CV
Overview of skills
Written communication: > 8 peer-reviewed scientific publications, working as a reviewer for 6 environmental academic journals
Oral communication: >10 conference presentations, with lecturing experience on various environmental policy and science topics
Teaching: > 6 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching assistant experience, as well as one-on-one student mentorship
Project management: involved in multi-stakeholder, federally funded projects (Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Program, Plastics Science for a Cleaner Future Initiative)
Leadership: coordinator for various roles including conference proceedings, unions, academic seminar series and graduate student management and mentorship, with a commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity.
Education
2022 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH, Scarborough
PhD in Physical and Environmental Science
Supervisor: Dr. Marney Isaac
2016 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, Toronto, ON
MSc in Geography
Supervisor: Dr. Marney Isaac & Dr. Adam Martin
2012 QUEENS UNIVERSITY, Kingston, ON
BSc in Geography (focus physical geography)
Undergraduate Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Neal Scott
Appointments
2022 -2024 Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Guelph, School of Environmental Science
Advisor: Dr. Kari Dunfield
Awards and scholarships [funds awarded in CAD]
2021-2022 Ontario Graduate Scholarship [$15, 000]
2020-2021 UTSC - Graduate student seminar series presentation award [$50]
2020-2021 Ontario Graduate Scholarship [$15, 000]
2020 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) – finalist, University of Toronto
2019-2020 UTSC - Graduate student seminar series presentation award [$50]
2019-2020 Ontario Graduate Scholarship [$15, 000]
2019-2022 U of T Fellowship – Physical and Environmental Science [$16,000]
2018-2019 Ontario Graduate Scholarship [$15, 000]
2017-2019 U of T– Tuition Fellowship – UTSC [$12,00]
2014-2015 U of T– Tuition Fellowship, faculty of Arts and Science [$8,000]
Peer-reviewed publications
Buchanan, S.W., Sauvadet, M., Isaac, M.E. (2024). Decomposition of litter mixtures induces non-additive effects on soil priming across a riparian land use gradient . Soil Biology and Biochemistry.
Buchanan, S.W., Mafa-Attoye, T., Dunfield, K., Thevathasan, N.V., Isaac, M.E. (2022). The role of plant functional traits in soil carbon dynamics within riparian agroforests. Journal of Environmental Quality. 51:33–43.
Borden, K.A., Anglaaere, L.C., Owusu, S., Martin, A.R., Buchanan, S.W., Addo-Danso, S.D., Isaac, M.E. (2020). Soil texture moderates root functional traits in agroforestry systems across a climatic gradient. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 295, 106915.
Buchanan, S.W., Baskerville, M., Oelbermann, M., Gordon, A.M., Thevathasan, N.V., Isaac, M.E. (2020). Plant diversity and agroecosystem function in riparian agroforests: providing ecosystem services and land-use transition. Sustainability. 12(2), 568.
Kattage, Jens et al. (2020). TRY plant trait database-enhanced coverage and open access. Global Change Biology. 26(1), 119-188.
Buchanan, S.W., Isaac, M.E., Van den Meersche, K., Martin, A.R. (2019). Functional traits of coffee along a shade and fertility gradient in coffee agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems. 93(4), 1261-1273.
Martin, A.R., Hayes, F., Borden, K.A., Buchanan, S.W., Gordon, A.M., Isaac, M.E., Thevathasan, N.V. (2019). Integrating nitrogen fixing structures into above- and belowground functional trait spectra in soy (Glycine max). Plant and Soil. 440 (1-2), 53-69.
Isaac, M.E., Isakson, S., Dale, B., Levkoe, C., Hargreaves, S., Méndez, V., Wittman, H., Hammelman, C., Langill, J., Martin, A.R., Nelson, E., Ekers, M., Borden, K.A., Gagliardi, S., Buchanan, S.W., Archibald, S., Gálvez Ciani, A. (2018). Agroecology in Canada: towards an integration of agroecological practice, movement, and science. Sustainability. 10 (9), 3299.
Hayes, F., Buchanan, S.W., Coleman, B., Gordon, A.M., Reich, P.B., Thevathasan, N.V., Wright, I.J., Martin, A.R. (2018). Intraspecific variation in soy across the leaf economics spectrum. Annals of botany. 123 (1), 107-120.
Conference presentations * presenting author
Kanold, E., *Buchanan, S.W., Dunfield, K., Antunes, P. (2023). Root functional trait expression and mycorrhizal colonization under realistic microplastic additions. Canadian Society of Soil Science. Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. (oral presentation)
*Kanold, E., Buchanan, S.W., Dunfield, K., Antunes, P. (2023). Polyester microplastic fibres impact arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant performance. Canadian Society of Soil Science. Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. (oral presentation)
*Buchanan, S.W., Sauvadet, M., Isaac, M.E. (2022). Riparian agroforestry systems - the role of biodiversity in soil carbon sequestration. 5th World Congress on Agroforestry. Quebec City, Canada. (oral presentation)
*Mafa-Attoye, T., Buchanan, S.W., Obregón, D., Tosi, M., Thevathasan, N., Isaac, M.E., Dunfield, K. (2022). Unraveling the root microbiomes of understory plant species across multiple riparian systems. Canadian Society of Microbiologists. Guelph, Ontario, Canada (oral presentation)
*Buchanan, S.W., Sauvadet, M., Isaac, M.E. (2021). Litter functional trait diversity impacts decomposition dynamics: a riparian agroecosystem study. Ecological Society of America, online conference (poster)
*Buchanan, S.W., Mafa-Attoye, T., Dunfield, K., Thevathasan, N.V., Isaac, M.E. (2020). Abiotic and biotic drivers of soil C cycling change throughout the lifespan of riparian agroforests. Perennial Farm Gathering, online conference (oral presentation)
*Buchanan, S.W., Mafa-Attoye, T., Dunfield, K., Thevathasan, N.V., Isaac, M.E. (2020). Drivers of soil functioning within riparian agroforestry buffers: a structural equation modelling approach. Ecological Society of America, online conference. (poster)
*Buchanan, S.W., Baskerville, M., Isaac, M.E. (2019). Provisioning of ecosystem services within temperate riparian agroforestry systems. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry. Montpellier, France. (poster)
*Buchanan, S.W. (2018). Provisioning of ecosystem services within riparian agroforestry systems of Southern Ontario. Canadian Association of Geographers Ontario. Toronto, ON. (oral presentation)
*Borden, K.A., Martin, A.R., Anglaaere, L.C., Buchanan, S.W., Addo-Danso, S.D., Owusu, S., Isaac, M.E. (2019). Shade trees affect soil resource acquisition strategies of cocoa in suboptimal climates. 4th World Congress on Agroforestry. Montpellier, France. (oral presentation).
*Buchanan, S.W., Isaac, M.E., Van den Meersche, K., Martin, A.R. (2017). Functional traits along a shade and fertility gradient in coffee agroforestry systems. Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation. Merida, Mexico. (oral presentation).
*Isaac, M.E., Martin, A.R., Gagliardi, S., Buchanan, S.W., Van den Meersche, K., Rapidel, B. (2016). Intraspecific leaf trait variation in tropical agroforestry systems: a case study of shade-grown coffee. Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation. Montpellier, France. (poster).
Teaching
Supervision
2023 Mark, J. Advanced Undergraduate Independent Research Course - School of the Environment.
University of Guelph. [co-advisor]
2021 Moser, F. Margaret MacMillan Trinity One program with partner PUR Projet. Biodiversity Project.
University of Toronto. [academic mentor]
Undergraduate Teaching Assistantships
2016-2022 Assessing Global Change (500-700 students)
University of Toronto
2021-2022 Environmental Pollution (75 students)
University of Toronto
2014-2021 Principles of Soil Science (70-90 students)
University of Toronto Scarborough
2019-2020 Environmental Law (30 students)
University of Toronto
2017-2020 Environmental Law, Policy and Ethics (20-40 students)
University of Toronto Scarborough
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
2022 Protected Areas seminar series – directed readings course (11 students)
University of Toronto Scarborough
2020-2022 Professional Scientific Literacy (25 students)
University of Toronto Scarborough
2019-2020 Biogeochemical Principles, Applications Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration (15 students)
University of Toronto Scarborough
Guest Lectures
2023 “Examining terrestrial microplastics: impacts on soil physical properties and organisms“
University of Toronto Scarborough
2022 “Research in soil and plant ecology”
University of Toronto Scarborough
2021 “Agroecology: An alternative to the industrial farm model”, for The Global Food System
University of Toronto Scarborough
2020 “Soil Chemistry: pH and Cation exchange capacity”, for Principles of Soil Science
University of Toronto Scarborough
2020 “From A-B (and All paths in Between): The trials and tribulations of designing a controlled experimental study”, for Professional Scientific Literacy
University of Toronto Scarborough
2019 “Plant soil interactions”, for Biophysical Interactions in Managed Environments
University of Toronto Scarborough
2018 “Soil-plant Relationships: Root Strategies for Nutrient Acquisition”, for Principles of Soil Science
University of Toronto Scarborough
2015 “Nutrient Cycling and Soil Fertility”, for Soil Science
University of Toronto (St. George)
2015 “Soil Chemical Properties”, for Soil Science
University of Toronto (St. George)
Training
Teacher Training and Development
2021 Teaching Fundamentals Certificate, University of Toronto
[courses: Fostering Equity and Inclusion in Teaching & Learning; Engaging in Quantitative and Qualitative Data Interpretation and Visualization with your Students; Avoiding Crickets: Discussion Strategies and Activities; Effective Practices for Engaging Online Learning; Statement of Teaching Philosophy Clinic; Creating Interculturally-Informed Learning Environments Online]
Technical and Career Development Training
2020 Food Secure Canada. Cultivating Change: A just transition to a regenerative food system. November 12-18.
2019 Path Analysis in Ecology: 1-week intensive course. Université de Sherbrooke. May 5-10.
2019 Making science relevant to the general public: importance of volunteers in place-based research. University of Toronto Scarborough. April 18.
Service
Academic Review
Agroforestry Systems, Journal of Applied Ecology, Local Environment, Biotropica, Science of the Total Environment, Functional Ecology
Conference Organization
2023 Effect of microplastics within terrestrial systems. Canadian Society of Soil Science.
Truro, Nova Scotia. June 26. (session conveyor)
2021 Agroecology and Soil Health. Canadian Society of Soil Science.
Virtual. June 9. (session conveyor)
Service to the university
2023 United Steel Workers, Postdoctoral Union, President. University of Guelph
2023 United Steel Workers, Postdoctoral Union, Bargining Committee member. University of Guelph
2020-2022 COVID-19 Safety Committee, Department of Physical and Environmental Science, University of Toronto Scarborough
2018-2020 Graduate Student Association of Scarborough (GSAS), Executive member, University of Toronto Scarborough
2018-2020 New Frontiers Seminar Series (NFSS), Lead Coordinator, University of Toronto Scarborough
2018-2020 Department of Environmental Science Colloquium (DESC), Lead Coordinator, University of Toronto Scarborough
Service to the public
2018-2020 Forest Ontario - Ontario Envirothon (high school competition), Soils workshop leader/ coordinator (3 years)
2019 Regenerative Soil Practices for Generating Income, Workshop Participant (coordinator for Isaac lab)
