It Started at CBU: From Mussels to Molars – Sophia Butler-Doucette’s CBU Path to Dental School

Sophia Butler-Doucette, a recent graduate of Cape Breton University’s Biology program, is celebrating two major milestones this fall. First, she was accepted into Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry, where she is now pursuing her dream of becoming a dentist. Second, she is the first author of a scientific paper based on her honours research, published in the fall issue of the Proceedings of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. Her experience demonstrates how undergraduate research opportunities at CBU can provide students with a competitive edge in professional school admissions.

Sophia’s journey at CBU extended beyond the classroom. She worked as a student researcher in the Biology department for two consecutive summers after her second and third years, gaining additional lab experience and building confidence in her scientific skills.

“Those summers helped me solidify what I’d learned during the year,” says Sophia. “They gave me time to really develop my lab techniques and learn to think like a scientist. It made a huge difference in how I approached my honours research and definitely gave me an edge going into my final year and Dental School application. I’m so excited to take the next step toward my dream of becoming a dentist.” Sophia’s honours thesis, co-supervised by Dr. Tim Rawlings and Kellie White, focused on improving identification methods for two closely related freshwater mussel species found in Cape Breton, the Yellow Lampmussel, a federally listed Species at Risk, and the Tidewater Mucket. Her research directly contributes to the conservation of the Yellow Lampmussel, whose populations are limited to a few Canadian locations, including the Sydney River and three lakes in Cape Breton, where monitoring and identification are crucial to the species’ recovery efforts.

Sophia’s study combined detailed shell and soft tissue morphological analysis with molecular tools, specifically a custom-designed PCR assay, to develop a non-destructive, field-ready method for accurate species identification. Kellie White, a conservation biologist, senior biology lab instructor, and co-director of CBU’s Bachelor of Arts and Science in the Environment program, worked closely with Sophia throughout the project. “Sophia’s research makes a real contribution to the conservation of a federally at-risk species here in Cape Breton,” says Kellie. “What’s just as exciting is how she took that experience and used it to launch herself into a professional health program.”

Sophia’s story demonstrates how undergraduate research, even in areas like ecology and conservation, can help students develop the scientific foundation and transferable skills needed for success in health and medical professions. Through her work, Sophia gained experience in biology, chemistry, molecular techniques and scientific writing. Tasks such as DNA extraction, pipetting and gel electrophoresis required precision, fine motor control and procedural discipline, skills directly aligned with clinical dental work. Her experience analyzing both hard and soft tissue in mussels is particularly relevant to the types of detailed anatomical assessments dentists perform. Sophia says her research journey at CBU helped shape her thinking and perseverance.

“Research requires a lot of critical thinking in the sense that not everything has a straightforward answer the way it’s sometimes presented in science classes,” says Sophia. “Everything we did, especially in developing the PCR assay, took a lot of trial and error and persistence. You have to make decisions based on the evidence in front of you, and that’s very similar to creating care plans for patients. That kind of thinking is going to help me in dentistry.”

Sophia is one of many CBU students who have successfully translated undergraduate research in biology and chemistry into competitive applications to medical, dental and other health professional and graduate programs. These experiences give students a strong foundation in core sciences while also developing the adaptability, analytical thinking and technical ability that professional and graduate schools value.