UPEI grad heading to Oxford (with full scholarship!)

Christian Norton, who graduated with his Honours Biology degree from UPEI in 2016, will head this fall to Oxford University with a full scholarship. Norton will complete his MSc in Biology this spring at the Université de Montréal’s Institut de recherche en biologie végétale before commencing his PhD studies in plant ecology at Oxford. He is one of 140 recipients of the Clarendon Scholarship, which covers his tuition, college fees, living costs, and research costs for four years.

Norton’s master’s research took him to Northern Labrador, where he studied how Inuit and local communities use indigenous plants for food, health, and medicine.

He studied at UPEI under Dr. Christian Lacroix, professor of biology, who recently co-authored a paper with Norton on his honours research project. As a UPEI student, he was awarded three consecutive NSERC undergraduate student research awards—an impressive accomplishment in securing these highly competitive awards.

“I am thrilled that Christian will be pursuing his studies at Oxford,” said Dr. Lacroix. “He is a talented researcher who is destined to make significant contributions to plant science.”

The University of Prince Edward Island prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions—Prince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan’s University—UPEI has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. UPEI is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.