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Have you ever noticed green scum on the surface of a lake? Cyanobacteria are a type of algae that can cause harmful blooms. Harshina Brijlall, a PhD in Biology student, is working to identify potential algal toxin-producing markers and understudied bacterial communities to aid in lake management.

Andree Coschizza’s research revolves around low-temperature physics for quantum computing applications. One of the main barriers in quantum computing is that the necessary two-level quantum systems only become prominent at very low temperatures (often below 100 mK).

You have probably seen Phragmites australis in the wild—but did you know it is Ontario’s worst invasive plant species? Jersey Fontz, a PhD student in Biology (Water) is developing a seed mix to promote the growth of native species instead of invasive species after invasive species removal.

Jane Ye’s research interests lie in how contaminants and nutrients move around and interact in soils, sediments, surface water, and groundwater. Her master’s research project focuses on petroleum hydrocarbons and how they naturally biodegrade into carbon dioxide and methane in soils under different temperature and moisture conditions.

The global demand for the additive manufacturing industry is expected to increase at a rate of 22% annually and is still largely reliant on the use of non-renewable resources. Ryan Nodder’s research goal is to create an alternative to current petroleum-based 3D printing materials.

The prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) has increased significantly due to prolonged screen time and Mana Monfared, a current PhD in Vision Science student, is dedicated to studying the disease and its effects on eye health.

When talking with Justin Shmordok, currently pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) degree, he shared that he might not have discovered his love for research without the help of Waterloo’s co-operative education program during his undergraduate degree.

When it came time to apply to a doctoral program, Dr. Tyler Hampton was recruited to Waterloo because of his desire to take his knowledge of biogeochemistry and apply it to study wildfires and forest harvesting.

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs has announced the 25 finalists for the 2022-2023 GRADflix competition year, which includes seven finalists from the Faculty of Science.

Waterloo’s PhD programs are scholarly and rigorous in terms of theoretical sophistication and depth and breadth of knowledge. But the University’s spirit of innovation calls on PhD students to disrupt and challenge the status quo.