I’m Ben Caron and I’m in my first year of my Master’s degree at Dalhousie University in the Gunawardena lab.
 I began working in botanical research in the summer of 2020 as an undergraduate in the Lacroix lab at UPEI via an NSERC USRA. In the following years, I completed two Directed Studies courses involving specialized direct application methods of auxin transport and signaling disruptors to tissue-cultured Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum aquaticum) plants. In my final year as an undergraduate, I completed my Honours research in the Lacroix lab, which involved studying the temporal and phytohormonal dynamics of heterophylly in M. aquaticum. I had the privilege to present my initial findings at the Science Atlantic Biology Conference in 2022, where my talk was awarded the top botanical oral presentation.
 Now, I’m excited to transition to a new aquatic plant system for my Master’s while working under the supervision of Dr. Arunika Gunawardena. My project will focus on developing a genetic transformation protocol for lace plant cells in liquid suspension. The broad aim of my work is to use the transformation technique to visualize an intracellular process called autophagy during lace plant programmed cell death. I’m looking forward to evolving as a student and a researcher in the Gunawardena lab with a larger project and the many other opportunities I’m sure to find here.
In my spare time, I enjoy being outside with my dogs Nugget, Aspen, and Willow. I also spend lots of time taking care of my numerous houseplants and watching sports.