Lily Charles

Snapshot

  • Integrated Science (Earth and Environmental Science Concentration) Level IV student researching freshwater turtle road mortality and habitat types in Northern Georgian Bay, Ontario

  • Currently in a thesis, doing field work

  • Position obtained through: Networking and classes

  • I started working in May 2023 as a research assistant in the Chow-Fraser lab. In this role, I assisted graduate students in the collection of field data on freshwater turtles. This research was done within an Indigenous community on the northern coast of Georgian Bay. My responsibilities during this fieldwork included tagging turtles with radio tags, tracking the tagged turtles using radio telemetry, conducting both road mortality and nesting surveys, and interviewing community members to gather knowledge about changes in turtle populations, wetlands, and water in the region. My thesis project will consist of mapping road mortality data and classifying critical habitats to help the community understand where and why road mortalities might be occurring.

  • Future plans: I am planning to start a Master's degree next year in Marine Biology!

“Make connections with your professors! I became involved in this research by actively participating in class and talking to my professor about her research and positions she had open in the lab. Professors are far more likely to take on students that they know are keen and passionate about research. Participate in class, go to office hours, read a few of your professor's papers and ask them genuine questions that you have!”