Chantel Chizen: PhD Recipient

Chantel Chizen is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on developing regional soil carbon storage estimates for cultivated wetlands (also known as sloughs or prairie potholes) in the Canadian Prairies by considering how wetland soil carbon varies with climate, wetland permanence, salinity, and drainage.

Chantel was born and raised in Central Alberta, and attended the University of British Columbia where she earned Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology – Major in Plant and Soil Sciences with a Minor in Commerce, as well as a Master of Science in Soil Science. As an undergraduate student, she became involved in soil science research while volunteering on a soil health in grassland set-asides field project. Furthermore, her soil science interests were fostered while actively volunteering with the Pacific Regional Society of Soil Science in various roles including President and Awards Committee Chair.

 Since moving back to the Prairies, Chantel volunteers with the University of Saskatchewan Soil Science Graduate Student Association as well as the Soils and Crops Conference Organizing Committee. She was also selected for the 2021-2024 cohort of the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Fellows Program – Future Leaders in Food & Agriculture a well as the 2023 Teacher-Scholar Doctoral Fellowship from the University of Saskatchewan.

 Her future career goals are to pursue teaching and multi-disciplinary research projects that bring together perspectives across the agricultural sciences to address key challenges for agriculture that are relevant to the needs of producers in the Prairies. Chantel also aspires to provide professional development training for graduate students and support the next generation of agriculture leaders as they prepare for their future careers.

Sonja Bialobzyski, MSc Recipient

 Sonja is pursuing a Master's degree in Applied Animal Biology at the University of British Columbia, where her research focuses on addressing the concerns of greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian cattle farmers. Specifically, she is focusing on reducing methane emissions from cattle by manipulating their rumen microbiome. She will utilize microbial genomic and molecular techniques to inhibit the methanogenesis pathway of methane-producing microbes in the cattle’s rumen.

Originally from Edmonton, Sonja completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta, where she was initially introduced to agricultural sciences. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Sonja was an active member of the Poultry Research Centre Student Club, the Pre-Veterinary Club, and the UofA Chapter of the Wildlife Society. She was also involved in various outreach events and volunteer positions, which allowed her to explore the diverse sectors of the agricultural industry.

Sonja has worked alongside the agricultural industry in a variety of positions, from her coursework to research to public education. She has been involved in research projects with poultry, swine, and feedlot cattle at the University of Alberta. In 2021, Sonja worked on a research project that was looking to discover molecular markers of lameness in beef cattle. In 2022, she received an NSERC-USRA from the University of Alberta to work on a nursery pig nutrition trial at the Swine Research Centre looking at the replacement of wheat with oats in swine diets.

 Upon completing her degree, Sonja hopes to continue researching innovative solutions that advance livestock farming practices, with a focus on reducing environmental impact while improving cattle productivity and health. Her unique set of skills and experiences has made her interested in working with microorganisms in a broad capacity, such as probiotic development, disease control through microbial manipulation, and monitoring antimicrobial resistance. With a profound commitment to sustainable agriculture, Sonja is poised to make a lasting impact on the future of Canadian agriculture.