Kevin Joshy

Kevin is a fourth-year student specializing in Biophysics at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Kevin received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC USRA) to study Arctic sea ice with Professor Kent Moore, Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Mississauga. 

Kevin used computational modelling and data analysis methods to look at a specific region in the Arctic called Nares Strait, found between Ellesmere Island (Canada) and Greenland, to understand how the sea ice concentration here was distributed spatially and fluctuated over time.

One of the main takeaways for Kevin was about the value of experimenting with new ideas. As he shared, “Research is very different from regular course work because it is much more open-ended and may not have a specific direction or path to follow.” He was encouraged to try new ideas, remain flexible in research directions, think critically about research results and to “to always be willing to explore new and interesting questions that may come up during the research process.” As Kevin summarized, “Research is very much a process and it is something that develops and grows over time, so it is important to be critical about it, constantly examine it, and to be open-minded to exploring new ways to carry it forward and engage with it.” Although overwhelming at first, Kevin felt supported in navigating the research process from his faculty research supervisor and his graduate student mentor.  

The NSERC USRA experience also taught Kevin about the research community. As Kevin further explained:

“My research experience was especially valuable because of how much I was able to engage with other people and learn about the research community. I often interacted with other research students at UTM, and it was very rewarding to discuss the different kinds of research we were each conducting. This was especially great not only because it helped me to become more comfortable talking and discussing with others, but because I was able to learn so much about how expansive the world of research is.”

Kevin is looking forward to continuing to pursue research in the field of atmospheric and climate physics. His NSERC USRA left a lasting impact and opened-up the field of research for him. “It was really an eye-opening experience for me, surpassed my expectations, and made me all the more excited to become a part of the research community. This whole experience was helpful for me because I simultaneously learned about how amazing research is while also developing the skills and gaining the tools to effectively participate in it.”

Research Type(s): Research Fellowships / Studentships