Guelph Grad Q&A: Kathryn Knowles
Love for Honey Bee Research Leads to Sweet Career Path
Meet Kathryn Knowles, she graduated from the Environmental Sciences co-op program in 2024, majoring in Ecology. A lover of the outdoors since childhood, Kathryn always knew she wanted to pursue a career connected to nature. Although she hadn’t yet decided on her area of study, the University of Guelph’s greenspace-rich campus and Environmental Sciences program felt like the perfect place to find her calling.
Halfway through her degree, Kathryn discovered her passion for honey bee research after taking the Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology as an elective, a course she credits with giving her the direction she needed to embark on a career in bee research.
Kathryn is currently completing a Master of Science in biology at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, where her research focuses on honey bee behaviour.
Read on to learn more about why Kathryn chose U of G and her journey, including her travels to San Ramón, Costa Rica, to study field entomology at the Texas A&M Soltis Center for Research.
Interview with Kathryn Knowles
Tell us about yourself and why you chose to study Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph?
I started my degree in 2019 and finished in December of 2024. I graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences (Co-op Stream, Major Ecology). Since I was a child, I knew I loved the outdoors and wanted my degree and future career to give me this flexibility. While I did not know what my focus of study wanted to be, I knew being in the Environmental Science Co-op program at Guelph would allow me the opportunity to test my interests and find my niche. The number of green spaces surrounding the campus was an attractive feature when considering which university, I wanted to attend and sets Guelph apart.
It was not until halfway through my degree that I decided to take the Apiculture and Honey Bee Biology course as an elective. I immediately fell in love with the honey bee research and became a volunteer for the University of Guelph Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC)in the fall of 2021. I began working for the HBRC as an Apiary Research Assistant for my third co-op placement. I returned for my fourth co-op placement, worked part-time with them in between semesters, and completed an Advanced Independent Research study. I loved the combination of biological and agricultural research. It gave me a greater appreciation for the agriculture sector in southern Ontario.
In addition to this, I started taking more focused classes related to integrated pest management and insect diversity and taxonomy. I was one of the lucky students who took the Field Entomology course, hosted at the Texas A&M Soltis Center for Research in San Ramón, Costa Rica.
I was club President for the University of Guelph Apiculture Club (established 1894) in 2022-2023.
What did you like most about your program? Is there anything in particular about the courses or professors that stands out to you?
I loved the flexibility and collaborative nature of my degree. I was able to add courses that were tailored to my interests (such as invertebrate related courses), which ultimately made my university degree more worth it to me. When I first started my degree, courses such as statistics seemed daunting. However, as soon as I started critically viewing them through the lens of my interests, I became much more engaged and excited at the prospect of learning more.
My final Capstone project allowed me to test my professional skills in a friendly, peer-oriented environment. With five other students, we studied urban parks in the City of Brampton to understand the effects of local stewardship on park health and biodiversity. I left my degree feeling much more confident in my leadership and project management skills.
The professors in the Environmental Entomology department are some of the kindest and most supportive individuals I have met. They were always willing to sit and talk through any questions I had, especially as it related to pursuing a Masters.
Did you do co-op? If yes, tell us a bit about your co-op job and your experience.
Yes, I did co-op and was one of the key factors in my decision making in attending the University of Guelph. I completed four co-op semesters, at three different placements. Being in the co-op program allowed me to experience different work settings and ultimately allowed me to understand what type of career path I could see myself in. The co-op program significantly added to my university degree, and I highly encourage anyone able to participate as well. I was able to work for a private laboratory supplier, a regional municipality, and finally a research facility at the University of Guelph. Each experience was highly unique and the skills I acquired valuable to my professional career development.
Where are you currently working and what is your role?
I am pursuing a Master of Science in Biology at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta. (Start date January 2025).
My research is focused on understanding honey bee behaviour concerning queen and worker bee interactions, and how conditions in the colony may influence different responses. The purpose of this research is to maintain and expand the domestic supply of honey bee queens while supporting Canadian beekeepers.
How did your degree and time at the University of Guelph help get you to where you are today? How do the skills and education you gained help with your current work?
Without my time at the University of Guelph, and the Honey Bee Research Centre, I would not be pursuing a career in honey bee research. I came into university very lost, with no clear direction on the path I wanted to pursue. I left my undergraduate degree feeling very determined and certain of the direction I wanted to take.
What advice would you give someone considering the Environmental Sciences program or applying to the University of Guelph?
Try as many new and diverse experiences as you can! You never know what will pique your interest. Become involved with clubs, volunteer for different organizations on campus, and ask as many questions as you can. University is a time to explore and become curious.
Don’t worry too much about what you have or have not done prior to university and try not to compare yourself to others. My experience was not at all related to my current field, and that is okay! You will have lots of time in university, and after, to test the waters and find your own confidence.
Also, try not to rule out subjects such as chemistry and statistics too early. It is all about perspective and finding the right lens to view these subjects under. It can feel quite daunting at first, as you don’t really have a direction to apply this knowledge. However, once I discovered my personal interests, I had a greater appreciation for these types of courses. It is always easier to analyze data that you personally care about!
Bonus Questions
Where was your favourite place to eat on campus and what was your go-to food order?
My favourite place to eat was The Bullring. I would always order a breakfast bagel after my 8:30 lectures, and later in my degree my favourite item was the mushroom, red pepper and goat cheese sandwich.
Bob’s Dogs is also such a Guelph treasure that you cannot graduate without having gone to it at least once (or in my case, many times). has excellent food, and I loved the Mongolian BBQ at Prairie Dining Hall in South.
In your opinion where is the best place to study on campus?
The Environmental Sciences Student Executive lounge. There is even a room you can book out for group meetings. This was very helpful during my final Capstone project.
What was your pre-exam ritual?
I always went to bed early the night before and made sure I had a nice big breakfast the morning of. I tried not to go over any review the morning of, as it usually made me more anxious than anything. Always focus on what you do know, and not what you don’t when walking into an exam. This will help you feel more confident and ultimately may help you do better.
What are your top 5 favourite things about U of G?
- The campus atmosphere (everything feels very connected to each other, as if you were living in your own separate town).
- The friendly people! (the professors, teaching assistants, and staff were the best part of my degree!)
- The beautiful gardens and the Arboretum.
- The diverse and unique programs.
- Seeing horses, cows and other livestock on campus.