Our research group
Our lab has exciting fully funded research projects for MSc and PhD graduate students to lead. Prospective graduate students with academic training and/or experience in agroecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, plant science, environmental sciences, and other relevant fields are encouraged to connect with me (kiraborden@trentu.ca) to discuss current and future opportunities in the lab.
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Prospective graduate students are encouraged to take a look at:
Environmental & Life Sciences Graduate Program
Graduate Scholarships and Awards
We also seek enthusiastic undergraduate students enrolled at Trent University who would like to gain field and lab work experience. Reach out if interested!
Current lab members
Aleisha Cassidy
MSc Student
Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent
Aleisha attended Carleton University for her bachelor's, earning a degree in Physical Geography. She took a few years off, pursuing a career as a floral designer. This cultivated her love of all things that grow, bringing her to Trent. With a love of plants and science, Aleisha has directed her passions towards Environmental Science and Agroecology. Her research is focused on belowground plant processes, with an emphasis on plant root traits. She will be looking at interactions between cover crop roots and mycorrhizal fungi, exploring the possibility of the fungi creating a carbon sink. Aleisha remains captivated by the world around her and hopes to foster a deeper understanding of the world beneath the soil. When not in the lab, she spends her free time exploring forests, creative writing, and playing the harp.
Victoria VanSlyke
MSc Student
Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent
Victoria earned a BSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at Trent. Her MSc research is focused on the interactive effect of tile drainage and cover crops on greenhouse gas emissions. One of the innovative techniques she plans to employ is the use of ground penetrating radar device to non-destructively estimate cover crop root biomass. Victoria is excited to continue learning about sustainable agriculture’s potential to mitigate climate change.
Dr. Kira Borden
Assistant Professor
Trent School of the Environment
I am an agroecologist with expertise in plant-soil interactions, plant functional ecology, and biogeochemical cycling. I've conducted my research over a range of agricultural environments that feature more plant diversity (such as with cover crops, intercropped vegetables, and various forms of agroforestry) across Canada, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Prior to my position at Trent, I earned my PhD from the University of Toronto and led research at The University of British Columbia and University of Guelph as an NSERC-Banting postdoctoral fellow.
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I am thrilled to join the Trent School of the Environment and am leading several new research projects financially supported by NSERC (Discovery and Alliance grants), Trent University, and OMAFRA.
Dilrukshi Kombala Liyanage
PhD candidate, University of Guelph
co-supervised with Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle
Dilrukshi earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural science from the University of Wayamba in Sri Lanka. She then earned her Master of Science in plant science from the University of Alberta in 2022, investigating the effects of drought stress on soybean. Her persistent interest in agriculture prompted her to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental science at the University of Guelph. She aims to understand how the use of cover crop mixtures could optimize the greenhouse gas reduction benefit through increased diversity and complementary root-soil interactions of different species. Her long-term educational goal is to contribute to research on greenhouse gas emissions reduction. When not in the lab or the field, Dilrukshi enjoys painting, cooking and reading.
Carling Serran
MSc Student
Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent
Carling completed the B.Sc. in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems at Trent in 2023 and is excited to delve into more specific agroecology research under Dr. Borden’s guidance. He has experience working at several organic vegetable farms in the Guelph area, and in the last year took on a leadership role as the farm’s four-season manager. At Trent, he is involved in the Trent Seed Saving Club and The Seasoned Spoon board, learning more about food sovereignty and how to strengthen our local food system. His research interests include belowground root interactions, nutrient cycling, and methods for farmers to mitigate climate change while making a living from their farm.
Sajana Pandey
MSc Student
Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent
co-supervised with Dr. David Pelster, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sajana is leading research through the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Research Affiliate Program and the Living Labs, Ontario program. Sajana holds a BSc in Horticulture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and a postgraduate certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Fleming College in Lindsay, ON. Some of Sajana's previous applied research involves evaluating the impact of mulching on summer squash production in Nepal. Her MSc research interests include sustainable soil management practices in agricultural systems to improve climate resilience. Outside of academics, Sajana enjoys spending time in nature and engaging in outdoor activities experiences that keep me grounded and inspired.
Liz Lukic
Research Assistant
BSc in Environmental and Resource Science, Trent
Liz is an undergraduate student in the Environmental and Resource Science program at Trent University with an interest in greenhouse gas emissions. She is especially drawn to fieldwork and enjoys learning innovative methods to better understand what is happening beneath the soil surface.
Liz enjoys being part of hands-on research that bridges scientific questions to real-world environmental challenges. She is excited to keep exploring how different agricultural practices can help reduce emissions and contribute to more sustainable food systems.
When she is not in the field or the lab, you will likely find her outside hiking, exploring, or just spending time in nature!
Nathan Gillespie
Research Assistant
BSc in Environmental Chemistry, Trent
Nathan is going into his third year of an undergraduate Environmental Chemistry degree. Research interests include soil and water chemistry, habitat restoration ecology, and nutrient cycling processes. He is interested in learning more about the interactions between soil nutrients and soil microbes. He hopes to one day apply this knowledge to his own future education and career. Nathan also enjoys going camping and hiking in nature whenever he gets the chance!
Angus McBride
Research Assistant
Angus graduated with a B.Sc. in the IESS program at Trent in 2025 and is currently pursuing an M.Sc. in the ENLS program. While his graduate work is centered around the population dynamics of Lake Sturgeon in northern Ontario, he has broader interest in the field of environmental science, including agricultural practice and soil conservation. In the Borden Lab, Angus works to support the Living Labs project through field sampling and lab work. Angus is excited to learn more about crop nutrient management techniques that maximize yields while minimizing environmental impact. Outside of academics, he coordinates Inwendaamin Oki - an Anishinaabek-led community group, and enjoys playing recreational sports.
Previous lab members
Undergraduate research assistants and placement students
Athena Wang, BA Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Trent (2024)
Maxwell Dowsett, BSc Trent (2024)