Quang Ong picks a Canadian experience

Mitacs Globalink intern spends his summer in the orchards of Nova Scotia

As a bioinformatics student from National University of Vietnam—Ho Chi Minh City, Quang spent his summer researching the unique genes and traits of a handful of varieties of apples and grapes at Canada’s largest research orchard, the Apple Biodiversity Collection, in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Researchers at the orchard are learning how tiny modifications to a gene can affect the traits of the fruit- things like texture, flavour, and hardiness to weather conditions. This information can help Canadian fruit growers to cultivate and sell more successful crop yields despite Nova Scotia’s unique climate and soil conditions. Quang saw the experience as a chance to diversify his understanding of genetics in the hope that he may one day conduct research into the causes and factors that lead to cancer among humans.

Away from the orchard, Quang and his fellow Globalink research interns were able to meet with local business people in Halifax, and took professional development workshops offered by Mitacs Step. “It has been really good to see the strong relationship between researchers and companies in Nova Scotia. I am really happy that Mitacs has given us good connections to industry in Canada so we can see how our research would work in real life.” he says. Though his internship completed in July, Quang hopes to return for graduate studies in the near future, saying “I felt very comfortable living there. Canada is a beautiful country.”

Mitacs thanks the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia for their support of the Globalink research internship in this story. Across Canada, the Globalink program also receives support from Alberta Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan and Research Manitoba.

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: BD@mitacs.ca

Mitacs Team

Mitacs’s website content is created by people throughout our organization, united in their passion for innovation and eager to share their perspectives with others in the innovation ecosystem. 

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