Kitty Cheung

Ottawa, Ontario
Forensic Science

With an interest in forensics, Kitty Cheung opted to pursue her post-secondary education at Trent, one of the only universities in Ontario to over a B.Sc. program in Forensic Science.

As a new graduate of the program, Kitty looks back at her time at Trent fondly, remembering some the exceptional learning experiences she gained here. Over the course of a summer, Kitty studied with leading Trent researcher Dr. Barry Saville to explore the control of meiosis in Ustilago maydis, a corn smut pathogen. Kitty’s project was funded through the NSERC summer student research program.

“In addition to being a model plant pathogenic fungus, U. maydis has been identified as a potential bioterrorist agent; a deeper understanding of this pathogen will help defend ourselves from potential bioterrorist attacks,” she explains. The study of meiosis, or genetic recombination, can lead to the creation of new strains of the disease that can overcome previously resistant crops. With a better understanding of how meiosis is controlled, Kitty says, we may be able to inhibit its progress and provide new capabilities to fight the disease. Her work, which involved focusing on two genes predicted to be required for the control of meiosis in U. maydis, has enabled future work in mating, meiosis and pathogensis studies.

“My NSERC experience has definitely enriched my time at university,” Kitty says about her summer in the lab. “Just simply having the opportunity to work in a research lab, doing a project that is truly yours was great.”

For the past four years, Ms. Cheung has also been actively involved with the Trent Forensic Science Society, serving as the 2007/2008 secretary on the Forensic Science Society executive.

Describing her time at Trent as “unforgettable and rewarding”, Kitty says the University has allowed her to grow as a person and change for the better. “I have made life-long friendships, developed deeper bonds with my family, grew in my faith, matured as a person, and learned something,” she says. “I’m planning on returning to Trent for my master’s degree, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a favourite memory because I believe the best is yet to come.”

In September, Kitty will begin her master’s degree with Trent’s Environmental and Life Sciences program. She will continue her research in meiosis of U. maydis and hopes to transfer the knowledge gained from her studies to other related pathogenic fungi that infect economically valuable crops.