Graduate Profile – Telesphore Marie ’12

Have you often wondered where graduates end up after they finish at the School of Horticulture? Or curious what career options are available in the industry? In our monthly series we’ll highlight a different graduate every month to showcase the diversity. We’ll be sharing the full inside look here on our website!

Say Hello to Telesphore Marie, Class of 2012!

Queen’s University, Post-Doctorate Researcher

“We all come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide array of aspirations. If I could represent one path you can take, it would be the “academic” route. In my case, I was obsessed with plants and wanted to learn more. I also wanted to teach one day. The blessing of mentorship we received in SOH was something that I looked up to and wanted to give back.”

“… We are working on cool LED lighting systems that bring plant science theory into practice. “

Q: Please provide a brief description of what your current work entails and what aspect of your job you are most passionate about and why.

A: I work on research projects and connect with growers (greenhouse vegetable production, vertical farms). We are working on cool LED lighting systems that bring plant science theory into practice.

Q: How would you describe your experience entering the industry after graduation?

A: We all come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide array of aspirations. If I could represent one path you can take, it would be the “academic” route. In my case, I was obsessed with plants and wanted to learn more. I also wanted to teach one day (professorship). The blessing of mentorship we received in SOH was something that I looked up to and wanted to give back. After SOH I attended University of Guelph “Crops, Horticulture, and Turfgrass Sciences” B.Sc. program. By gosh golly, I was hooked, and walked into a research stream, which opened the doors for a M.Sc. and PhD. As you progress through University life, yes you have to like classroom settings, but that lifestyle drastically switches to hands-on laboratory/ field work when you enter graduate school. I’d suggest volunteering in a lab that interests you early on during your B.Sc. as that will propel opportunities. Also, SOH set us up really well for summer work (although grad school is year round). I easily found good seasonal horticultural work (you can get bonus points by applying to government summer jobs like those offered by CFIA, they love undergrads with our experience).

The funding for tuition is also not as bad as you’d think. If you work hard academically and practically (and with volunteering) you can earn major scholarships ($5,000 – or more) and eventually you can apply for NSERC that will get you 20-35K/year. Note, all these are scholarships, taxed as a T4A slip that you don’t pay income tax on. Keep a keen eye on scholarships/ bursaries! Then supplement with side jobs or career boosting Govt jobs. I’ll tell ya, there are tons of opportunities!

“… that first-year experience in the spring… The blooms… The people… The mentors… The residence… That was magical. “

Q: What challenges have you faced and overcome in your career after graduation?

A: There were a lot of courses… Hahaha… One way to get through it is to bring your own ingenuity/ ideas to course projects. A course will give you the motivation to really dig into something that interests you. Developing problem solving skills requires experience with problems haha, so here’s a safe place to exercise! At the end of the day, you’ll be able to help others with their troubleshooting.

I think University students get scoffed at by industry because it’s all theory and no practice. That’s not entirely true, but it’s something that you’ll come across. From SOH, you started with practical experience, so always keep it in mind and grow it. It really helps looking at client’s problems from this practical perspective, then brainstorming the most useful solution with the vast storehouse of theory you’ll get from academia.

Q: What is a fond memory from your days at the gardens?

A: I gotta say, that first-year experience in the spring… The blooms… The people… The mentors… The residence… That was magical.

Thank you Telesphore for this very insightful look into your school past, and career journey!

If you would like to be featured here and inspire the next generation make sure to complete our graduate survey here:

Graduate Profile Survey Link