Before majoring in neuroscience, Jessica Bird hoped to pursue medical school after the completion of her HBSc. But she was so fascinated by her psychology courses, she promptly changed directions and applied for graduate studies in the field. Bird explains, "For me, it was the right mix of working with people, science, and creativity."

And what a remarkable road it's led to. Throughout her master's, Bird had the opportunity to pursue some very interesting and unique research experiences from examining DNA samples in the world-class Paleo-DNA lab to collecting saliva to measure hormone levels to assessing the effects of contraceptives.

She's since been able to apply her skillset in schools, community organizations, and a residential treatment centre as well as one of the top children's hospitals in the country for her residency. Within this setting, she was able to work with patients who faced a multitude of different challenges from eating disorders to autism.

"Graduate psychology at Lakehead has many strengths," emphasizes Bird. "Our department has a very strong research program where many students earn national research scholarships and publish papers in peer-reviewed journals." She adds that the university is host to some very exciting, high-tech lab equipment which faculty and students can use to study elements of biopsychology.

"Clinically, Lakehead has a strong generalist program that will prepare students to work with a variety of populations, from child to geriatric clients."

Now almost finished her PhD in Clinical Psychology, the aspiring psychologist is excited to report that she will soon be Dr. Bird and plans to continue her efforts in private practice while completing her licensing year. She adds that she loves working with children and adolescents and hopes to do so well into the future.

Victoria Stinson will never be broke.

Even as an undergraduate in geology, she could have easily landed a well-paying job. As she approaches the end of her master's, Stinson finds herself presented with employment opportunities by companies in the hundreds, all with exceptional rates of pay.

And she loves what she does. Stinson spends roughly half the year out in the field gathering rock samples and the other half in the lab. From mapping her findings, she can interpret the history of the rocks in the area and determine whether or not they possess gold.

"It's a lot like being a detective," explains Stinson, "which is what I love about it!"

Stinson can easily fire off a multitude of reasons for why students should come to Lakehead for their geology education.

"We have some of the best profs in the world and the support they offer to students is incredible. As well, you're surrounded by rocks that are billions of years old." Stinson explains that at most other universities, students have to travel quite far for their fieldwork, which takes time and money away from research. "At Lakehead you just go outside!"

Students also don't have to stray far from home to pursue employment; the employers come to them. The Northwestern Ontario Prospector's Association annually travels to Thunder Bay for recruitment purposes, bringing offers from thousands of properties. Additionally, Stinson's been able to network through numerous conferences and workshops.

She recalls one in particular, a tour of the Rocky Mountains, where students spent two weeks travelling and learning about the history of the area. Students continued to receive instruction while lounging in nearby hot springs and flying in a private plane to observe mountain formations from above. At the end of the program, which was free, students were approached by major companies like Shell and BP and promptly offered jobs.

Stinson's research is currently being funded by local company, Prodigy Gold, which also provides her with summertime employment. But after graduation, she could work pretty much anywhere...and likely have the luxury of choosing her own pay.

Dr. Joey Farrell studies the complex relationship between mind and body.

As a professor in Lakehead's School of Kinesiology, her research interests chiefly revolve around the themes of behaviour change, motivation and goal setting.

"I'm interested in why people stay active and why they pursue different physical activity options," explains Dr. Farrell. Through this line of research, she reasons, methods of encouraging others to pursue physical activity and stay healthy may be explored.

Her current research revolves around what motivates people to participate in structured dog activities.

"I am looking at participation in activities such as obedience, agility and conformation, and how that helps people stay fitter and healthier as they age," she says.

Research topics Dr. Farrell has supervised in the past include strength-training behaviour in older adults and eating disorder risk among female figure skaters. She herself has delved into such issues as gender differences and participation in adolescent sport and the fine line between exercise commitment and addiction.

While a number of her graduates continued on in their education to complete PhDs, others moved into professional careers. One of her former students works a personal trainer, another is a health consultant, and a third created her own business to assist young girls with eating disorders.

According to Dr. Farrell, it's an exciting time to be in the field. As well as the many possibilities in terms of health study, research, and applications, students will soon be eligible for recognition as health professionals in Ontario. In April 2013, graduates from a bachelor's or master's in the field will be able to apply through the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario for registration.

Dr. Farrell emphasizes that both research and applied pursuits in kinesiology are extraordinarily rewarding and opportunity-rich. "Students can look forward to working in a progressive field with healthy living and health promotion through physical activity always at the forefront."

Work in the health industry can take just about any shape or form. Just ask Uko Abara, who has been exposed to a glut of prospects via Lakehead's master's in public health program.

His courses have offered him a solid foothold in health education and an understanding of how many different aspects are intermingled. Topics he's explored range from health law and ethics, to statistics and epidemiology, to disease and illness prevention. Abara's also had a lot of experience pertaining to work with the elderly, from pursuing his program's geriatrics stream and offering up his musical talents to entertain tenants in care homes. Additionally, through his graduate assistanceship, Abara is currently helping a professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in a research context.

Abara appreciates that the bulk of the program is offered through night classes, as this gives him an opportunity to pursue his many artistic and philanthropic interests during the day. Writing articles for the school newspaper, rehearsing radio shows, and preparing compositions are only a few of his passions. The program schedule is also accommodating to those of his peers working a 9-5 job while completing their degree.

The only negative Abara can think of is that he now finds himself torn between too many enticing opportunities. Perhaps he'll pursue law school with his passion for bioethics. Or maybe he'll go on to further his interests in politics and healthy policies. He could also see himself contributing to research efforts correlating poverty to health care - and he still has a keen interest in geriatrics and a respect for the power of musical therapy.

Despite the many roads calling his name, Abara is headed towards a successful and rewarding career, which will positively impact human health and well-being.

Jaimi Penney loves Lakehead.

Originally from Cambridge, the MA history student came to the university for her undergraduate education and never looked back.

"I've been a tour guide for three years, I love selling this school. It's really become my home away from home."

Penney's particularly zealous about her studies, a blend of history and politics, which revolve around the history of Canadian socialism. More specifically, she's currently researching a former NDP politician from her hometown and how he influenced local and national politics, having been, as Penney describes, "quite a shenanigan maker". This work earned the graduate a SSHRC grant, to help fund her highly original stream of study.

Penney also had the opportunity to work on one of her supervisor's books, written for one of the leading migration centres in Europe and one of the first to look at transnational politics between Finland, Canada, and the US. Additionally, after Penney went the extra mile in her efforts, she was asked to be a co-editor of the volume.

She believes her Lakehead education has definitely given her a competitive edge in the field. "I have things I can bring to the table that other students can't because of my experiences and how I've been taught to approach things, work with the community, and make comparisons."

Penney's also learned quite a bit about the surrounding region: its pivotal importance to social and intellectual movements throughout the nation as well as the disparities in terms of economics and representation between Ontario's north and south. She says these experiences have markedly shaped her grasp on history and politics.

"Had I gone to another university, I would never have been exposed to that, and that exposure is what's changed the way I think about my studies, my profession, and really everything I've done." She adds, "I wouldn't trade that experience for the world."

For a man of many interests, MA student Richard Hewitt has found a home in history.

Hewitt describes history as basically a "gateway to everything", a fantastically fluid discipline that can accommodate a wide range of interests while offering the freedom to explore a multitude of topics.

Hewitt has found his program's plasticity to be enormously beneficial, allowing him to pursue a thesis he finds immensely rewarding while keeping many doors ajar. With a keen interest in Aboriginal relations, he's currently comparing and contrasting the operation of First Nations groups structured around familial and personal relationships, with government bureaucracy, which tends to organize around formal institutions and procedures.

"What I'm arguing in my paper is that these systems coming together are in many ways mutually antagonistic, therefore forcing both systems to function side by side is really setting both systems up to fail, ultimately to the detriment of First Nations people."

To further his research, Hewitt has travelled to Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa to search for files relating to his reserve of interest, the Blood Reserve of southern Alberta. Hewitt would also like to eventually travel to the area to further his acquaintance with the reserve.

Outside his academic life, Hewitt is extremely active in the community. He is Secretary and Treasurer to Volunteer Thunder Bay, sits on the city's Youth Strategy Council, and organizes various social activist movements throughout the city. The flexibility of his program also allows Hewitt to maintain a full-time job at Activation Laboratories, where he is satisfying his passion for science.

"I think a chief problem in society right now is that we have too many people knowledgeable about very specific things," explains Hewitt. "Nobody really knows about the overall picture, nobody studies complete systems. History not only allows for macro-studies to be pursued, but offers many powerful tools to do so successfully."

A competitive runner since the age of 13, Rodney Hulstein now studies his greatest passion.

The kinesiology graduate student blends his love for the activity with a curiosity for sports psychology, to understand what motivates people to start and stick with running.

While kept busy with his courses, Hulstein still takes time to enjoy his treasured pastime, training with the university varsity athletes and coaching beginners.

"It's rewarding to see more people make the transition from walking to running because I enjoy it so much and want to share that with other people."

As he nears the end of his first year, Hulstein expresses his contentment with Lakehead and his love for the program.

"I had a few other offers for graduate studies but I chose Lakehead," he explained. Originally from the Yukon, Hulstein loves the outdoors and was attracted by the peace and beauty of Northwestern Ontario's pristine wilderness. In addition, he wanted the freedom to explore what he wanted to explore rather than be restricted to a specific branch of research. He's found this at Lakehead and so much more.

He's particularly impressed with the breadth of health issues and concepts he's had the opportunity to explore. A few examples include visiting St. Joseph's Care Centre to learn about topics from driving accidents to palliative care and designing his own program in a mental training course elective.

While Hulstein could see himself going on to PhD studies, he also expresses an interest in teaching, having enjoyed instructing at a college prior to his graduate pursuits.

"I think there's always a constant need for research and education when it comes to health and physical activity," explains Hulstein. Through his own efforts, Hulstein hopes to get more Canadians up and running and contribute to a better quality of life throughout the nation.

To microbiologist Dr. Kam Leung, there are two kinds of bacteria: those that harm and those that help.

Specializing in environmental microbiology, Dr. Leung is largely concerned with how microorganisms interact with their surroundings-and how these processes impact the human race.

"Microorganisms comprise an essential part of all global biochemical cycles, the products of which every living thing is dependent on," explains Dr. Leung. "If we don't have microorganisms and bacteria, the cycles will stop and all of earth's beings will cease to exist."

In addition, microorganisms are closely intertwined with human welfare, as they are fundamentally responsible for maintaining the quality of our health and environment.

E. Coli, Dr. Leung's chief study subject, is no exception. While associated by the general public with nasty symptoms like diarrhea and urinary tract infection, the majority of this bacterium are not only harmless, but play an important role in environmental upkeep.

With their understanding of micro-characters like E.Coli, Dr. Leung and his students endeavour to identify and get rid of pathogenic microorganisms in the water. They also work to encourage beneficial bacteria to flourish and even employ them for pollutant clean-up.

By completing a master's degree in biology, his students are prepared for many different "niches" in terms of work and higher education. "A graduate degree in microbiology can open doors to many technology-based areas like environmental science, molecular studies, and high tech industries, which usually require an MSc or PhD to apply competitively." He adds that the same goes for many professional programs, which often require more than one degree to be considered for entry.

However, while an MSc can certainly help students to reach their academic and career-oriented goals, Dr. Leung emphasizes that science graduate students should also be motivated by a curiosity about the world.

"Graduate studies in biology allow students the opportunity to discover and open their eyes to how interesting the world truly is."

Dr. Lada Malek has a life-long interest in anything to do with plants-how they work, how they interact, gardening, even photography. And his research has taken him around the world to destinations like Alaska, South America, and Japan. As such, the opportunities he can offer to graduate students are impressive and potential subjects of study range from wood fungi to flesh-eating plants.

Many of his students have gone onto bright futures, several of which are using their well-honed laboratory skills to work for local biotech companies. One of his best students received a prestigious offer from the University of Stuttgart in Germany, at which he completed his PhD. He is now working as a research associate in a lab at Columbia University.

Dr. Malek has difficulty confining all the reasons to complete an MSc to one answer. He explains that the degree stands out to employers as a kind of proof that the candidate is capable of independent thinking and the completion of a major task.

But Dr. Malek also believes a master's in biology can serve to stimulate one's imagination, confidence, and ultimately the ability to venture into a successful self-generated business. He expresses the need for more students with an enterprising spirit, who will use their biology training to develop new local businesses, instead of relying on "safe" careers within companies reluctant to set up shop in the wilds.

Dr. Malek emphasizes that the hands-on training Lakehead can offer graduate science students is precious, especially as the world of academia continues to progress towards virtual training.

"There is going to be a major change, a paradigm shift," explains Dr. Malek. "Internet-based, virtual learning will be great. However, room will always remain for local teaching of practical, hands-on skills, which will complement conceptual learning. This is where Lakehead can excel and carve for itself a niche relevant to our location."

How can we best use our natural resources? And what does this tell us about recreation and tourism behaviour?

These are the questions Dr. Mike Yuan commonly asks through his research, fascinated by the benefits from parks and recreation and what developments in this area infer about their role in modern society.

Within this scope of inquiry lie countless possibilities for research and real-world applications.

At present, he is working on the development of "scientifically defensible" management frameworks to further recreation planning amidst Crown Land forests. He's simultaneously endeavouring to fill an existing void in research data by better understanding outdoor recreation at a national level.

Among his many projects over the past 25 years, Dr. Yuan has developed national management frameworks within the USA, put into practice after millions of dollars of funding were successfully attained. He is also well-travelled, having collaborated on several projects across Canada and the States, worked with a national recreation research program in Sweden, and conducted workshops throughout Chile and Argentina.

Dr. Yuan cites several advantages of Lakehead's master's program in nature-based recreation and tourism: the program is small, personable, and boasts internationally recognized experts who can provide students with programs specifically tailored to their needs. Additionally, Lakehead's campus could not be more ideally situated, providing limitless prospects for outdoor studies and collaboration with rural communities.

Many of his former students have been scooped up by natural resource agencies, gone onto PhD studies, or started their own businesses. Dr. Yuan explains,

"Graduate students need to be treated and respected as adults, but at the same time need gentle prodding and guidance. The best students are not always the smartest but who have the determination, persistence and staying power for the long term... My job is to provide students with the tools, encouragement and the support for them to succeed at this level."