Students and Interns

Chloé Vézina earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from McGill University and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Assessment at Concordia University. She has experience interacting directly with communities through science workshops for children, as well as working for a non-profit to carry out an educational campaign on the importance of composting. She is interested in leveraging environmental assessment processes to support communities, uphold Indigenous rights, and protect the environment. This internship is part of an ECO Canada employment program.

Kamryn McCallum recently completed her BSc in the Environment program at McGill University. With an academic background in environment and health, combined with experience working in community and student-led organizations, Kamryn has a growing interest in environmental sustainability and social justice. She joined TerraHumana Solutions to work on the Kanesatake Regional Assessment Project and the Environmental Contaminants and Health Impact Study, which has been ongoing since 2019.

Rakshita has a strong interest in environmental assessment and sustainable development, particularly in research-driven and community-focused initiatives. She is currently pursuing a master’s in environmental Assessment at Concordia University, where she is exploring innovative approaches to environmental analysis. With prior experience in in-silico drug design for Alzheimer’s and successful marketing campaign management, Rakshita combines analytical expertise with strategic thinking. Passionate about driving positive environmental impact, she aims to contribute to solutions that balance development with sustainability.

Alexa Fitzwilliam, a graduate of McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts in the ecological determinants of health, joined TerraHumana Solutions as a research assistant for the Kanesatake regional assessment project. This project focuses on the impacts of maritime transport on shoreline and coastal habitats. Alexa is particularly interested in corporate environmental responsibility, especially in the private and healthcare sectors. She recently completed an evaluation of waste disposal methods in the ophthalmology department at CHUM hospital in Montreal and plans to continue her studies in the fall.

Evelyn Rogan is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at McGill University. She is actively contributing to the ECHIP project in Kanesatake, in collaboration with the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE) at McGill. The project focuses on democratizing environmental contamination data, particularly by sampling and analyzing heavy metals in water, soil and food. These findings will be shared through an interactive visual platform that integrates both descriptive information and visual tools, serving as a valuable resource for the local environmental association, Ratishontsanonhstats Kanesatake Environnement.

Passionate about sustainable and equitable resource management, Evelyn aims to enhance universal protocols for environmental and social impact permits. She is also deeply interested in multidisciplinary environmental communication and hopes to foster stronger dialogue between businesses, local organizations and the scientific community.

Katie Chong is a PhD student at McGill University’s Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences.  She holds a Master of Science in Nursing (with a focus on Global Health) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Since 2021, Katie has been collaborating with Ratishontsanonhstats Kanesatake Environment and TerraHumana Solutions on various aspects of the Environmental Contaminants and Health Impact Project (ECHIP). Her contributions include assisting with soil, food and water sample collection, managing health risk assessments, organizing and supporting events, data management and analysis and staff training. Recently, Katie has also been involved in the early stages of the team’s First Nations Baseline Assessment Program on Health and the Environment, which aims to develop relevant health indicators for the community.

Katie’s professional interests lie at the intersection of the natural environment and human health. She focuses on research that addresses interconnected environmental and health inequalities, advances multidisciplinary science and promotes community involvement. Her areas of interest include pollution, food sovereignty, environmental justice, environmental health and public and community health.

Makaila Machilek is a McGill University student specializing in agriculture and environmental biology, with a focus on wildlife biology and avian ecology. She has worked with TerraHumana Solutions on bird surveys for the past two years and is currently undertaking a personal project on kingfisher conservation. Outside of work, Makaila enjoys reading, painting and hiking.

Sophie Emberley-Kormaz recently completed her MSc in Natural Resource Sciences at McGill University’s Macdonald campus. Her research focused on alternative toxicology tests and their potential to replace traditional animal testing, especially for fish. Starting her PhD in September, Sophie will shift her focus to community-based applications of these alternative testing strategies. She joined TerraHumana Solutions as part of the Environmental Contaminants Project for her doctoral work and is excited to collaborate with others passionate about environmental health!