An Incredible Learning Experience

Beyond the technical side of the project, over my time at the lab, I experienced first-hand the importance of great mentors, collaborating across disciplines and being open, as well as keeping curious and continuously learning.

PIEE was a perfect environment to experience interdisciplinary collaboration in. Students across the lab from insect ecology to plant genetics and integrated pest management provided valuable insights in each others' research, discussing methods and findings together. From meetings to coffee break chats, reaching out to other departments at the university, and even a trip to a fellow government research institute, I saw first-hand how everyone's perspectives complemented and built on one another, sparking innovation. For example, our trip to the Agassiz Agricultural Research Centre, our simple exchanges with fellow researchers inspired us to explore different physical forms for our prototype.

I am deeply grateful to everyone at the lab for providing such an incredible environment to volunteer and grow in, and making me feel so welcome. Shoutout to Professor Carrillo, Jordan, Jennifer, Chelsea, Matt, Jimmy and Quentin who were absolutely incredible mentors and friends who were always open to my questions and helped me develop my skills. My time at PIEE was truly an unforgettable learning experience.