27/05/2026
💧 New on the IWA-YWP Canada Non-Technical Blog:
What does a childhood microscope have to do with a career in water research?
Rhiannon Punch traces her journey from collecting bugs and frogs along the shores of the Great Lakes, to pursuing a Ph.D. in wastewater surveillance of antimicrobial resistance: “I didn’t know that a microscope from a childhood science kit would set me on a path studying microbiology and water.”
In her introspective blog post, “Finding Your Current: My pathway as a Young Water Professional”, Rhiannon shares how an introductory microbiology class in third year undergraduate studies sparked a genuine passion for bacteriology, and how a professor’s candid story about changing disciplines helped make graduate school feel like a real possibility.
Rhiannon also reflects on the broader significance of the connections between microbes and water, and how those connections can take a career in many unexpected directions. Her story is a reminder that professional identity does not have to be fixed from the start; it can be shaped by mentors who open new doors, and the willingness to follow your curiosity. For young water professionals still searching for their current, her journey offers both reassurance and inspiration.
About the author:
Rhiannon Punch is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Environmental Studies at Queen’s University, where her research investigates wastewater surveillance of antimicrobial resistance under a One Health lens. She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from Western University and an M.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Waterloo. Rhiannon is passionate about the intersection of microbiology and water health and actively participates in science outreach to engage youth and the public with science.
Lead Editors: Elham Soleimanian, Sukleshwari Selvakumar
Read Rhiannon’s full article here: https://tinyurl.com/2enj8abj
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