I am a PhD Candidate at the University of Alberta, supervised by Dr. Suzanne Tank. My research examines in-stream effects of permafrost thaw on microbial and benthic macroinvertebrate dynamics across the Richardson Mountains-Peel Plateau region in the Northwest Territories, where intensified thermokarst processes due to climate change have led to dramatic impacts on aquatic systems. Microbial organisms are the base of aquatic food webs, supporting higher-order consumers and driving biogeochemical cycles, affecting aquatic ecosystem function (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions; CO2, CH4) and critical ecosystem services for communities (e.g. water quality, biodiversity). My project seeks to understand the drivers of microbial diversity and function and the contribution of microbial resources (carbon) to food webs in headwater streams directly impacted by thaw and downstream across larger aquatic networks. As an early career researcher, I want to improve my capacity to consider alternative approaches to answering questions and solving problems for communities related to permafrost thaw. I aspire to continue working on these questions in my career. I am excited to be a part of the LEAP program and to have the opportunity to hear from experts working from or in the North, providing knowledge about permafrost landscapes outside of my field of study.