Fleur Fenijn Email & Phone Number

Delémont, Jura, Switzerland

Currently working on developing the CABI BioProtection Portal, an online hub where growers and agricultural advisors can access information on biopesticides and biocontrol products available for use in their region. The aim of this project is so raise awareness of biological alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides and fuel the shift towards integrated pest management (IPM).

Delémont, Jura, Switzerland

In May of 2022 I began a research assistant position at CABI in Delémont, Switzerland – an international organization focused on improving food safety and food security worldwide.- Helped develop insect agents for weed biocontrol projects in Canada - Managed insect colonies for mass rearing of biocontrol agents - Identified and collected pupal chambers from the field - Assisted with host specificity tests and impact experiments

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

During the spring semester of 2022, I taught two lab sections (25 students each) for the first year university course Biology 186 – “Physiology and Cell Biology”. - Taught two 3-hour lab periods per week- Guided students through experiments as needed, explaining concepts and answering questions- Marked assignments and exams, attending weekly TA meetings, and prepared for each lab

Summerland, British Columbia, Canada

Research on the evolutionary ecology of invasive fruit tree insect pests and invasive weeds in the Okanagan Valley. Use of biological control methods to reduce invasive populations.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I was involved in start-up operations at Plantsome, an e-commerce plant retail company. Duties included customer service, packaging, delivery and video marketing.

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

In the summer of 2019 I started working as a researcher in Jürgen Ehlting's lab at UVic, focused in plant molecular genetics and genomics. More specifically, we were interested in the evolution of a critical gene involved in plant natural product biosynthesis. My duties included collecting plant samples from the field, growing ferns from spores under sterile conditions, testing fern spore growth on different media types and sucrose concentrations, using molecular genetic techniques such as DNA extractions, restriction enzyme digests, running electrophoresis gels, designing primers, and Agrobacterium and spore-based transformations. My work also required that I collaborate with other professors and students from different labs with expertise in plant reproduction. I went on to complete my Honours project and thesis in the Ehlting lab.

British Columbia, Canada

In the call center we answered all phone inquiries, filled out vacation referrals, organized commercial and group travel, dealt with customer complaints, and handled medical/disability travel concerns. I had the opportunity to hone my communication and problem solving skills through a diverse array of phone conversations with customers, and conflict management with the Team Lead supervisor. Often I was communicating with those in adjacent departments and at the terminal regarding travel documentation and customer handling. In the summer we faced long call queues and challenging situations regarding sailing changes and cancellations, which gave me experience working under pressure.