Research Assistants and Technicians
Olivia Otchere, Research Assistant
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/olivia-otchere-pic.jpg)
Olivia Otchere is the head Research Assistant. She has prior experience as a Research Technician and M.Sc. Student in Plant Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan, where she built skills in soil and nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable soil health practices. She brings expertise in project management, specifically in field work, lab analyses, data management, statistical analysis, in addition to organizational and leadership skills. She enjoys being a part of a dynamic and dedicated team of individuals working towards sustainable agriculture through contributions in scientific research.
Jamie Taylor, Research Technician
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/jamie-taylor-new-pic.jpg)
Jamie is our Research Technician, and she brings several years of expertise in managing field trials and sustainable vegetable crop management. She currently works part-time as she runs her own farm and continues to suppport our reserach program.
Graduate Students
Laura Carruthers, PhD Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/images/lauracarrutherspotatofield.png)
I graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Crop Science from the University of Saskatchewan. Through my undergraduate studies and summer job opportunities, I developed a passion for sustainable farming systems and horticultural crops. I am currently a PhD student in Dr. Kate Congreves lab studying nutrient use efficiency of potato cultivars and nitrous oxide emissions. I also had the opportunity to spend time at the University of California Davis working with Dr. Amelie Gaudin’s lab to trace nitrogen through various cover crops in almond orchards using a 15N isotope tracer. Outside of school, I train and compete in Olympic weightlifting and enjoy paddleboarding, hiking, and travelling.
Daphnée Ferland, MSc Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/images/daphneemicromet.jpeg)
Rachelle McCannell, MSc Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/rachelle-mccannell.png)
Iva Henry, MSc Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/iva-henry-copy.jpeg)
Spencer Kutcher, MSc Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/images/spencerkutcher.png)
I graduated with a major in Crop Science in 2023, and started a MSc in Sept 2023 with Drs. Kate Congreves and Kirstin Bett. I am interested in crop genetics and breeding, and my MSc thesis is exploring nitrogen transfer from lentil to wheat. I spend most of my days in the agricultural greenhouse or in the lab :) I enjoy reading and growing plants.
Dane Harder, MSc Student
![](https://researchers.usask.ca/kate-congreves/images/daneharder.jpeg)
Alumni
Graduate students
McAuley, Warren, M.Sc. Thesis "Effects of intercropping fababean with cereals and oilseeds on crop productivity and soil health" June 2023 (Co-Supervised)
Soudeh Farzadfar, Ph.D. Thesis "Role of cover crops in regulating nitrogen dynamics, productivity, and phytochemical quality in vegetable production systems" Dec 2022
Trang Phan, M.Sc. Thesis "Can enhanced efficiency fertilizers reduce nitrous oxide emissions without compromising yields?" Nov 2022
Olivia Otchere, M.Sc. Thesis "The impact of cover cropping on soil nitrogen availability, crop nitrogen use, and nitrous oxide emissions in a prairie potato-grain crop rotation" Apr 2022.
Athena Wu, M.Sc. Thesis "Developing a soil health testing protocol for arable cropping systems in Saskatchewan" June 2021.
Caio Taveira, M.Sc. Thesis "Tracing crop residue derived nitrogen into subsequent crops and nitrous oxide emissions", Apr 2020.
Undergraduate and visiting students
Autumn Collins, Undergrad Thesis Student 2022/2023: Urban horticulture ecosystem services
Virginia Wall, Undergrad Thesis Student 2020/2021: Garlic scapes and planting dates
Laura Carruthers, Undergrad Thesis Student 2021/2022: Perennial fruit carbon footprinting
Daphnée Ferland, 2019 & 2020 & 2021 Summer student & NSERC-USRA. Undergrad Thesis Student 2021/2022: Potato nutrient use efficiency.
Kylee Harris, Undergrad Thesis Student 2020/2021: Horticulture education across Canada
Brooke Waughtal, Undergrad Thesis Student 2020/2021: Ecosystem services in urban settings
Dane Harder, Summer student 2020
Morgan Cote, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2019/2020: Pea starch as a soil amendment for pumpkin production.
Ryder Kindt, Summer student 2019
Bruno Pinheiro Brunaldi and Bruna Trevisan Negri 2019: MITACS GlobaLink students
Matthew Carr, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2018/2019: Garlic production as influenced by synthetic mulching.
Trang Phan, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2018/2019: Influence of soil moisture on nitrous oxide isotopomers.
Sanessa Moens, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2018/2019: Cover crop establishment on the prairies.
Taryn Goff, Summer student 2017 & 2018: Vegetable production on the prairies.
Michelle Ross, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2017/2018: Nutrient use efficiency as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorous applications in potato production
Beth Zelensky, Undergraduate Thesis Student 2017/2018: Nitrogen stabilizers on soil nutrient dynamics in canola production