For eight years I have been investigating the diversity of microorganisms in Canadian soils. I attended the University of Alberta for a B.Sc. in Molecular Genetics. My undergraduate research work focused on the characterization of fungal communities of soils in the Athabasca Oil Sands to improve current reclamation strategies. I then completed a M.Sc. in Microbiology and Biotechnology at the University of Alberta in 2018 exploring how permafrost thaw impacts the viability and community structure of permafrost microorganisms. My current work at AAFC encompasses a broad range of projects including the assessment of: how mycorrhizal networks develop and function in agricultural crops, and how microbial communities respond to long-term agricultural practices. These projects taught me a wide variety of technical skills (including fluorescent/brightfield microscopy, nutrient analysis, and microbial community characterization) pertinent to the fields of environmental microbiology and soil sciences.