JCURA Projects 2024

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 (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 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 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.

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.

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 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.

(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!

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.