From left to right, Professor Vincent St. Louis (University of Alberta) and Professor Kyra St. Pierre collect water and soil samples from a partially frozen tundra wetland. They’re wearing cold-weather gear and gloves, with scientific equipment and bags around them.
From her first co-op placement in the North to launching her own research lab, Professor Kyra St. Pierre’s journey has come full circle — back to uOttawa, where it all began. Now leading climate research as an independent investigator, she’s blending science, community and passion for the environment to redefine how we understand and protect Canada’s most vulnerable ecosystems.

Kyra St. Pierre, an alumna of uOttawa’s environmental science program, is now an assistant professor in uOttawa’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. She started her academic journey at uOttawa in 2008, driven by a love of the outdoors and a passion for hands-on fieldwork.

“Kyra was a standout student from the beginning,” recalls Professor Alexandre Poulain, who supervised her during her undergraduate studies. “Her passion for environmental microbiology and the Canadian North was evident in her exceptional work.”

Her interest in northern ecosystems began with a co-op placement at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. That experience inspired her to pursue an honours research project in Professor Poulain’s lab, where she tackled complex geochemical measurements and analyzed stable mercury isotopes, approaches that were cutting-edge for the lab at the time. Her outstanding work earned her prestigious scholarships, including the NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology. It also led to early publications in renowned journals like Environmental Science & Technology.

Kyra went on to complete a PhD at the University of Alberta, focusing on the health of the Lake Hazen ecosystem in the High Arctic. She also led side projects exploring the sources and cycling of methylmercury in several Arctic locations. During her doctoral studies, she was awarded the highly competitive Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, followed by the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of British Columbia (UBC). There, she broadened her research scope, using interdisciplinary approaches to study the effects of climate change on northern coastal environments. Her work included innovative studies on mercury and methylmercury in polar bear tissues, highlighting her commitment to addressing real-world environmental challenges.

Professor Kyra St. Pierre kneels on a rocky riverbank in a remote, mountainous Arctic landscape, collecting water samples from a fast-flowing stream under a clear blue sky.
Professor Kyra St. Pierre collecting water samples from a fast Arctic stream on a rocky riverbank.

In 2023, Kyra returned to uOttawa as a faculty member. She now leads the Land-to-Ocean (L2O) Biogeochemistry Lab. Her research team uses tools from environmental chemistry, ecology and hydrology to better understand aquatic ecosystems and how they respond to environmental changes. One of her current projects involves collaborating with First Nations communities in the Yukon to investigate how climate change is affecting freshwater quality. The project carries implications for local policy and governance.

Beyond her academic accomplishments, Kyra brings a well-rounded perspective to her work. A classically trained violinist and certified barre fitness instructor, she taught barre classes throughout her PhD and remains committed to finding balance. These interests reflect her holistic approach to science and life.

Now that she’s a professor, she’s passionate about bridging the gap between the natural and social sciences. She emphasizes the importance of integrating diverse knowledge systems — including Indigenous knowledge — to tackle the complex environmental issues of our time. Her story is a compelling example of how interdisciplinary, community-engaged research can make a lasting impact in the lab, in the North and beyond.

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