PhD Research Internship Experiences

Hear from some of our PhD candidates and their experience during the PhD research internship. 

A Systematic Review of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Implementation in Canadian Forests

“Many of Canada’s northern settlements, particularly Indigenous communities, are on the front lines of climate change. They face threats of wildfire, climate impacts to resource-dependent economies and changes to forest food systems that have implications for long-term health and well-being. In early 2022, I was hired as a research intern to work with the Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre on a systematic literature review looking at climate adaptation and mitigation in Canadian forests. The ability of forests to adapt in the face of climate change is important for both ecosystem resilience, but also for the resilience of these forest-dependent communities.

Working with Dr. Effah Antwi from the Canadian Forest Service and a team of three other researchers, we looked specifically at how several decades of climate research in Canada have translated into on-the-ground practices with tangible benefits for climate resilience. Two draft papers were produced and are currently under review for journal publication. Among other findings, the study suggests a knowledge-to-action gap in this area that offers opportunities for future research. The internship itself offered significant learning opportunities to understand the review and publication process, as well as some of the benefits and challenges of working with a research team.”

Rike Burkhardt, PhD Candidate
Department of Health Sciences

Coalition for Healthy School Food

“In early 2022 I carried out my PhD Research Internship with the Coalition for Healthy School Food (the Coalition). I began this internship with the desire to continue building my understanding of how Canadian civil society organizations engage in food systems governance. The Coalition is a network of over 200 non-profit organizations across Canada (in every province and territory), and I was interested in how they facilitate participation by diverse members of society in food governance processes, both across the Coalition network and at a policy advocacy level. This internship exposed me to an area of health and food related work that I previously knew very little about – school food programs (SFPs) – and also provided me with the opportunity to engage with an enormous and diverse civil society network collectively working together for the shared goal of a universal school food policy for Canada. 

During my internship I carried out several projects to support the Coalition including research on school food programs worldwide and Indigenous-led school food programs. I also produced several knowledge mobilization pieces such as blog posts and an interactive map of SFPs. I have come to learn that school food is an area of research that has a lot of gaps in Canada, but also one with several committed academics working alongside a very engaged and motivated civil society. I have been able to tap into this impressive network and have made strong connections with a national Coalition having conversations to impact national policy around school food programs. This is very exciting and timely work and my research internship has led to additional opportunities to stay engaged in this area of research.” 

Kirsti Tasala, PhD Candidate
Department of Health Sciences