Root Causes of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling 2SLGBTQIA+ Older Adults

Biography

Erin Lavery (she/her) is a 4th year student in the Public Health and Social Policy faculty. Her academic area of interest is in aging and disability studies. Erin is passionate about community engagement and creating more equitable and sustainable communities. Outside of her academic interests, Erin enjoys reading and sustainable fashion.

Naomi Dawson

Naomi Dawson

Nursing

Understanding Nursing Practice in the Age of the Electronic Health Record

Biography

Naomi (she/her) is a fourth-year student in the Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing Program at the University of Victoria and is currently completing her final practicum at the Victoria Child, Youth & Family Public Health Unit. Naomi is passionate about nursing research and advocating for population health. She plans to lead a career working with individuals throughout the lifespan, supporting harm reduction initiatives and guiding families throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. Naomi is exceedingly grateful to have conducted this research under the guidance of Dr. Petrovskaya, alongside an incredible team of fellow students and nursing professionals.

Xinyi Wang

Xinyi Wang

Health Information Science

Artificial Intelligence and Primary Care: Perceptions and Applications in Medical Clinic Operations

Biography

Xinyi Wang is a fourth-year undergraduate student in Bachelor of Science in Health Information Science at the University of Victoria. She is interested in the use and potential applications of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in healthcare. She is grateful for the opportunity to work on a JCURA project under the supervision of Dr. Dillon Chrimes. Outside of school, Xinyi enjoys playing piano, skating, and exploring new cuisines.

Hana Kim

Hana Kim

Nursing

Canadian Parental Attitudes on Infant Sleep Training: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis of Data.

Biography

Hana Kim is a fourth-year student majoring in Biology. In 2022, she first contacted Dr. Christine Ou in hopes of pursuing her interest in women’s health research. Through her work with Dr. Christine Ou, Hana found a passion for postpartum sleep research and decided to pursue further studies in public health. Hana is an advocate for equitable rural healthcare in Canada, women’s health, and cultural sensitivity in healthcare.

Humanities

Alexander Wolffe

Alexander Wolffe

Medieval Studies

Thirteenth-Century Echoes Today: ‘Le Roman de Silence’ and Queer Medieval Studies

Biography

Alexander Wolffe (he/they) is a fourth year Art History honours/ Medieval Studies student and artist currently examining not only what it meant to be ‘Queer’ in the Middle Ages, but what these representations mean to people today, particularly in the context of visual arts. Their more modern work focuses on zines as assertions of identity, and the discourses regarding new generations of Queer or trans people disconnected from their history.

Amy J Tarves

Amy J Tarves

Linguistics

Open Worlds or Linear Paths: Exploring English-as-an-Additional-Language Oral Production Mediated by Minecraft

Biography

A fourth-year Applied Linguistics student, I am interested in the spaces where second language theory crosses over with theoretical linguistics, and have also done many projects themed around digital games and language learning during my undergrad. In my free time I enjoy sewing, baking, aggressive cooking, and being on or near the water.
A special thank you to Dr. Li-Shih Huang for being my sponsor, and Shawn Jung for being my research partner.
Mack Costello

Mack Costello

Gender Studies

Toyhood

Biography

Hi! My name is Mack (she/her) and I’m a settler of mostly Scottish, Irish, and British ancestry living on the stolen lands of the Lkwungen and WSANEC Peoples. My geographic location, as well as my social location within a body that’s read as thin, white, upper-class, and able-bodied, allows me the privileges to create Toyhood. From the computer I write my screenplay on, to the camera I use to film, to my ability to steal clothes from Value Village without being profiled, every tool and method of the filmmaking process is given to me because of my privilege of location. Equally, my experience of navigating the world as a queer and trans neurodivergent person informs the stories I tell and the way I tell them.

Ash Nesbitt-Bottoms

Ash Nesbitt-Bottoms

Religion, Culture and Society

Bridging the Great Divide: Integrating Experiential Learning into the Academic Study of Religion, Culture, and Society

Biography

Ash Nesbitt-Bottoms (she/they) is in their fourth year of study pursuing a degree in Religion, Culture, and Society with a minor in Anthropology. She is a settler of Scottish and Polish descent, a Queer woman, and spiritual-but-non-religious. They are currently a work-study student in the RCS department and a former Program Assistant & Meditation Club Executive at UVic’s Multifaith Centre. She is also a part-time Axe Throwing coach. In their free time, they enjoy sculpting, skateboarding with friends, and reading about New Religious Movements.

Braedon Lowey

Braedon Lowey

English

Molly Molly Oxenfree: Uncovering Queer Poets of the 19th Century

Biography

Braedon George Lowey is in his final year as an Honours English student with academic passions for Victorian literature, children’s media, psychology, and queer theory. He currently works as a research assistant for Dr. Alison Chapman on the Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry Project (dvpp.uvic.ca). Outside academia, he makes whatever art he finds himself fixating on, which can be found at @George_Lowey wherever you get your social media content (when he has time to post it, anyways).

Caleb Gordon

Caleb Gordon

Linguistics

The Quirky Case of Quirky Case: Understanding Dative Subjects in Icelandic

Biography

Caleb Gordon is a fifth year linguistics student with a minor in psychology. He is in the final semester of his degree. His research interests include syntax, applicatives, and syntactic change over time. After graduation Caleb is looking forward to attending graduate school and continuing to pursue research in these topics. Outside of academics, Caleb is an avid reader and writer, hiker, swimmer, and constructed language enthusiast.

Cat Watt

Cat Watt

Germanic & Slavic Studies

National Sexualism: German History, Identity, and Sexuality in the Political Spectacle of Rammstein

Biography

Cat Watt is a 21-year old UVic Germanic Studies major from Calgary, Alberta. His academic career has focused on German sexology, modern gender and sexual politics, and the evolution of Holocaust scholarship from the immediate post-war period to the present. His approach to this project comes from a personal interest in controversial political spectacle, informed by drag. He wishes to extend his thanks to the Germanic Studies department as a whole, and to Dr. Matthew Pollard in particular for his ongoing support and advisement in creating this project.

Chloe Mee

Chloe Mee

English

How is Technology Repopularising Serial Publication? A Case Study of Wattpad

Biography

Chloe Mee is an English Honours student in her third year at the University of Victoria. Alongside her English major, she is pursuing a focus in Professional Communications and a certificate in French. Chloe is also an advisory board member in the English Students’ Association. Her research interests include Victorian-era serialised fiction, women’s writing, contemporary digital writing platforms, and social authors. Chloe enjoys working in the archives as part of her research. She also likes to run, hike, write, and read in her free time.

Cynan Thompson

Cynan Thompson

Linguistics

Head-Dependent Asymmetries in Central Salish Prosody

Biography

My name is Cynan Thompson, and I am in the fourth year of my Linguistics major. I grew up in a remote part of the West Chilcotin on Tsilhqot’in title land, moving here, to live on the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people, in 2018. In the past few years, my interest in language and theoretical linguistics has begun to acquaint me with the Indigenous languages of the Salish Sea. This acquaintance has inspired me to continue my studies in Linguistics with a focus on language reclamation and revitalization. This project represents a transition between these two passions.

Eleanor Vannan

Eleanor Vannan

Greek and Roman Studies

Revealed for Her Pleasure: Ontological Permanence of Female Ecstasy in Christian Erotic Metaphysics

Biography

Eleanor Vannan is a fourth-year student in the Greek and Roman Studies department honours program. Eleanor’s primary research area is Roman women’s history, focusing on the intersections between women and religion, law, and sexual ethics. In 2021, Eleanor published “The Queen of Propaganda: Boudica’s Representation in Empire” in the Arbutus Review. In 2023, Eleanor delivered a paper on translating the word pudicita to the Society for Ancient Studies at NYU and a paper on contemporary depictions of Roman women at the annual Antiquity in Media Studies conference. After graduation, Eleanor will pursue further studies in classics at the graduate level.

Emily Gunn

Emily Gunn

Germanic & Slavic Studies

Examining Jewish Sociolinguistic Influence in the Russian Language: «От Талмуда до тюрьмы»

Biography

Emily is a third-year Slavic studies and History student at UVic, whose interests focus on the intersection of Jewish and Slavic history, language, and culture, as well as on Ukrainian and Israeli advocacy. She is hoping to achieve an academic career in Jewish history, but in the meantime is spending her time enjoying the opportunities that UVic’s department of Germanic and Slavic studies has to offer. Emily will be travelling to Eastern Europe this summer as part of the I-Witness Holocaust Field School, and hopes to examine Jewish history in Eastern Europe in depth.

Ennis Lucy

Ennis Lucy

Greek and Roman Studies

Receptions of the Roman Emperor Elagabalus as a Queer Figure

Biography

Ennis is a Greek and Roman Studies major, with a focus on sexuality and gender in the ancient world.

Eric Willis

Eric Willis

Gender Studies

Indigenous Decolonization and Queer Settler Colonialism at Music Festivals and Raves

Biography

Eric Willis is a queer, non-binary, white settler of German, Irish and Scottish descent, raised on Coast Salish Territories, home to the Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nations. Today, they live in the territories of the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ nations. They have a BA in Gender Studies with honours and a minor in Applied Ethics from the University of Victoria. Eric expresses themselves creatively by interweaving queer, feminist and anti-colonial theory with their artistic and activist practices. Some of their best memories at UVic are getting to apply their learning in the work they do for the Gender Empowerment Centre.

Gabrielle Eisenberg

Gabrielle Eisenberg

Greek and Roman Studies

The New Carthaginians

Biography

Gabrielle Eisenberg is a fourth-year Greek and Roman Studies major with a Film minor. For this JCURA project, she has combined both elements in her research on the reception of Carthage in the modern day.

Hannah Giroux

Hannah Giroux

Latin American Studies

An Attempt to Erase: Colonial Histories and Contemporary Indigenous Identities in Cuba

Biography

Hannah is a fourth year student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Victoria. Her research interests include cultural anthropology, historiography, and counter-storytelling. This project was inspired by her experiences and observations during the 2023 Cuba Ethnographic Field School in Santiago de Cuba.

Jasper van Weelderen

Jasper van Weelderen

European Studies

Europe in the Sahel: Analysing the Failures of Capacity Building

Biography

Jasper van Weelderen is a fourth year honours student in UVIC’s department of Political Science. Jasper’s research focuses on European security policy, west African politics, and international peacekeeping/peacebuilding efforts. When Jasper can get out of the library he enjoys surfing on the south coast of Vancouver Island.
Kaila Lee

Kaila Lee

Hispanic & Italian Studies

The Representation of Women’s Sexuality in Mexican Film from 1991-2001

Biography

Kaila Lee (she/her) is graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic and Italian Studies, and Gender Studies, alongside a certificate in American Sign Language. Her research interests include the intersections of gender and culture and the affects these subjects have relating to sexuality, violence, societal standards and language. Outside of school she enjoys spending time with her dog hiking, running, and going to beaches, competitively practicing judo, and doing photography.

Kevin Royle

Kevin Royle

Latin American Studies

La Corneta China: A Musical Symbol of Santiago de Cuba

Biography

Kevin Royle is a fourth-year English Major and Anthropology Minor student at the University of Victoria. He is pursuing a career in Secondary school education and is excited to share his experiences to enrich the learning of future students. Kevin was privileged to visit Santiago de Cuba as part of the 2023 Cuban Ethnographic Field School, where he was introduced to the rich cultural landscape of the Oriente. When he is not writing papers, Kevin can be found near his moka pot, trying to recreate café Cubano.

Maia Vasko

Maia Vasko

Pacific & Asian Studies

四種唔同死法: The four phases of death in Victoria’s Chinatown

Biography

I am a Uvic undergraduate student double majoring in History and Pacific and Asian studies. I seek to use interdisciplinary methods and analysis to approach the topics I am interested in. My heritage as a Chinese-Canadian with a long family history in Victoria has shaped my interests in Chinatowns and the construction of racialized identities and histories.

Maxwell Harris

Maxwell Harris

Greek & Roman Studies

Christology and Conspiracy: Boethius’ Fall from Grace

Biography

Maxwell is a fourth year student currently completing a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Greek and Roman Studies. His primary research interest lies in the field of Late Antiquity, with special interest in the Christianization of the Roman Empire and the subsequent establishment of theological orthodoxy. In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, hiking, and learning more broadly about the ancient world. After graduation, he plans on entering the workforce before pursuing a law degree at a Canadian university.
Maya Wei Yan Linsley

Maya Wei Yan Linsley

English

Life After Canon: Dramione Fanfiction’s Literary Reconstruction in Harry Potter Fandom

Biography

Maya Wei Yan Linsley is a fourth-year English Honours major and Journalism and Publishing minor, a Loran Scholar, and a Lowens UVic Libraries Special Collections Fellow. Her academic interests include digital fandom, personal archives and postmodernist theory, with a particular focus on transformative cultures and communities. Maya edits for the Albatross English Undergraduate Journal and has worked as a research assistant for The Map of Early Modern London, Crafting Communities, and Historical Ecology of the Pacific Cod. She is a practicing creative writer and currently serves as the president of the UVic English Students’ Association.

Mina Guan

Mina Guan

Linguistics

“Don’t ditch the dialect”: Incorporating Learners’ Chinese Heritage Language Backgrounds in University Mandarin Classrooms

Biography

Mina Guan (she/her) is in her final year of an BA Honours in Applied Linguistics, a Minor in French, and a Certificate in Chinese Language and Cultural Proficiency. She is interested in the ways language education intersects with social justice, identity exploration, and linguistic ideologies. Her research is informed by her background as a heritage speaker of Mandarin and Cantonese and a settler on the unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Outside of her studies, Mina chairs the Undergraduate Linguistics Course Union. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a master’s in library information studies.

Pascale Grenier

Pascale Grenier

French

Les enfants de la Grande Noirceur: le nationalisme dans la littérature jeunesse des années 1930-1950

Biography

Pascale Grenier is currently completing a major in French and Francophone Studies and a minor in Professional Writing in Journalism and Publishing. Growing up in a French Canadian family, she has always been passionate about advancing her French language skills in British Columbia. Through her studies in the French department, she has been able to explore a variety of disciplines, including children’s literature studies. This project was inspired by the messages hidden in the books, which demonstrate how children’s books can provide insight into the ideologies of a time. After graduation, she is excited to pursue a degree in legal studies.

Sarah Evans

Sarah Evans

Medieval Studies

Enchanted Avians

Biography

Sarah Evans is a fourth-year English major with a passion for all things literature. Keen to start her undergraduate since grade school, she quickly developed a long list of research interests. She is particularly interested in the intersection between nature and humanness. Either reading or writing, she always has some new research project on the go. Her research interests include Medievalism, Romanticism, eco-criticism, and rewilding literature. After her undergraduate, she hopes to pursue further graduate studies.
Sarah Fowler

Sarah Fowler

English

Gallathea: A Semi-Diplomatic Digital Edition

Biography

Sarah Fowler is a fourth year English Honours student. Her area of research is Early Modern English drama—focusing on literature by the lesser known playwrights—and the digital humanities. She has been working on both her JCURA and her Honours project with Linked Early Modern Drama Online (LEMDO) to create a digital edition of Gallathea.

Shawn Jung

Shawn Jung

Linguistics

Open Worlds or Linear Paths: Exploring English-as-an-Additional-Language Oral Production Mediated by Minecraft

Biography

Hello! My name is Shawn Jung and I am 4th year Applied Linguistics student. My research has been focused on how digital games can be used and designed for language learning.
I am also the Merch Designer for the Undergraduate Linguistics Course Union (The Underlings). Please feel free to come by and browse!
I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Li-Shih Huang for being my supportive project supervisor and Amy Tarves for being a homie (research partner).
Tristan Marquis

Tristan Marquis

Pacific & Asian Studies

Global Otaku: Labels and Japanese Pop-Culture in Translation

Biography

My name is Tristan Marquis, I am a 4th year Humanities student at the University of Victoria. I am currently majoring in Pacific and Asian Studies (PAAS) with a minor in film. I was initially a Computer Science student but shifted over to PAAS after Covid. I’m a very introverted person but love to meet new people. My research interests are primarily focused on Japanese culture and language, specifically learning about the ways people communicate across cultures and how technology plays a role in this interaction.

Xi Zhang

Xi Zhang

Pacific & Asian Studies

Social media perspectives on Chinese and Japanese housewives: Women at the intersection of patriarchy and feminism

Biography

My name is Xi Zhang, and I am a senior student at UVic, majoring in Pacific and Asian Studies with a minor in Education. My academic interests center around history, gender studies, and religion. I have conducted research on diverse topics, including Japanese militarism and the role of Buddhism in the Mogao Grottoes located in Dunhuang, China. These experiences have fueled my passion for understanding the complexities of cultural dynamics and historical narratives within the Pacific and Asian regions.
Mateo Serrano de la Paz

Mateo Serrano de la Paz

Philosophy

The Ethical and Political Implications of Suspending Civil Liberties in Times of Crisis: A Response to “State of Exception” by Giorgio Agamben (2003)

Biography

Mateo Serrano de la Paz is currently in his third year studying English and Philosophy at Uvic. His main interests within philosophy are social and political philosophy, theories of law, human rights theory, and existentialist philosophy. After graduation, he hopes to continue his studies by pursuing a postgraduate degree in international relations. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, creative writing, and listening to music. He would like to thank Dr. Holder for supervising this project and for all of her continued support.
Massimo Calabrese

Massimo Calabrese

History

We Are Not Stones: Land, Indigenous Agency, and Colonialism in Williams Lake BC, 1821-1881

Biography

Massimo is a fourth year History Honours student from Williams Lake, BC. His specific area of interest is Indigenous-settler relations in British Columbia, though he has taken courses in as many historical topics as possible. In his free time, he plays the fiddle in an Irish band and goes to the movie theatre most Tuesdays for cheap night. Massimo would like to sincerely thank Dr. Lutz for sharing his knowledge and encouraging him to pursue this project from its humble beginning as a term paper to its current form of a 10,000-word thesis.

Nathan Tonkin

Nathan Tonkin

Philosophy

Can there be a good scientific explanation that nobody understands?

Biography

Nathan is a 4th-year philosophy student, with academic interests including metaethics, naturalism, moral theories, and the relationships between ethics and science. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in philosophy, and later, a professorship. In his spare time he plays dungeons & dragons and reads fiction.

Sarah Johnston

Sarah Johnston

History

Socio-economic Status in the Sanatorium: Tuberculosis in B.C. during the Interwar Period, a case study of Tranquille Sanatorium

Biography

Sarah Johnston (she/her) is a fourth-year double major in History and French, completing her Honours in History. Her research interests focus on the history of medicine and social history, with this project focusing on the history of tuberculosis in British Columbia during the interwar period, concentrating on experiences of poor patients. She hails from Secwépemc territory and currently lives and studies on lək̓ʷəŋən territory. In the future, Sarah hopes to continue her work in Public History and to resume her study of French.
Thomas Simons

Thomas Simons

Philosophy

Meaning in Language: Representation, Structure, and Wittgenstein’s Worksite

Biography

(He/him) I am a fourth-year math and philosophy student. I like chatting with people coming from different starting places than mine, intellectually and otherwise, so come see me at my booth!

Sebastien Leroy

Sebastien Leroy

Philosophy

Do We Still Need Utopias?

Biography

Sebastien Leroy studies philosophy at Uvic. He is interested in political theory and philosophy of language.
Amber Fill

Amber Fill

History

Curiosity Killed the Cat: Vivisections in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England

Biography

Amber is in her fourth year of a double major in history honours and environmental studies. Her primary focus is on early modern England, with broader interests in environmental and social history. She is currently finishing her honours thesis on vivisections and sentimentality in eighteenth century England, with the hopes to continue her research on animal-human relationships in a masters program abroad. In recent years she has worked in varying positions at Carr House and the Ross Bay Villa, expanding her skills in curation, public outreach, collections, and restoration, among others. Amber is passionate about animal rights, environmental conservation, and sustainable fashion.

Kaja Pedersen

Kaja Pedersen

History

Sex on the Beach: Exploring Gender and Sexuality at British Seaside Resorts 1919-1939

Biography

Kaja Pedersen is a third-year Writing and History student at the University of Victoria. She is originally from Calgary and is a settler on the traditional lands of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. Her particular academic interests include queer and feminist history, personal journalism, and fiction. When she isn’t writing or studying, she can be found hiking, crafting, or eating her weight in cheese.

Medical Sciences

Katerina Kurz

Katerina Kurz

Medical Sciences

Does chronic stress alter reelin in the entorhinal cortex?

Biography

Katerina is almost done her undergraduate degree, working towards a BSc with honors in neurobiology. She has always loved science, but fell in love with neurobiology when she started learning about it in 3rd year. She started volunteering in Dr. Caruncho’s medical science lab the summer after 3rd year, and began her honours project the following fall. When not studying, Katerina loves reading, crafts, and being outdoors. After graduation, she plans on going to grad school and starting a MSc.

Science

Aaron Dayton

Aaron Dayton

Physics & Astronomy

Generation of Novel Wavelet Transformations towards applications in Tensor Network Algorithms

Biography

Aaron Dayton is a third year student at the University of Victoria in the combined Physics and Computer Science BSc program. He has three years of professional software development experience, including four co-op semesters. This work includes one year of research in theoretical quantum tensor-network algorithm development with Dr. Thomas E. Baker at the University of Victoria. Before returning to academics, he obtained one year of management experience.

Amy Penney

Amy Penney

Mathematics & Statistics

Counting Codes via the Container Method

Biography

Amy Penney is a Computer Science and Mathematics student, participating in both the honours and co-op programs. She is interested in studying the area of combinatorics. Her research project recently won first prize at UVic Science’s Honours Fest.

Andrew Lane

Andrew Lane

Mathematics & Statistics

Proper Rainbow Saturation in Graphs

Biography

Andrew Lane is a third-year mathematics student at the University of Victoria from Portland, Oregon, U.S. He is interested in theoretical mathematics and enjoys the feeling of discovering mathematical patterns. He is particularly interested in discrete and combinatorial mathematics. Andrew loves to learn, and his hobbies include learning languages, playing musical instruments, spending time in nature, and more.

Branden Aitken

Branden Aitken

Physics & Astronomy

Finding Particles in MATHUSLA Using Timing Information

Biography

Branden Aitken grew up in Nanaimo, BC. He came to the University of Victoria in 2019 with the
intention of studying chemistry. After first year he switched into Physics and Mathematics where
he has remained. In the Summer of 2023, Branden started working with Dr. Heather Russell as
part of the MATHUSLA project. He is planning to graduate in May 2024 and continue to graduate
school studying particle physics.
Clayton Smith

Clayton Smith

Chemistry

Implementing the Variational Quantum Eigensolver for Materials

Biography

Clayton is currently completing his honours degree in chemistry and mathematics at the University of Victoria. His primary research interests are theoretical and computational chemistry as they provide an interesting interface between chemistry, mathematics, and physics. During the final year of his bachelor’s degree, he has focused on the use of quantum computing algorithms to chemical problems, and better understanding the structures used in these algorithms. He looks forward to continuing theoretical research in his graduate studies.

Daelin Peel-Smith

Daelin Peel-Smith

Chemistry

Nickel Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling: Reaction Screening and Catalyst Comparison via High-Throughput Experimentation

Biography

Hi, my name is Daelin! I am in the final year of my B.Sc in Chemistry at the University of Victoria. I began participating in research during 2021 in the Leitch group where I worked on organic synthesis oriented projects. In the spring of 2023 I completed a bachelor thesis in the OCC group at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Now, I am completing my honours thesis in the Leitch group focused on applying high-throughput experimentation to nickel-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions. I am looking forward to joining the Nichols group at UBC in the fall as a PhD candidate!

Dawson Jarvis

Dawson Jarvis

Biochemistry & Microbiology

Understanding how co-infection with Staphylococcus aureus impacts the replication of influenza A virus

Biography

Hi! My name is Dawson, and I am a 4th year honours student in the Biochemistry and Microbiology department. My research experience has taken place in the Goncheva laboratory where we investigate co-infections between the influenza A virus and Staphylococcus aureus. It has been a fulfilling experience getting to learn more about the interactions that occur between these two pathogens during infection. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, photography, and playing volleyball! I believe its super important to have hobbies alongside your studies and strongly encourage other students to continue pursuing things that they enjoy doing.

Em Creasy

Em Creasy

Biology

Nitrate, proton, and ammonium uptake in fern gametophytes

Biography

Em Creasy (they/them) is in their 5th and final year of their BSc Honours in Forest Biology and Environmental Studies. Em is passionate about exploring the ecologies of forests; previously, their research has focused on insect ecology, but they were excited to try something new studying the physiology of ferns. They are grateful to have the wonderful Dr. Barbara Hawkins and Dr. Patrick von Aderkas as supervisors for this project. Outside of the lab, you can find Em at their local rec centre sauna, volunteering for food support initiatives, watercolour painting at the beach, or performing in drag.
Fynn La Boucan

Fynn La Boucan

Biology

Examining 𝛼4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in the substantia nigra

Biography

Fynn is a fourth year Biology student, with a concentration in Neurobiology. She is passionate about neuroscience and is specifically interested in developing treatments for neurodegenerative disease. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking and skiing and spending time with her family.

Georgia Penner

Georgia Penner

Mathematics & Statistics

Balancing Polynomials Under Permutations

Biography

Georgia is a second year mathematics student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. While they were raised in Calgary, Alberta, they moved to Victoria to start their undergraduate degree in 2022. Their mathematical interests lie mainly in the realm of pure and discrete mathematics, especially algebra, analysis, and graph theory. They also care deeply about mathematics education, outreach, and communication. Outside of mathematics, they enjoy hiking and mountain biking, reading science fiction, and baking.

Graham Arndt

Graham Arndt

Earth & Ocean Sciences

Metal Enrichments During Magma-Carbonate Interactions in the Jurassic Bonanza Arc

Biography

Hello, my name is Graham Arndt. I am a fourth-year honours student in a combined Chemistry and Earth Sciences degree at the University of Victoria. Throughout my degree, I have become captivated by the complex interplay between the Earth, ocean, and atmospheric systems that shape the Earth’s crust. My interest is focused on the valuable use of chemistry to describe and quantify geological processes. Furthering my interest in earth systems, I have pursued an honours project studying magma-carbonate assimilation using geochemistry, while under Dr. Dante Canil and Rebecca Morris. I am very grateful for JCURA’s contributions which provided me the opportunity to conduct this research.

Hailey Gray

Hailey Gray

Chemistry

Development of Novel Palladacycles for Synthesis Optimization of Drug Candidates

Biography

Hailey is a current undergraduate student in Dr. David Leitch’s lab. She is currently working on research involving the development of novel palladacycle catalysts for the reaction optimization of pharmaceutically relevant molecules. She is planning to graduate in Spring 2024 with a Major in Chemistry for the Medical Sciences with Honours. Following graduation, she plans to work, travel, and become fluent in Spanish before pursuing a career in the medical field. She grew up in Victoria, BC with her parents and younger brother. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, snowboarding, volunteering, and spending time with friends.
Hayden Snauwaert

Hayden Snauwaert

Physics & Astronomy

Construction of a Magneto-Optical Trap to Create Ultracold Rubidium Ensembles

Biography

My name is Hayden Snauwaert, I’m a UVic student in his final year of an honours degree in physics. I grew up in Sarnia Ontario before coming here to Victoria. I have been working in the UVic Atomic Molecular Optical (AMO) lab over the last year on a variety of projects in AMO physics, including my current honours thesis/JCURA research project.

Liz Bass

Liz Bass

Biology

Intergenerational Effects of a Western-Style Diet on Reproduction in C. elegans

Biography

My name is Elizabeth Bass. I am a 4th year student at the University of Victoria. My major is Biology, and my minor is History. I’m very grateful to be completing my Honours in the Templeman Lab. As a full-time student, school takes up most of my time, but I try to spend lots of my free time reading and going outside!
Maya Thompson

Maya Thompson

Earth & Ocean Sciences

Cariboo Plateau Alkaline Lakes and Mineralogy

Biography

My name is Maya Thompson, and I am an Honours student in the Ahm Lab at UVic. My interests and research lie within geomicrobiology, with my current project being an investigation into the influence of soda lake microbes on carbon capture and carbonate precipitation. Outside of UVic, I will be receiving an award from the Geological Society of America for my poster on redox changes in marine basins through the Silurian-Devonian Transition this year. In the meantime, I embroider, cook foods that I can’t afford to eat at restaurants, and scuba dive with my partner.

Meredith White

Meredith White

Biology

False alarm: the effects of boat noise on the anti-predator behaviour in Pacific sand lance

Biography

Hi, I’m Meredith! I’m a 5th year undergrad pursuing a BSc Honours in biology (marine biology concentration). During my undergraduate degree, I developed a curiosity for the impacts that human-generated noise inflicts on marine animals, and this research has allowed me to explore this curiosity! In my free time, I enjoy freediving, camping, skiing, and looking at tidepools. It is a privilege to receive support from the JCURA, and I am eager to further explore this topic in Fall 2024 funded by the NSERC USRA. In the future, I hope to pursue a master’s degree relating to marine animal behaviour.
Paige Murray

Paige Murray

Earth and Ocean Sciences

Taking the temperature of the Anahim Hotspot, British Columbia

Biography

Paige Murray is a fourth-year honours student in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. She is completing her final year of an Earth Science – Geology option degree with an honours project researching the origin of volcanism in British Columbia using olivine-spinel geothermometry supervised by Dr. Dante Canil. Outside of school, Paige enjoys hiking, trail running, skiing, baking, and looking for cool rocks at the beach. She is very grateful to have received support from JCURA for this project.

Sarah Rozanski

Sarah Rozanski

Biology

Understanding the elemental variation of threespine stickleback along the Sooke River

Biography

Hi! My name is Sarah Rozanski, and I am a fourth-year biology student. I have the privilege of conducting my honours thesis with Dr. Rana El-Sabaawi in the food web ecology lab. My project concerns the morphological and elemental variation in threespine stickleback fish, and how that affects nutrient cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Outside of my studies I like to draw, climb and snorkel. I have really enjoyed studying at UVIC and exploring Vancouver Island, and I am so excited to continue my research during my MSc. next year!
Shaeleen Mihalynuk

Shaeleen Mihalynuk

Biochemistry & Microbiology

Immunomodulatory Effects of Novel Antimicrobial Peptides Targeting Priority Avian Pathogens

Biography

My name is Shaeleen and I am completing a BSc. with Honours and CO-OP in Biochemistry and Microbiology. Over the past few years, I have been involved in PeptAID, a collaborative research project developing antibiotic alternatives to address the antimicrobial resistance crisis. My current work investigates the interactions between antimicrobial peptide-based drugs, bacterial endotoxins and the immune system. Outside of my studies, I can be found at the piano or in the studio dancing and teaching with a local ensemble.

Simon Johns

Simon Johns

Mathematics & Statistics

Applying Hidden Markov Models to Batch Marked Bee Data

Biography

Simon Johns is a fourth year student at the University of Victoria, pursuing a Mathematics Honours degree with a minor in Geographic Information Technology. He has always been fascinated by the interplay between mathematics and the natural world, leading him to research interests such as probability theory, differential equations, spatial modelling, and ecological and Bayesian statistics. Post-graduation, he hopes to continue learning and studying science in graduate school.
Spencer Thomas

Spencer Thomas

Chemistry

Adaptation of Gold Nanoparticles for Zinc-Air Battery Applications

Biography

Spencer, an avid outdoor enthusiast, finds solace in hiking, camping, climbing, and snowboarding during his leisure time. His love for nature fuels his dedication to environmental preservation. With a background in chemistry, Spencer has embarked on a journey to safeguard the environment through his research. Currently, he focuses on developing innovative solutions for cleaner, renewable energy sources and storage technologies. Looking ahead, he aspires to contribute significantly to the fight against climate change through research and dedication.

Social Sciences

Allison Joyce

Allison Joyce

Psychology

School-based educational programs, cultural identity, and mental health among urban Indigenous youth

Biography

Allison is a fourth-year student in the psychology honours program. Her current research focuses on the experiences of urban Indigenous youth, specifically in relation to cultural connectedness and mental health. As an Indigenous student herself, Allison’s goal is to amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives.
Beyond this, Allison strives to help foster more inclusive spaces for neurodiverse individuals. Currently, she works as a support worker for the Canucks Autism Network, where she provides individualized support to people on the autism spectrum. Allison’s future goals include going to graduate school to become a clinical psychologist and subsequently provide services to rural communities.
Audrey Lefort

Audrey Lefort

Anthropology

A Time for Recollection: Exploring the Temporality of Victoria‘s Sea-to-Sea Green Blue Belt Campaign

Biography

My name is Audrey Lefort and I am a fourth-year anthropology honors undergraduate student. After graduating in the Spring of 2024, I plan on pursuing my studies in environmental anthropology to become a research consultant.

Camille Grafton

Camille Grafton

Sociology

Illuminating the Shades of Grey in the Black and White World of Consent Education

Biography

Camille is a third-year Sociology student at the University of Victoria hoping to pursue UVic Law following graduation in May of 2025. Consent education and researching the gaps within our current education, health and legal frameworks has been an interest of hers since taking Sociology 100A and delving into feminist and post-colonial theory. This project has allowed her to explore this topic further and gain experience gathering and analyzing qualitative data firsthand. In future studies and life pursuits, Camille hopes to explore the possibility of working in employment law, with a specific interest in analyzing policy regarding workers’ rights.

Cas Allen

Cas Allen

Sociology

Transgender Travel: A Sociolegal Analysis of Safety and Risk

Biography

Cas Allen (he/they) is a fourth year student at the University of Victoria currently studying sociology. They are interested in all aspects of trans identity and hope to pursue further research surrounding trans issues. Cas envisions a future where all trans people have the right to exist just as they are. In his free time, Cas enjoys walking, watching hockey (let’s go Oilers!), and video editing. Cas has a major caffeine addiction and you can probably find him at a coffee shop when he isn’t on campus 🙂

Djuna Nagasaki

Djuna Nagasaki

Anthropology

“Am I Japanese? Am I Nikkei?” An exploration of Yonsei and Gosei Japanese Canadian Identities

Biography

Djuna is in her fourth year of majoring in Anthropology (honours) at UVic. She is a settler of mixed European and Japanese descent and was born and raised on the land of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Her research interests relate to her Japanese Canadian heritage and her family’s history as survivors of the Internment Camps of World War Two. Her work seeks to amplify the voices of the younger generations within the Japanese Canadian community as descendants of those impacted by the forced displacement, dispossession, and internment of Japanese people in the 1940s.
Ellie Curry

Ellie Curry

Psychology

Helping Each Other Up: Dyadic Experiences Underlying Enhanced Attachment Security in New Parents

Biography

Ellie (they/she) is a fourth-year BSc psychology student completing their Honours thesis. Her research interests include close relationships, emotion regulation, and the intersection between queer and trans identities and mental health. Ellie has been a member of the Healthy Relationships Lab for two years where they lead an observational coding team. They are active in the queer community in Victoria, working as a support worker for predominantly queer/trans youth with addictions. Their recent volunteer experience includes facilitating sapphic identity-based community circles through the Pride Collective on campus. Ellie plans to pursue a master’s degree in counselling psychology to build a career in community support and psychological research.

Emma-Jane Burian

Emma-Jane Burian

Political Science

‘Mr. Speaker I don’t belong here’: The reality of institutional discrimination inside Canada’s Parliament

Biography

My name is Emma-Jane Burian (she/her). I am in the last semester of my double major in Honours Political Science and Environmental Studies at UVic. The courses I have taken throughout my degree and my experiences working within federal politics have inspired me to take on this research. I have seen first-hand the issues of discrimination within political spaces. After graduation, I plan to focus my professional work on equity and inclusion in Canadian politics. I am also interested in attending law school to pursue further education and career opportunities.

Jarica Kritsky

Jarica Kritsky

Political Science

How Consumer Choice is Influenced by Labor and Environmental Conditions in the Global Cosmetics Industry: A Study of Students’ Purchasing Decisions at the University of Victoria

Biography

Jarica is a fourth year honors student in the Department of Political Science at UVic. They are completing a dual-major in political science and environmental studies, and an honors thesis in conjunction with this JCURA project in the Department of Political Science. Jarica is interested in the politics of global supply chains and environmental policy. Jarica will start studying law at the University of Victoria in September 2024.

Jenna Inch

Jenna Inch

Political Science

Leveraging Affect in the Wake of Disaster: From “Hell or High Water” to Resilient Calgary

Biography

Jenna Inch (she/her) is a Fourth-year Political Science major (Hons.) and Business minor at the University of Victoria. As an uninvited settler currently working and researching on lək̓ʷəŋən territory, and as an uninvited settler who originally hails from the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, Jenna acknowledges with gratitude the First Nations peoples who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial.
Larissa Bron

Larissa Bron

Environmental Studies

Mountains of Confusion: Evaluating Image Enhancement to Improve AI Landscape Classification

Biography

I’m Larissa, a 4th year BSc Biology student who spends a lot of time with the Environmental Studies and Geography departments at UVic. My passion is in applied biology for conservation, especially within the unique and biodiverse ecosystems neighbouring the Salish Sea. This JCURA project included a lot of firsts for me, such as working with artificial intelligence, coding Python functions, and data analysis and visualization in R. I am grateful for the opportunity to hone my research skills and I hope that it benefits the important work of the Mountain Legacy Project in quantifying ecosystem change over time.

Lu Zaki

Lu Zaki

Psychology

Does Ethnic Identity Salience Moderate Associations between Discrimination and Neuroticism Expression?

Biography

Lu is currently completing the final year of her BA in psychology, as well as her honours thesis under the supervision of Dr. Kelci Harris. Lu’s research interests focus on understanding personality development and mental health, especially among racialized individuals. Outside of her academics, Lu volunteers at the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees, guided by her passion for amplifying the experiences of underserved communities. In the future, Lu hopes to attend graduate school to become a clinical psychologist with a specialisation in dialectical behaviour therapy for clients with borderline personality disorder.

Megan Ryan-Lloyd

Megan Ryan-Lloyd

Political Science

The Duty to Consult: A Philosophical and Historical Investigation

Biography

Megan is a fourth-year Political Science student working on her Honours thesis, which examines the duty to consult frameworks. She enjoys learning about Indigenous culture, governance traditions and legal orders. Megan has completed coursework in Canadian politics, philosophy and research methods. In her spare time, she likes reading and exploring the West Coast as a kayak guide. Megan is grateful for the support received and looks forward to the future of her research.

Nathaniel Hope Tucker

Nathaniel Hope Tucker

Economics

Burning Questions: Costing the Impacts of BC’s Wildfires on Carbon Stores

Biography

Nathaniel Hope Tucker is a B.Sc. Honours Student in Economics at the University of Victoria. His research interests include urban economics, environmental economics, and the economics of climate change. In his free time, he likes to play guitar and knit.
Obleo Demandre

Obleo Demandre

Economics

Greenspace density and Rohingya refugee depression symptoms in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Biography

My name is Obleo Demandre, and I am a fifth-year UVic Economics student from Saltspring Island, BC. My main research interests are applied microeconomics and econometrics, especially in environmental, development, and health economics. I am also interested in the application of spatial data to economics.

Saiyah Aujla

Saiyah Aujla

Political Science

Interrogating Racecraft: A Critical Analysis of the ‘Model Minority’ and Sikh Subjectivity in Canada

Biography

My name is Saiyah and I am a fourth-year Honours Political Science and Applied Ethics student. My scholarly and research interests include dynamics of race and Sikh identity. I’ve been published for my academic work in OnPol and more casually through Her Campus. I’ve worked as a Teaching Assistant with the Department of Political Science and I currently hold a project-based position as a legal assistant with a local law firm. After graduation, I plan to go to law school. In my free time, I enjoy beach walks with my dog Koda, reading a good book, and watercolour painting.

Sam Rae Harriss

Sam Rae Harriss

Geography

Circular Economy Transitions: Informal Recycling and Expanding the Deposit Refund System in BC

Biography

Sam Rae Harriss graduated from UVic with a BA in Geography and a minor in Political Science in December 2023. In 2022/2023 she completed her honours thesis in the Department of Geography’s Community-Based Research Lab, and since graduating has been continuing her work in the lab through volunteering. Outside of academia, Sam works for BC Parks and spends her spare time hiking, running, and camping.

Sam Shipley

Sam Shipley

Economics

Financial constraints to YouTube success: Is Patreon the solution?

Biography

Sam Shipley is a 4th year undergraduate economics student at UVic. As a recipient of VKURA in 2022, he conducted supervised research on the economics of indigenous communities in 20th century Canada. His interests in economics are media economics, applied microeconomics, economic history, and environmental economics.
Sarah Jensen

Sarah Jensen

Geography

Working Towards Improved Protection of Cave and Karst Environments, in British Columbia

Biography

Sarah is completing her fifth year as a Geography honours student. Her involvement with a local caving club steered her interests toward cave and karst research. She has worked three summers as a cave guide in Canmore and hopes to continue developing her skills to one day work in the field of karst conservation.

Sarah Mastromonaco

Sarah Mastromonaco

Geography

Canada’s Environmental & Social Due Diligence Legislative Landscape

Biography

My name is Sarah Mastromonaco (she/her) and I’m in my fifth and final year of my BA in Environmental Studies and Geography. I am passionate about localizing and creating sustainable food systems. My interests in environmental and social due diligence legislation for Canadian companies acting abroad was sparked by Sophia Carodenuto’s course Regional Studies of Africa. I was excited to further my understanding of the complex implications of Canada’s tropical food consumption through a directed studies with Sophia. Outside the classroom I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, climbing, and growing food.

Sebastian Yerex

Sebastian Yerex

Geography

UAV data upscaling for soil erosion monitoring in high-latitude rangelands, northeastern Iceland

Biography

A fourth-year student in the geography department, Sebastian Yerex is interested in alpine and high-latitude geohazards, studying both contemporary events and those preserved in the geological record. With his research he aims to build an understanding of the processes shaping the Earth’s surface. Through hands-on experience Sebastian has developed a passion for conducting research in demanding environments. Beyond academics, he enjoys rock climbing, getting outdoors, art, and spending time with animals.

Shayla Frinton

Shayla Frinton

Psychology

Perceptions of Psychedelics: University Students’ Attitudes and Motives for Psilocybin Use

Biography

Shayla is a fourth-year student pursuing an honours degree in psychology. Her research interests include motivations for substance use, implications and advancements of substance use policy, and impacts of inequitable access to mental health services. She has additional interests in community-based qualitative research and transpersonal psychology. Her community volunteer work focuses on providing services for those who are often unable to access traditional mental health care due to cost barriers. Shayla hopes to pursue graduate studies to work as a psychotherapist and help reform mental health policy.
Sunny Enkin Lewis

Sunny Enkin Lewis

Sociology

The Faces Behind ‘JewBook’: An Exploration of Online Jewish Community

Biography

Sunny Enkin Lewis is completing an honours BA in Sociology. Throughout her degree, she has enjoyed using a sociological lens to explore elements of her own life. She has taken opportunities to further her academic engagement including presenting sociological research at the 2021 conference of Canadian Society for Jewish Studies. Her JCURA project was inspired by her sibling’s engagement with online Jewish spaces and her interest in understanding how to cultivate feelings of community.

Taylor Nishimura

Taylor Nishimura

Geography

From (Re)Enclosure to Resurgence: Evaluating the Plains Bison Reintroduction Project

Biography

Taylor is completing her final year of her degree in Geography (honours) and Political Sciences at UVic. She is a settler of mixed Korean, Japanese, and European descent. She was born and raised on Treaty 7 territory on the traditional land of the Tsuut’ina and Iyarhe Nakoda First Nations and the Blackfoot Confederacy. Her academic interests relate to her family’s history as both agents and victims of dispossession as Japanese farmers in Southern Alberta affected by Japanese internment. Her interest in researching buffalo in Banff National Park ties to her experiences growing up in the area and questions surrounding identity, settler complacency and solidarity.

Teale Weiss-Gibbons

Teale Weiss-Gibbons

Environmental Studies

Temporal change of pH in response to nutrient source and land type in agricultural soils

Biography

Teale Weiss-Gibbons is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in biology at the University of Victoria. She holds a passion for environmental science and is eager to explore more in the field of soil biology and ecosystem dynamics. She is committed to growing her education, with an avid focus on sustainable practices for soil management and ecosystem health.

Mackenzie Duggan

Mackenzie Duggan

Social Justice Studies

The Politics of Pedagogy

Biography

Mackenzie Duggan, in her fourth year at the University of Victoria, is pursuing an Honours degree in Political Science and a diploma in Social Justice Studies. Her research for JCURA delves into social justice pedagogy, but her other research interests include neoliberalism in Canada, affect politics, and environmental and human rights law. Her academic path was profoundly influenced by her recent participation in UVic’s Thailand Field School, run by the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives and the Global Development Studies program. Outside of academia, Mackenzie’s hobbies include personal fitness and volunteering. Anticipating her graduation in Spring 2025, Mackenzie is eager to further advance her academic career, continuing her exploration of the fields of political science and social justice.

Cooper Bell

Cooper Bell

Anthropology

From the Ground Up: A Comparative Analysis of Virtual Reflectance Transformation Imaging and Traditional RTI in the Context of Cemetery Conservation

Biography

Cooper is in his fourth(ish) year of an Anthropology BSc, and is also working towards a minor in Computer Science. His interests lie in the intersection between Anthropology and technology, which has so far most often manifested in the field of mortuary archaeology. In his spare time he likes to paddleboard, sew, and make stained glass art.

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