Heather completed her M.Sc. out of the Stress Ecology Lab in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of Manitoba. She obtained a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Applied Water Science from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020. Her M.Sc. research was co-supervised by Dr. Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil (IISD – Experimental Lakes Area) and Dr. Mark Hanson (University of Manitoba), and focused on the chronic ecotoxicological effects of venlafaxine, a pharmaceutical that is commonly detected in surface waters worldwide. Field studies were conducted at the IISD-ELA research station using in-lake mesocosms to assess both physiological and behavioural aquatic ecosystem effects. Heather enjoys working collaboratively with other lab members, and has contributed to projects taking place through the Stress Ecology Lab and IISD-ELA, including various aspects of oil spill recovery techniques and a review on northern wild rice (Zizania palustris) test methods.