Koushika Kumaresan
TNAU Coordinator
Koushika came to »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ through a dual degree program facilitated by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) Honours in Plant Science at »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ Agricultural Campus (DalAC). Since arriving at Dal AC she has completed her Degree & is furthering her academics in a Master of Science in Agriculture here. Her Masters research centers on the environmental impact assessment of a novel wood preservative that has yet to receive approval in Canada. This project is in collaboration with Stella-Jones Inc., a prominent wood preservation industry based in Truro.
Koushika’s undergrad and graduate studies have provided extensive hands-on experience in laboratory, microbial and biotechnology techniques, as well as in field and greenhouse crop management. She has been recognized for her academic excellence by being awarded the Mitacs Accelerate scholarship, which fully funds her tuition and provides a living allowance. Koushika has also been honored with several prestigious scholarships, including the Robert P. Longley Memorial Graduate Scholarship, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Scholarship, the Dr. Patricia Harney Graduate Scholarship, a research fund graduate scholarship, the International Development Program Scholarship from TNAU, and an entrance scholarship for her undergraduate program.
Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Koushika has been actively involved in campus life and student organizations – serving as Finance Officer for the Rotaract Club; as dedicated member of the Global Student Community & Peer Advisor where she has mentored fellow students (undergrad and graduate), and organized various events for international. Her involvement on campus extends to several positions, including guest sign-in staff at residence, peer mentor, accessibility invigilator, and member of the Phonathon program. In addition to these roles, she has contributed to the academic community as a Teaching Assistant & is currently a Research Assistant on a project investigating the use of various sources of radiation, such as UV light and microwaves, to mitigate microbial infestation in microgreens.
All of this allows Koushika to bring a great deal of skills and experience to her role as the India Student Coordinator. She is dedicated to assisting others in navigating their own academic journeys and is passionate about enhancing the experience of international students at Dal AC by using her skills and experience to support their success.