Early Career Professional
Hi I'm Kaeden, and I am a fourth-year B.Sc. student at the University of Guelph majoring in Biomedical Toxicology. I am skilled in the sciences and passionate about the environment, which motivates me to pursue work at the intersection of both fields. Throughout my life, I have accumulated over nine months camping and exploring the amazing outdoors that Canada has to offer, so I find nothing more inspiring than the opportunity to use my skills to help protect our natural world. Want to learn more about me? Click the tabs below to see more about my experience and interests!
About me
Outside of school, work, or volunteering, I love to get outdoors and explore with family and friends. I fulfil my thrill-seeking with SCUBA diving, mountain biking, portaging, and most recently, spelunking. Although I am an adrenaline junkie at heart, I also love painting and cooking.
SCUBA diving in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
On my way to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
Portaging, Balsam Lake, Killarney Park
Spelunking in the Rockwood Caves, ON
White Water Rafting, Ottawa river
Me and Marcus Aurelius, Chicago USA
Fishing for Smallmouth Bass, Killarney ON
Catching Midland Painted Turtles in Pinery Provincial Park
© Kaeden McDonald. All rights reserved. Last Edited: October 18, 2026.
Skills and Experience
I pride myself on having a robust skill set. I strive to build experience from “tooth-to-tail,” allowing me to work across a broad range of disciplines. Whether it’s chemical testing or ecological restoration, the end-to-end toxicology experience I’ve built allows me to bridge field work, lab work, research, and various other practices.
Pictures from some projects!
Testing PPM of Dissolved Oxygen, Grand River, ON.
Creek Restoration work! Improving flow rates and removing fish barriers, Landons Creek ON.
Surveying snakes as an Ontario Nature LTMP assistant
Obtaining GIS data, and collecting water loggers, D'Aubigny Creek, ON.
Testing Metal levels in water using AAS analysis
Testing pesticide exposures on Mussels for my thesis
Microplastics I found in earthworms using microscopy
Electrofishing in Aurora, ON
My Ecotoxicology research project
This year, I began an eight-month independent research project at the University of Guelph Ecotox Lab, investigating the effects of Bayluscide on the Wavy-rayed Lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola).Bayluscide (active ingredient: niclosamide) is a lampricide used in the Great Lakes to control invasive Sea Lamprey. However, concerns have been raised about its toxicity to freshwater mussels- animals that filter and clean our water, many of which are species at risk.To study this, I am running various toxicity tests that expose the mussels to environmentally relevant concentrations of Bayluscide. I am determining the median lethal concentration (LC50), measuring sublethal responses, and I am also planning on testing Bayluscides effects on pregnant mussels and their baby larvae viablity. My tests will help us better understand Bayluscide’s off-target effects on Ontario’s freshwater systems.
My Past Projects
Landons Creek 2026 Benthos SurveyI designed, planned, and led an OBBN compliant water quality study on behalf of the Freshwater Conservation Canada – Middle Grand Chapter. Using macro invertebrates as biological proxies, the study assessed stream health differences above vs below Landon Creek's Dam. My survey inferred key environmental parameters, including habitat quality, pollution levels, and overall ecological integrity.
MY OFFICIAL REPORT
Using a giant 500um mesh net to collect organisms
Sorting through samples to collect organisms
Filling the Sub-sampling boxes with organisms to prep for IDing
Using microscopy and Taxonomy keys to identify organisms
Tallying the abundances of each Taxon
A Hyalella under the microscope. A type of crustaean that is sensitive to heavy metals.
Creek Restorations with Freshwater Conservation Canada – Middle Grand Chapter
Creek restoration is not about interfering with natural processes, but giving a creek a helping hand in recovering from human impacts. Many waterways face challenges such as excess sedimentation from agriculture and gravel quarries. While some creeks can recover on their own, others require restoration that: improves flow rates, reduces water temperatures, restores connectivity to support migrating fish, enhances habitat for aquatic invertebrates, and much more!
Removing a log jam that was plugging up the creek
Improvements in flow rates, shear off silt and excess sediment revealing sandy rocky bottoms- ideal creek conditions!
Always keep enough foliage overhead of the creek, to keep it shaded from the heat!
Logs can be repurposed to create bank reinforcements, sediment mats, and deflectors.
Contact me
Do you have a study, a project, or a position that requires assistance? I beleive my skills can meet your needs!I am always looking to volunteer, learn new skills, and meet new people. Send me an email so we can connect.
Thank you!
Your email has been sent! Thank you for your inquiry, I will get back to you as soon as possible.
-Kaeden
My Past Projects
Landons Creek 2026 Benthos SurveyI designed, planned, and led an OBBN compliant water quality study on behalf of the Freshwater Conservation Canada – Middle Grand Chapter. Using macro invertebrates as biological proxies, the study assessed stream health differences above vs below Landon Creek's Dam. My survey inferred key environmental parameters, including habitat quality, pollution levels, and overall ecological integrity.
MY OFFICIAL REPORT