Graduate Student Award of Merit

Cassandra is a PhD candidate at Concordia University, where her research focuses on
tire-derived compounds and their environmental implications. Her work combines field
monitoring, laboratory experiments, and computational modeling to address emerging
contaminants that impact our ecosystems.
Throughout her academic journey, Cassandra has maintained exceptional scholarly
achievement, earning her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Trent University and
completing her Master’s in Environmental & Life Sciences with distinction, receiving Trent
University’s President’s Medal. Her research excellence has been recognized through
prestigious awards including the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (both Master’s and
Doctoral levels), the Next Generation Cities Institute Fellowship, and the Miriam Aaron Roland
Graduate Fellowship.
Cassandra’s research has gained international recognition, with over a dozen peer-reviewed
publications in high-impact journals that have garnered more than 500 citations. Her work has
influenced policy decisions and led to collaborations with government agencies like Environment
and Climate Change Canada. The Sophie Germain du Consulat General de France à Québec
bursary recently supported her international research collaboration in France.
Beyond research, Cassandra is the Co-President of Science & Policy Exchange and Vice
President of Finance for the Concordia Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student
Association. She is also a member of both the Arts and Science Faculty Curriculum Committee
and the Graduate Curriculum Committee at Concordia University due to her passion for
teaching and improving student outcomes. Her work in this area has led to the receipt of
Concordia’s Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award and significant impacts on course and
program-level curriculum development.
Cassandra is honoured to receive the SWAAC Graduate Student Merit Award and remains
committed to bridging the gap between scientific research and policy while mentoring the next
generation of environmental scientists.

Marie-Pier Brochu is a Ph.D. candidate in Water Sciences at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Quebec, under the supervision of Dr. Valérie Langlois. Her research lies at the intersection of environmental genomics and conservation biology, with a focus on developing innovative, non-invasive monitoring methods for threatened animal species using environmental DNA (eDNA). Her doctoral studies are supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), along with numerous other graduate-level awards. 

In addition to her research, Marie-Pier is passionate about science communication. She has a background in science journalism and regularly takes part in outreach events, such as the “Girls and Science Day,” where she has inspired over 300 young girls to pursue STEM. She has presented her research at both national and international conferences, taught an undergraduate biology course at Université Laval, and led a workshop for graduate students and government biologists at INRS. 

Beyond academia, Marie-Pier is deeply involved in her community. She volunteers at the YWCA Québec, supporting women affected by domestic violence, and has contributed over 250 hours to the organization. She also serves as a mentor for international students at INRS, helping them integrate and thrive in a new environment. 

A lifelong athlete, Marie-Pier competes in triathlons at the provincial level. She placed 3rd overall in the 2024 Triathlon Québec Cup and qualified for the 2025 Age Group World Championships in Wollongong, Australia. 

Marie-Pier is honored to receive the SWAAC Graduate Student Award of Merit and proud to be part of an organization that uplifts and empowers women in academia. 

Sandrine Labelle is a Ph.D. candidate in History at Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research and engagement focus on bridging academic scholarship with social justice movements. She is particularly committed to democratizing knowledge and fostering dialogue between researchers and advocacy groups. 

Since 2021, she has been actively involved with Comprendre le monde: discussions géopolitiques citoyennes, a volunteer-based initiative in Rimouski that organizes public lectures and discussions on global political issues. She plays a key role in coordinating speakers and facilitating discussions. 

In 2023, she worked on the development of Les Bâtisseuses, a collaborative exhibition at the Écomusée du Fier-Monde highlighting the contributions of women activists in Montréal’s Centre-Sud neighborhood. This project, conducted with local advocacy groups, amplified the voices of marginalized women and celebrated their role in social movements. 

She also plays an active role of Plaidoyer infirmier pour l’équité en santé, a project dedicated to documenting the history of nurses who pioneered community healthcare at the Clinique populaire Pointe-Saint-Charles. This initiative will produce educational materials to inspire future healthcare professionals in defending accessible public healthcare. 

Currently, she is working on the 50th anniversary of the Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO), leading efforts to create a traveling exhibition on the history of Quebec’s international labor solidarity. Additionally, she co-founded Mushuau shipu: cartographie sensible, an interdisciplinary expedition combining scientific research and artistic creation to explore climate change’s impact on northern ecosystems. 

Her doctoral research, recognized by prestigious awards, examines the effects of economic globalization on Quebec society, workers, and gender dynamics. Through her academic and community-driven initiatives, she remains committed to making critical knowledge accessible and fostering informed civic engagement. 

Seunnla Adelusi is a doctoral researcher at Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) and a 2024 Vanier Scholar, having received Canada’s most prestigious national award for doctoral students. Her research, conducted in collaboration with Enerkem Inc., focuses on developing high-value feedstocks from non-recyclable municipal solid waste using torrefaction as a pretreatment for high-efficiency gasification. Seunnla has a strong track record of excellence and leadership, earning multiple international awards throughout her studies in Nigeria, England, Slovenia, Sweden, and Canada. During her PhD, she has received the CSME Gold Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement, the BASF Graduate Scholarship, and la Bourse Famille Jean Morin two years consecutively, among others.

Beyond research, Seunnla is passionate about education and gender equality advocacy, dedicating much of her time to volunteering. Currently serving as the representative for Nigeria within the Erasmus Mundus Association, she fosters global connections while mentoring students. She has spoken at over 50 seminars and workshops, including the 2024 One Young World Summit, the world’s biggest and most impactful youth leadership summit. While studying in Europe in 2022, she was named a SHEU Leads heroine by the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, and Education. At UdeS, Seunnla volunteered in a debut mentorship project to support international students in engineering. She serves presently as a student representative in the CRASH research group and works part-time as a teaching assistant.

Seunnla is committed to research and science popularization. She actively shares her research in scientific conferences and journals, recently winning a Best Poster Prize at the American Chemical Society GCISS program in the United States. She is also the UdeS 2023 champion for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition with her speech, “Let’s Talk Trash.”