Mason MacDonald

Overall this study was in regards to plant stress physiology. Specifically, it focused on determining the mechanisms that certain antioxidants promoted stress tolerance through seed preconditioning.

Who is your supervisor? What has your experience been with him/her?

I was co-supervised by Dr. Raj Lada and Dr. Jeff Hoyle. My experience with both was excellent. I had worked for Dr. Hoyle for 2 summers before starting my Masters and had a strong working relationship with him. I met Dr. Lada in an interview at the start of my program to see if the research being conducted by his team catered to my interests and could immediately see that he had a strong commitment to his students and to science.

Did you do your undergraduate degree at NSAC?

I did my undergraduate at NSAC, with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in chemistry.

Why did you decide to pursue graduate studies?

I’ve been interested in many aspects of science since I was little, but more recently have been interested in becoming a professor – a position where I could combine research and teaching. Getting my Masters was the next step.

How did you hear about NSAC?

When I was in high school I was sponsored by the Rotary Club to represent Nova Scotia at the World Affairs Seminar in Wisconsin. I met then NSAC president Dr. Garth Coffin when I was sponsored. It was Garth who let me know the wonderful advantages that NSAC could offer.

What do you like the best about NSAC?

The small class size is probably what I like best about NSAC.

What is something interesting you have learned or experienced since you’ve arrived at NSAC?

I’ve been at the NSAC for a long time – so I’ve learned a lot here. But the most important thing I have learned is that I have a love for teaching. Learning this early on is why I earned my M.Sc. and is the driving force behind my application for PhD studies.

What do you hope to do when you finish your program? If you are already finished, what are you doing now?

Ultimately I hope to become a professor, but my next step is to earn a Ph.D. Currently, I work for NSAC as a tutor for students with learning disabilities and also as the Science Journalism Intern.

If you could tell someone considering graduate studies at NSAC a reason for coming here, what would it be?

Whenever I speak to anyone about NSAC, I always refer to the low student to professor ratio. It’s the optimum environment for learning.

How has the graduate program at NSAC prepared you for your future endeavours/career? What skills did you acquire during your graduate program?

The Teaching Assistant (TA) requirement of the graduate program has helped me gain experience teaching in a classroom setting – I TA’ed 5 courses during my program. My research skills have also improved significantly, including proposal writing, experimental design, and analysis. The skills I learned were not necessarily specific to my research area, but more an overall improvement that will greatly help during my Ph.D., post-doctoral studies, and eventual professor position.

What is the greatest strength of the graduate program at NSAC?

The greatest strength of the graduate program at NSAC is probably it’s affiliation with Dalhousie and ease of cooperation with other universities. The reason for this is that you are exposed to multiple universities with different styles of teaching. You get a more thorough education working with faculty between multiple universities and can generate a better list of contacts for the future.