May 19th 2026
2026 Gault Research Awards Program
This year, the Gault Nature Reserve awarded 5 research scholarships to students from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medecine and Health Sciences at McGill University, for projects to be conducted at Gault in 2026. Congratulations to the recipients Aleksei Sychterz, Alice Dalla Vecchia, Ellie Harrison, Florence Beaudry and Linkey Yan.
These scholarships are granted for projects that align with our mission. Beyond the tangible results, which will have concrete impacts for Gault, research provides valuable experience to students and serves as an important stepping stone for their careers. The completion of these projects is made possible through the generosity of numerous donors. A big thank you for this invaluable support!
Meet the 2026 awardees
Aleksei Sychterz is completing a Ph.D. in biology under the supervision of Melania Cristescu. For his project, Aleksei uses the Large Experimental Array of Ponds (LEAP) to study the effects of heat stress and eutrophication on freshwater plankton.
Alice Dalla Vecchia is a postdoctoral researcher in biology working in Lars Iversen's lab. Her project aims to understand how environmental conditions influence the growth of invasive aquatic plants. Her work, which will take her to Gault as well as the Helen and Wilder Penfield Research Station, contributes to an international effort to improve the management of these species.
Ellie Harrison is a Master's student working supervised by Jesse Shapiro (Department of Microbiology and Immunilogy) and Rowan Barrett (Department of Biology). Her project explores how agricultural runoff and climate warming influence disturbed aquatic ecosystems and their methane emissions. Using LEAP's experimental mesocosms, her work will help lay the groundwork for a larger study on the impacts of these environmental changes.
Florence Beaudry is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, working in Bruno Tremblay’s lab. Her project aims to develop an enhanced multi-sensor ice buoy to improve seasonal ice monitoring and support safer travel on ice.
Linkey Yan is a doctorate student in the Department of Biology, working in Gregor Fussmann's lab. Her project explores how road salt affects ice formation and the microscopic organisms at the base of aquatic ecosystems in winter. Using experimental tanks placed in Lac hertel, her work will help better understand how human activities impact freshwater ecosystems in cold regions.
