Brock University undergraduate students share their experiences with real-world research opportunities

Brock University students Paige Au and Raahavi Ramathesun are making waves in the world of undergraduate research, with their groundbreaking studies on endangered species and freshwater fish.

Au, a third-year Biological Sciences student, recently spent three months in Portugal studying the Iberian lynx, a species classified as endangered. Her research focused on the behavior of female lynxes at the National Breeding Centre for the Iberian Lynx in Silves, Portugal. While the team did not find a clear pattern indicating pregnancy in the lynxes, Au’s analysis of past and present data revealed that behavioral changes could potentially indicate pregnancy in individual lynxes.

On the other hand, Ramathesun, a Biochemistry graduand, delved into research on the Trinidadian guppy, a tiny freshwater fish found in streams in Trinidad. Her undergraduate thesis involved studying the color-changing behavior of male guppies in response to predators. Through her research, Ramathesun discovered that different populations of male guppies did not exhibit a similar color change in the presence of predators.

Both Au and Ramathesun presented their research at the Ontario Biology Day conference, where they shared their findings with fellow students and faculty members. Their experiences in undergraduate research have not only shaped their academic pursuits but have also opened up new career paths in research and academia.

As they continue to pave the way for future research endeavors, Au and Ramathesun encourage other students to seize opportunities for hands-on learning and to explore their interests through research projects. Their passion for conservation and scientific inquiry serves as an inspiration for aspiring researchers at Brock University and beyond.