Convocation ‘23: Coral Fermaniuk, MSc Forest Biology and Management

Coral Fermaniuk, MSc Forest Biology and Management

Aiming for a deeper understanding of tree mortality and resiliency, student applies unique approach to exploring how trees allocate carbon in response to stress.

Learn About the Program

Coral Fermaniuk has a unique perspective on trees, and forests in general. They are not just resources waiting to be harvested, but complex organisms, individually and collectively, and like every other living thing on the planet, vulnerable to future stress and environmental change.  

The U of A, says Coral, provided a once in a lifetime opportunity to study the subject she is passionate about, and to conduct research that has real world implications for the health of forests in Alberta.   

As a graduate student in Forest Ecology and Management in the Department of Renewable Resources, Coral’s approach to the research incorporated an ecophysiological perspective — a cutting edge biological discipline that studies the response of an organism's physiology to environmental conditions. 

Thrilled to now be working in the field as a forest resource analyst for Silvacom, one of Coral’s goals is to encourage and inspire more women to enter forestry.

Congratulations Coral!

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

Trees are more than just standing pieces of timber on a landscape, and I came to appreciate this during my last year of undergrad at MacEwan here in Edmonton. Trees are impeccable organisms. They respond, adapt and persist through many environmental stressors while simultaneously being rooted into one place — notably, without the ability to run from their problems. 

This was the driving force behind my intent to pursue graduate school. I wanted to learn more about trees and the mechanisms in which they respond to stress. What other place to pursue this than the University of Alberta! The U of A provided me with the once in a lifetime opportunity to explore cutting edge ecophysiological research questions which had wide-ranging implications for how we understand forest responses to future stress and disturbance. This is a huge deal! 

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the U of A?

All social events aside (i.e., being able to share the grad school experience with all of my peers), my favourite memories at the U of A lay within the long hours I dedicated in the lab for sample prep and processing. It was during this time that I realized the value and worth of my work ethic — namely, how persistence and hard work can truly yield great results. All of those hours put into lab work (and some would view this as the most mundane aspect of grad school) was what led me to a deeper appreciation of my research, and in turn, a more profound understanding of why what I do makes a difference in this world. 

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

My favourite professors were definitely Jaime Sebastian-Azcona and Jaime Pinzon — both stats professors! Both of these professors taught me to appreciate and understand ecological statistics in a unique and meaningful way. Statistics in general is a very daunting topic, and I am forever grateful for taking these courses as these professors made this endeavor slightly less daunting, infinitely more enjoyable and allowed me to appreciate the importance of good experimental design! 

Did you take on any leadership roles while you were a student? 

During my thesis work, I was able to take on several supervisory roles of summer students — both in relation to lab and field related work. In addition to this, I was also given the opportunity to teach the lab component of an introductory plant science course! All of these experiences enlightened me on the importance of communication, understanding and diversity in academia, and they helped shape me into the researcher and professional I am to date. 

Did you face any significant obstacles or challenges during your program?

Hands down the biggest obstacle of my graduate studies was the pandemic. All social aspects of grad school were essentially cut off with a hot blade in early 2020, and like everyone else, I was devoid of any in-person support, guidance and interaction. Zoom had its place of course, but it had nothing on the experiences of in-person meetings, discourse and bonding. Despite this, we made the online meetings work, learned from them and here we are with everything to show for it! 

What advice do you have for current and future students?

My advice to current and future students is to keep your head in the game! There will be many (upon many) times where things start to feel like they are spiraling beyond your means of control or comfort. Rest assured, this too shall pass. If you remain persistent and consistent with your goals, things will fall into place eventually. You got this! 

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I plan on celebrating convocation by taking a well deserved REST and reflection on all I have achieved. 

What's next after graduation?

I plan to keep up with my full time job at Silvacom as a forest resource analyst. This job enables me to play a role in the responsible management of our forests here in Alberta.