RESEARCH RECOGNIZED
North Sydney’s Kori Andrea awarded Vanier Scholarship for her work
North Sydney’s Kori Andrea awarded Vanier Scholarship for her work.
A North Sydney woman has been awarded one of Canada’s most prestigious academic scholarships.
Kori Andrea, who is working on her doctorate at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L., is a 2018 Vanier Scholar.
The 24-year-old science student was one of a few select students to be awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
The scholarship program, funded by the federal government, is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. Recipients receive $50,000 each year for three years.
Andrea received her scholarship through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The award gives her the freedom to throw herself into her research without the monetary pressures felt by many students.
“The financial aspect of it takes away a lot of stress for a student pursuing a higher education and it allows me to focus 100 per cent on what I love doing and that is research,” said the former Memorial High School student who went on to graduate from Cape Breton University in 2016 with a bachelor of science (honours) in chemistry.
“The scholarship also opens the doors for other travel opportunities, so now that I hold this I can apply for other scholarships in different countries — one of my colleagues just completed four months in Australia, so I’m looking forward to maybe working in Japan or the U.K.”
Andrea, who during her time at CBU spent 12 weeks in Dresden, Germany as a research intern, is obviously blessed with a strong scientific mind. But, she credits past teachers for helping to build the foundations of her academic success.
“Both of my parents are teachers, so I guess it might be in the genes, but looking back to high school, I had female science teachers who I considered to be role models for me and then at CBU I had (associate chemistry professor) Stephanie MacQuarrie and at Memorial I have been working with Fran Kerton,” she said.
In fact, the latter is predicting a bright future for her young protégé.
“As a female scientist, I realize the big difference that having a strong role model and adviser can make, and just as I am proud of Kori today, I anticipate feeling even greater pride as she develops into one of the best scientific thinkers of her generation,” said Kerton, a Memorial University professor.
“Kori has a great ability to pay it forward — she is already mentoring several high school and undergraduate researchers in our labs, and I know they look up to her immensely in terms of her career, dedication and what can be achieved through hard work and talent.”
For the record, the research of Kerton and Andrea focuses on green chemistry with the main themes of catalysis (including organometallic chemistry), solvent replacement (including supercritical fluids) and renewable feedstocks (including transformations of carbon dioxide and carbohydrates).
Andrea was asked to explain the research in lay terms.
“Basically, we’re investigating catalysts, that is something that speeds up reactions — what we’re doing is looking at making biodegradable plastics,” she said.
“Right now, we’re trying to provide alternatives to the plastics that are petroleum based — it’s been an uphill battle, but the federal government is starting to get behind this. At the end of the day industry wants to make money, so our challenge is to get them to move away from that with an environmentally conscious perspective.”
So, what does the Vanier Scholar want to do with her career?
“Well, I love to teach, and I love doing research — there are a lot of options, including industry, but for now I’m just happy doing what I love to do,” said Andrea.