Kayley Head

Program

Integrative Biology

Why did you choose to complete your graduate studies in Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph? 

From a young age, I have maintained a passion for Species at Risk conservation. The thesis project available to me at the University of Guelph was a perfect fit to pursue this passion along with my developed interests in aquatic biology, while also providing connections with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Tell us about the path you took to get here

With a strong interest in animals and nature from a young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue school and work that focused on wildlife in any capacity. To gain experience with animals, in high school I volunteered and completed a co-op placement in vet clinics to see if a wildlife veterinarian may be a career I would like to pursue, but found that working inside a clinic day to day was not fulfilling.

I started my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph in Zoology in 2018. That following summer, I worked at the City of Mississauga's Forestry Department where I met older undergraduate students and alumni from UoG who mentored me and recommended I start volunteering in labs of interest at the University. After obtaining volunteer positions in two labs (Fryxell and McLaughlin) the following year, I found my interests lay in hands-on aquatic research. This volunteering led to a summer job in the Fryxell lab as a laboratory assistant, and that summer, I decided to change my major to Marine and Freshwater Biology.

In my fourth year of undergraduate studies, I signed up for the College of Biological Science's Undergraduate Mentorship Program (CoBUMP). There, I met Katheen Nolan, a PhD Student in the Hanner Lab who mentored me on how to apply for graduate programs, where to find thesis opportunities, and how to contact professors for project inquiries. I originally thought I wanted to pursue a course-based master's program, but as I gained confidence in my writing and research abilities, I decided that a thesis was more aligned with my goals. I sent out email inquiries, yet I couldn't find project themes that I was fully drawn to and struggled to find professors willing to take on a fully-funded MSc student post-COVID. In my last semester, I was lucky enough to receive an email from Kathleen about a possible MSc position with her co-advisor, Bob Hanner, who had funding for an MSc student on an aquatic biomonitoring project for a Species at Risk. This project encapsulated my research goals of aquatic Species at Risk conservation and I owe my successes to my volunteering experiences, maintaining a passion for my studies, advice, and connections made with mentors along the way.

I hope to pass on my success by being a mentor to undergraduate students during my time here at the University.

About the work you are doing at Guelph

What excites me about the research I am working on is exhibiting how you can detect almost any species from a water sample collected from the environment based on the presence of their DNA alone (think mucus, urine, skin cells, eggs, etc.). This is especially exciting when the species of interest exists in small populations and is difficult to find, such as in species that are threatened or endangered. 

A moment that stands out for me is the first time I was able to detect the DNA of the Topeka shiner, an elusive endangered minnow, from the filter samples I collected from various streams and oxbows in Iowa and Minnesota. This provided a lot of hope for the methods I am using and for my contribution to help improve the welfare and potentially future populations of this species. 

A general interest in wildlife, hands-on volunteering experiences in labs in the Integrative Biology Department, and coursework that focused on aquatic environments are what drew me into my interest in aquatic ecology. I found out about my program from graduate students who TA'd my undergraduate coursework, more specifically learning about the graduate student opportunity in my lab through an undergraduate mentorship program. 

I found that mentorship opportunities through work, volunteering, informational interviews and mentorship programs overall helped guide my interests and provided awareness towards certain research topics and graduate student positions that I otherwise would not have known about. 

How do you think your research can potentially improve life? 

I have had the opportunity to share my research results with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and non-governmental organizations (Syngenta, Iowa Soybean) by providing an optimized method of non-invasive biomonitoring for a species-at-risk fish, which improves the health and conservation of the Topeka shiner population by allowing for minimal impact to the species and its habitat, as well as by providing insight into recovery plans, management, and habitat protection.

Tell us about your advisor

My advisor, Bob Hanner, always says that the slogan in his lab is to "Work hard, Play hard". Bob continuously pushes me to expand my knowledge and explore questions and ideas in my research until we run out of both time and funding. If I ever become discouraged about a situation or outcome of results, he is often optimistic and provides alternative solutions, thought processes, and/or potential justifications that promote room for exploration. Regarding the "Play hard" part of his slogan, Bob takes celebrating our victories seriously and is always willing to take the lab out for drinks or host a lab barbeque with a "friendly" game of paintball.

What do you plan to do after graduation? How has U of G helped you reach that goal? 

After graduation, I plan to pursue work as a scientific diver and/or biologist where I broaden my interests in kelp forest restoration and species interactions with the environment. I also plan on working towards obtaining my divemaster certification. The University of Guelph has helped with these goals by allowing me to take the Canadian Scientific Research Diver course as one of the required credits for completion of my program, as well as allowing me to take a semester leave of absence to pursue hands-on work as a Jr. Marine Technician in Diving Operations with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Moreover, I am confident that my thesis program has prepared me for work as a biologist as I have learned how to think critically and persevere through perceived failures during various bouts of troubleshooting various methods in my lab work. I have also learned how to prepare a budget, organize international sampling campaigns, as well as collaborate and communicate with governmental and non-governmental organizations.