Sian E. Ford
sianeford.com
School of Geography and Earth Science
GSB 323, 1280 Main St. W
Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1
+1 (780) 394-6311
fords1 (at) mcmaster (dot) ca
Education
Ph.D. in Earth Science – Astrobiology (GPA: 11/12) Sept 2018 – Present
Expected Completion: August 2023
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
M.Sc. in Earth Science – Astrobiology (GPA: 11/12) Sept 2016 – Aug 2018
McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
B.Sc. in Biology – Microbiology (GPA: 3.4/4) Sept 2014 – April 2015
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
B.Sc. in Biology – Molecular Genetics (GPA: 3.3/4) Sept 2009 – April 2013
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Academic Awards and Honours
·Origins of Life Institute Graduate Student Travel Award 2019. $1250
·AESRC Runner-Up Student Oral Presentation, Mar 2019. $100
·Origins of Life Institute Graduate Student Travel Award 2018. $800
Employment
Graduate Researcher Sept 2016 – Present
Supervisor: Dr. Gregory Slater
School of Geography & Earth Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Research Assistant Apr 2016-Sept 2016
Supervisor: Dr. Gregory Slater
School of Geography & Earth Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Undergraduate Research Assistant Oct 2011 – Sept 2012
Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Case
Department of Microbiology, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Presentations
Characterization of Microbial Communities Associated With Ancient Fracture Waters Within The Deep Terrestrial Subsurface.
Ford, S.E., Brady, A., Warr, O., Lollar, G.S., Giunta, T., McKelvie, J., Lollar, B Sherwood., Slater, G.F.
Poster Presentation, Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon 2019)
Seattle, WA, USA Jun 2019
Microbial Communities Supported By Precambrian Fracture Water In The Deep Subsurface.
Ford, S.E., Brady, A., Warr, O., Lollar, G.S., Giunta, T., McKelvie, J., Lollar, B Sherwood., Slater, G.F.
Oral Presentation, Advances in Earth Science Research Conference (AESRC 2019)
Toronto, ON, Canada Mar 2019
PLFA From Microbial Communities Associated With Fracture Waters Within The Precambrian Deep Subsurface.
Ford, S.E., Brady, A., Warr, O., Lollar, G.S., Giunta, T., McKelvie, J., Lollar, B Sherwood., Slater, G.F.
Oral Presentation, Geological Society of America Fall Meeting (GSA 2018)
Indianapolis, IN, USA Nov 2018
Deep Subsurface Microbial Communities As A Window Into Potential Structure And Function Of Early Life And Implications For Martian Subsurface Environments.
Ford, S.E., Brady, A., Warr, O., Lollar, G.S., Giunta, T., McKelvie, J., Lollar, B Sherwood., Slater, G.F.
Poster Presentation, The Science of Early Life
Hamilton, ON, Canada Jun 2018
The Effects Of Mineral Matrices And Extraction Method On Quantification Of Bacterial Phospholipid Fatty Acids.
Ford, S.E., McKelvie, J., Lollar, B. Sherwood, Slater, G.F.
Poster Presentation, The American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (AGU 2017)
New Orleans, LA, USA Dec 2017
The Dark Side Of Symbiosis: The Induction Of Apoptosis By Beneficial Phaeobacter gallaeciencis In A Host Marine Alga, Emiliania huxleyi.
Ford, S.E., Labeeuw, L., Case, R.
Poster Presentation, Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium
Edmonton, AB, Canada Nov 2012
Teaching and Mentorship
Mentor April 2019 – Present
Incoming B.Sc. Student
McMaster University
Mentor Sept 2017 – Present
Current M.Sc. Students
McMaster University
Teaching Assistant Sept 2018 – Apr 2019
GEOG 2EI3: Environmental Issues; ENVIRSC/GEOG 4EA3: Environmental Assessment
Teaching Assistant Sept 2017 – Apr 2018
EARTHSC/ENVIRSC/GEOG 2EI3: Environmental Issues; GEOG 3EC3: Environmental Catastrophes; ENVIRSC/GEOG 4WB3: Contaminant Hydrogeology
Teaching Assistant Sept 2016 – Apr 2017
EARTHSC/ENVIRSC/GEOG 2EI3: Environmental Issues; EARTHSC/ENVIRSC 2LO3: Introduction to Environmental Biogeochemistry; LIFESCI 2XO3: Environmental Change and Human Health
Service
Committee Member
Jan 2019 – Present
Canadian Astrobiology Network (CAN)
Founding Member and Trip Leader
Feb 2019 - Present
Feminist Bird Club - Toronto Chapter
Graduate Student Ambassador - Astrobiology
Sept 2018 – Present
Graduate Student Ambassador Program
Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Seminar Organizer Sept 2018 - Present
Astrobiology Journal Club
Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Graduate Student Adviser Sept 2018 – Present
Origins Institute Online Media and Outreach Development
Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Director At Large Jan 2018 to Jan 2019
Haldimand Bird Observatory NPO
Ruthven Park Bird Banding Station, ON, Canada
Committee Member Jul 2015 – Sep 2017
Space Exploration Topical Team in Astrobiology
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Outreach
Origins Institute Public Lecture – Meet Our Young Scientists
McMaster Daily News February 11, 2020
Spend an evening with four of the Young Scientists in the Astrobiology Program run by McMaster’s Origins Institute. Learn about what these students are doing, why they are interested in astrobiology and what we can learn from their research.
McMaster Brighter Worlds
August 2018
Bird Banding at Ruthven Park Facebook Video Feature
https://www.facebook.com/mcmasteruniversity/videos/10155399161421401/
Guest Lecture
Dec 2017
Lindsey Thurber Comprehensive High School, Red Deer, AB, Canada
Origins Institute Facebook Account Moderator October 2016 – Present
Astrobiology Graduate Program
Origins Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton ON