Rachel Andres

Biography

Rachel grew up in rural Saskatchewan and is an ardent advocate for her province and the natural beauty found therein. Her upbringing on her family’s grain farm and proximity to the North Saskatchewan River inspired a deeply ingrained curiosity and sense of wonder that has served as the impetus for her scientific pursuits. Rachel’s academic interests lie in food security and finding climate-smart solutions that benefit rural communities. Rachel completed her BEd degree at the University of Saskatchewan in 2023 and is in her final year of study for her BSc Biology Honours degree. During her post-secondary years, she worked as a teaching assistant in the Biology and English departments, conducted drug discovery research on different types of cannabinoids, studied the foraging behaviour of bats, and investigated nutrient uptake in plants. She has studied abroad in Costa Rica, investigating water security at the University for Peace. Rachel has a love of music and sings soprano in the Greystone Singers, her university’s auditioned choral group. As manager of an aquatic facility, she provided leadership and mentorship to a staff of twenty-two lifeguards and support staff, striving to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. She has also given leadership to her local church’s college and career group, accompanied a school choir, coached the senior volleyball team at a local elementary school, and volunteered with a youth leadership program in one of Saskatoon’s core neighbourhoods. At Oxford, Rachel plans to continue her studies in the biological sciences.