Alice (Xia) Zhu, M.Sc.
Environmental Analytical Scientist | Plastic Pollution Researcher | Environmental Champion
Research and Work Experience
A manta trawl for sampling plastic pollution in surface water.
U of T Trash Team in 2018!
Alice running a chemistry practical at UTSC in 2020.
Alice at CSIRO Christmas Party in Tasmania, Australia in 2018 during a two-month-long research internship under a CGS - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement.
Lecture Positions, Guest Lectures, and Keynotes
Guest Seminar Speaker, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, April 2023
Guest Lecturer, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, October 2021
Keynote Speaker, Science Literacy Week, September 2021
2019-2023 (PhD)
PhD Student, Rochman Lab, University of Toronto, 2019-present
Visiting Research Scholar, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego, USA, January-December 2023
Laboratory Teaching Assistant, CHMA11H3, Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms, Winter 2020
Teaching Assistant, EESB18H3, Natural Hazards, University of Toronto Scarborough, Fall 2019
National Biology Competition Administrative Assistant, University of Toronto, April-July 2019
2017-2019 (MSc)
Master's Student, Rochman Lab, University of Toronto, 2017-2019
Visiting Research Scholar, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Tasmania, Australia, November-December 2018
Laboratory Teaching Assistant, BIO120H1, Introduction to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Fall 2017
2014-2017 (BSc)
Fourth-year Honours Thesis Student, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 2016-2017
Work-Study Student, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 2015-2016
NSERC USRA, Department of Chemistry, Murphy Group, University of Toronto, 2015-2016
NSERC USRA, BioZone, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto 2014-2015
Sustainability Commissioner, University of Toronto Students' Union, 2015-2016 & 2016-2017
Sustainability Commissioner, Victoria University Students' Administrative Council, 2014-2015
Previous and Other Work Experience:
Assistant Coach, Ray Wong Badminton Club, 2019-2020
Assistant Coach, Epic Sports Badminton Centre, 2017-2018
Harbourfront Centre Summer Festival Volunteer 2011-2013
Anne Johnston Health Station Logistics Volunteer and Youth Advisory Committee Executive Member 2009-2013
Heart and Stroke Foundation: Phone Volunteer 2009-2010, Heart Month Captain 2010-2011 and Zone Leader 2011-2012
Vari Coffee Deli and Old Sheppard Variety Store Cashier, Manager, and Employee 2006-2012
Awards and Scholarships
2021-2022
University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Graduate Student Travel Grant
Centre for Global Change Science (CGCS) Graduate Student Research Award
TD Graduate Research Scholarship in Environmental Science
School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Conference Grant
2020-2021
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS, 2020-2023)
2019-2020
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS, Awarded and Declined)
2018-2019
Canada Graduate Scholarships - Masters (CGS-M)
Canada Graduate Scholarships - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements (CGS-MSFSS)
Centre for Global Change Science (CGCS) Graduate Student Research Award
General Motors Women in Science and Mathematics Award
2017-2018
Queen Elizabeth II - Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (QEII-GSST)
2016-2017
Douglas Pimlott Graduating Award, School of Environment, University of Toronto, 2016-2017
UTSU Sustainability Commissioner Honorarium, University of Toronto, 2017
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Scholarship, for Master's Program, 2017-present
2015-2016
NSERC USRA, 2015-2016
Chachra Family Chemistry Award 2015-2016
Arts and Science Environment and Science Scholarship 2015-2016
Douglas Pimlott OSOTF Award, School of Environment, University of Toronto, 2015-2016
Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 Nominee, Starfish Canada, 2015-2016
2014-2015
NSERC USRA, 2014-2015
Pimlott Entrance Scholarship, School of Environment, University of Toronto, 2014-2015
David Redman Chemistry Prize 2014-2015
Milne Research Award, April-August 2014
Everyday Political Citizen, Samara Canada 2015
2013-2014
Think Beyond Plastic (R) Startup Competition - Semi-Finalist 2013-2014
General Motors II Award, Victoria College (2013-2017)
Dean's List (2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017)
University of Toronto Book Award 2013
Schulich Leader Nominee 2013
Before 2013
Canadian Federation of University Women: Biology Award, 2013
Top Average Award, North Toronto Collegiate Institute (2009-2013)