Our team
Our team tackle some of the grand challenges of the 21rst century as scientists, educators and advocates for conservation and stewardship of the Earth. We work together to instill values that have a positive impact on our ability to be excellent scientists and communicators. Our lab environment strives to provide outstanding leadership opportunities while fostering the development of resilience in academia and beyond. It is important that we have some fun as well!
Sean
Rogers
Professor, Biological Sciences
Director, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
Associate Editor, Molecular Ecology
Associate Editor, Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B, Biological Sciences
Current lab team members
Alex Niese
MSc 2021-2025
Alex is a resident of Bamfield and passionate about salmon conservation. She worked with Huu-ay-aht First Nations at their Sugsaw River Hatchery to examine opportunities for enhancement of CohoSalmon populations with the long term objective of revitalizing HFN watersheds and supporting fish and wildlife populations and cultural values for present and future generations. She test predictions associated with early life stressors on egg development, developing an extensive experimental set up to track incubation success under sedimentation and temperature variation. In 2022 she was recruited as a Fisheries Stock Assessment Biologist with DFO and in 2024 was recruited as the Operations Manager of the Kelp Rescue Initiative.
Erik Olsen
MSc 2021-2025
Erik took the Marine Fishes course in 2017 and has since been working as a biologist with DFO, where he became interested in questions about reproduction and physiology in Pacific Salmon. He is testing predictions about energy allocation in hatchery environments at the Nitinat River Hatchery, with his research based at the BMSC. Erik is now a full-time Research Technician with EcoFish.
Umair Shivji
MSc 2021-2025
Understanding the ecology and evolution of aquatic disease in fishes can help in the prevention and mitigation of their transmission, in addition to studies of treatment – especially for commercial and recreational fisheries. However, detecting immune responses in association with disease remains elusive. Umair’s MSc focuses on the characterization of immune response in association with aquatic diseases in marine threespine stickleback at the BMSC, integrating a combination of necropsy and biomarker gene expression approaches.
Chelsea Bennett
MSc 2024-
Chelsea is co-supervised with Andy Loudin at Vancouver Island University
James
Dennis Orr
MSc 2024-
James is co-supervised with Tim Green at Vancouver Island University
Amy Yuschyshyn
BSc Honours 2022-2023
Research Assistant (Part-time 2024)
Amy is working with James Bull to sequence candidate regions under repeated within-generation selection in Coho Salmon.
Denman
Moody
MSc 2024-
Denman is co-supervised with Tim Green at Vancouver Island University
Our Alumni
Our research impact is measured by the success of our students and trainees at all levels
Bergen
Galts
MSc 2022-2024
Climate change, particulary in aquatic environments, is resulting in accelerated temperature extremes. While there may be an increased capacity for adaptive response in certain species, understanding whether ectothermic species have the variation needed to evolve remains largely unknown under these scenarios. Bergen's research characterized genotype-phenotype associations in thermal tole rance genes edited with CRISPR in threespine stickleback, exploring the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in the thermal tolerance and adaptive potential of fish. Having relocated to Terrace, BC, she is keen to integrate her background and expertise for new opportunities in conservation and genomics
Carina
Lai
MSc 2021-2024
Excess sediment can impact the survival of salmon. In healthy streams, young salmon hide in the gravel to avoid predation. Carina's MSc examined the impacts of environmental stressors on early life history success in Coho Salmon. She developed an experiment at the BMSC to test the impacts of sediment pollution, finding evidence that sedimentation impacted behavioural phenotypes and gene expression. She was also able to record larval burrowing behaviour in Coho! Carina is now the Lab Manager in the Ruepell group at the University of Alberta
Brenna
Stanford
PhD 2019-2024
Brenna's PhD research tested predictions associated with the role of phenotypic plasticity in population persistence, and possible consequences for evolution in response to environmental changees in temperature. She conducted a multi-generational experiment using acute temperature stressors during development to induce plasticity responses in gene pathways - allowing her to test whether such changes persist into adulthood. Collectively, her findings illustrated an important role for thermal plasticity, and the corresponding genes in generating patterns of diversity that can contribute species’ response to future conditions. She is now a lead Manager for the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery Program at the Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute.
James
Bull
PhD 2018-2023
The objective of his research program is to conserve and manage Pacific salmon stocks within critically important rivers and creeks of First Nations territories that are used as a source of broodstock for salmon enhancement programs. James is applying genomic methods in Canada’s largest hatchery to examine how the environment shapes the genomes of Coho salmon in hatcheries and the wild. James was a recipient of the NSERC Vanier Award (2019). James did a PDF as a Clinical Bioinformatician in the Cumming school of Medicine and is now a Conservation Geneticist at Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta
Danielle
Clake
PhD 2016-2023
Danielle's PhD researched how landscape and climate affect wild pollinators in natural and managed landscapes, and how this may contribute to pollinator decline in bumblebees. She integrated an ecological genomics approach with landscape data to test these questions. Danielle conducted an astounding amount of field work to meet these goals, successfully leading 30+ trips with six students into the Alpine to collect her bees. She was co-supervised with Paul Galpern. In 2023 she was recruited as a PDF as part of the SCALED is a 5-year project led by Dr Cécile ALBERT at the Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie (CNRS, Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, Univ Avignon)
Duncan
Kennedy
MSc 2022-2023
Duncan came to Biological Sciences from an Engineering background to study biomechanics. His MSc modelled the flapping flight of Chimaera pectoral fins to explore manoeuvrability-efficiency trade-offs in pectoral fin swimmers. He designed a fin-flapping robot to test these predictions! His findings could influence the innovation of novel underwater vehicle propulsors. Duncan's lead supervisor was Kelsey Lucas. He is now a Computational Biologist with Poisson Consulting.
Jori
Harrison
PhD 2015-2022
Jori’s joined the lab following work as an environmental research scientist with Matrix Solutions in Calgary. In her PhD she developed and tested predictions about the fate of environmental DNA in aquatic environments, conducting the experiments in the Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets (ACWA) naturalized experimental research streams. She has been awarded funding from the Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Innovates for this work. Jori is now an Experienced Researcher with Innotech Alberta
Jessy
Bokvist
MSc 2017-2022
As an NSERC USRA student, Jessy helped develop molecular protocols to study the effects of differential early rearing treatments on survival in Coho Salmon at the Nitinat River Hatchery. Jessy’s MSc research in collaboration with Dr. Krist Miller-Saunders from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is examining the inflience of hatchery rearing conditions on the epigenome. Listen to Jessy speak about her project on ThePulse and on NPR. Jessy was recruited as a Research Scientist with DFO in 2021
Angelina Haiji
BSc Directed Studies 2022
Angelina conducted an experiment to test the degradation and leaching of microplastics from COVID-19 PPE into Bow River water for her Directed Study, finding that masks had a leaching rate of 0.12 grams of plastic per week and also examined the influence of UV. Angelina also founded and leads "Keep the Earth Fresh", a not-for-profit citizen science community clean up across cities. She is now a PhD student with Kelsey Lucas at UCalgary
Matthew
Josephson
PDF 2019-2022
Matt explored genomic factors that influence Coho Salmon survival in hatchery programs, using a combination of experimental approaches at the Nitinat River Hatchery in partnership with the Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht First Nations, and DFO how alternative hatchery rearing practices may impact salmon survival and the genetics of domestication. Matt also developed genome editing approaches using CRISPR in threespine stickleback. He is now a Gene Editing Research Scientist II at the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies in San Diego
Alistair
Baron
BSc Honours 2021-2022
Alistair's honours worked on CRISPR edited lines generated in our lab and how they varied compared to wild type in association with temperature tolerance (Quantifying the effects of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARAα) on thermal tolerance in Gasterosteus aculeatus). He is now a Biological Field Technician with ABMI.
Julian
Schach
BSc Independent Studies 2020-2021
Julian’s project examined Genome-Wide Association between SNP variants and Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) Resistance in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the summer of 2021 and in the fall of 2021 did a directed study with threespine stickleback CRISPR lines to test whether edited lines vary in association with temperature tolerance. He completed an MSc on speciation in Cotesia wasps and the role of Wolbachia at the University of Helsinki with Anne Duplouy and Federica Valerio, and is now pursuing a PhD in evolutionary dynamics of Cotesia speciation.
Paige
Jackson
BSc Independent Studies 2020-2021; PURE 2021
Paige researched the fate of microplastic partitioning and removal in modern wastewater treatment processes. Her research took place at UofC’s Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets (ACWA) facility. Her undergraduate research on microplastics captured national attention. She is now a student at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law.
Bergen
Galts
BSc Honours 2020-2021, PURE Summer 2021
Bergen tested predictions about genomic inbreeding in the Banff Springs Snail using ddRADseq - going from libraries to SNPs to analysis over two semesters. Her research was awarded an honourable mention at the undergraduate student awards. She recently completed an MSc in our lab and relocated to Terrace with her family
Katie
Jones
BSc Honours 2020-2021
Katie developed a genetic assay to determine sex in young salmon (Characterization of the sexually dimorphic on the Y-chromosome (sdY) locus in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)). She won a "best talk” award at the undergraduate student days. She is now a student of veterinary medicine at UCalgary and works as an Education and Outreach Coordinator.
Stefan Kurbatfinski
ENSC Directed Study 2020
Stefan volunteered in our aquatic facility and became interested in the ecology and genetics of behaviour in threespine stickleback. In his ENC505 course, he evaluated variation and repeatability of swimming behaviours from a series of high speed videos. He is now a medical student at UCalgary
George
Owen
BMSC Directed Studies (BMSC 2019)
George took his first course at BMSC in 2016 towards his BSc degree at the University of Alberta. George's research included a practicum using principles of design to more efficiently and sustainably use of spaces in our historic cable station at the BMSC. In this process we both discovered that the marine station is a unique natural hub to bridge science and design. He is now a Jr. Environmental Officer with DFO.
Dina
Navon
PDF 2018-2020
Dina investigated questions about the genetic architecture of biomechanics and feeding behaviour in marine and freshwater threespine stickleback at the BMSC. She was co-supervised with Tim Higham. After completing a PDF at Ruthgers, she returned to Canada and is now an Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley
Julia
Clarke
NSERC USRA, BSc Honours 2019-2020
Julia began volunteering in our aqautic facility with Sara Smith in her second year and was a pillar of support for the care and husbandry of our stickleback populations. Julia’s NSERC USRA investigated molecular biology of phenotypic plasticity in fishes. She completed her MSc on genetic rescue in Catherine Cullingham’s lab at Carleton in 2022 and is now a Conservation Outreach Coordinator for CPAWS.
Tegan
Barry
PhD 2015-2019
Tegan developed extensive and novel 3D computed microtomography imaging methods and applied QTL mapping to test predictions about the integrated nature of form and function with phenotypes that covary in relation to local ecological factors Tegan was co-supervised with Dr. H. Jamniczky. She is now an Instructor at the University of Lethbridge.
Sara
Smith
PhD 2014-2019
Sara first worked with me at the BMSC in 2013, researching the site fidelity of tidepool sculpins while completing her BSc. Her PhD, co-supervised by Dr. Rowan Barrett, investigated the Ecological consequences of genetically-based thermal traits in fishes. She completed a PDF in the Informatics Group at Boston and Harvard University before returning to Calgary where she is now an Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University.
Brenna
Stanford
MSc 2016-2018
What are the consequences of habitat fragmentation on the evolution of adaptive population divergence in the Banff Springs Snail? Brenna partnered with Parks Canada in the summer of 2016 and, in addition to her field work expertise, brings her background as a biochemist to this project that will examine several populations and species of hot spring physids to better understand this small mollusc listed under the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA).
Teresa
Tufts
MSc 2016-2018
Teresa tested the influence of water temperature on the thermal tolerance and habitat preference of ninespine stickleback from northern (Nunavut) and southern (Alberta) parts of their distribution. Teresa returned home to work for the Fisheries division of the Nunavut governement in Iqualuit and is now a Wildlife Biologist for ECCC.
Taesagh
Watson
BSc Independent Studies 2018-2019
Taesagh is a BMSC alumnus and will working on constraints to adaptation following freshwater colonization of environments by marine stickleback. She was also an aquatic lab assistant in LESARC for two years. She completed her degree in Education at UCalgary and is now an elementary school teacher in Cold Lake with her husband Adam!
Adam
Watson
BSc Independent Studies 2017-2018
Adam took the Fall Program at BMSC in 2015 and my Molecular Ecology class in 2016. He worked on the conservation genetics of burrowing owls in partnership with the Winnipeg Zoo. Adam was awarded a PURE award for his research and a Faculty of Science award to present at the NACCB meeting in 2018. He completed his degree in veterinary medicine at UCalgary and now works in Cold Lake with his wife Taesagh!
Aspen
Kozak
BSc Honours 2017-2018
Aspen volunteered in our aquatic lab for over two years. In the summer of 2017, she took Marine Fishes in Bamfield followed by the Ecology 413 Field course in Kananaskis. Her research on stickleback performance in association with salinity variation led her to pursue an Honours project testing predictions about adaptation to freshwater in a marine population of stickleback recently trapped in freshwater (~ 100 years). Aspen received an honourable mention for her undergraduate research. She completed an MSc student with Heather Jamniczky.
Olivia
Kim
BSc Independent Studies 2017-2018
Olivia tested tradeoffs between agressive behaviour in Arctic ninespine stickleback and temperature. She is currently applying to the Masters of Public Health Program at the University of Calgary.
Genevieve
Reynolds
BMSC Directed Study 2017
Genevieve’s directed study explored the effects of connectivity on walking speed variation in a population of Grainy Hermit Crab using an artificial network system. Given that the crabs preferred the poorly-connected areas, Genevieve concluded the ecological impacts of protecting only the well-connected areas, could impact trait variation and population sustainability. Geneviève finished her MSc in Brian Starzomski's lab in 2022 and is now with the Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance team.
Tory
Pritchard
BMSC Directed Study 2017
Tory investigated whether Marine animals when subjected to a hypoxic environment have been shown to exhibit a secretion of enzymes and/or an increased resistance to peripheral circulation. Tory explored this relationship in threespine stickleback as part of a directed study. She is now an MSc student at James Cook University
Alex
Pistore
MSc 2014-2017
Alex used a common garden experiment to test predictions associated with morphological maturation by characterizing skeletal phenotypic variation between populations. She was co-supervised in Health Science with Dr. H. Jamniczky. Alex is part of the Leaders in Medicine at Cummings School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Matthew
Morris
MSc, 2009-2011, PhD student, 2012 - 2017
Matthew was an NSERC Vanier and Killam PhD Scholar studying the ecological and molecular mechansism that allow organisms to cope with environmental change, focusing on threespine stickeback populations along the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to southern California to address these questions. He is now an Associate Professor at Ambrose College.
Brandon
Allen
MSc 2013-2016
Brandon was a research associate in the summer of 2012, continuing his research on population structure of fathead minnows in the fall of 2012. After working as a CFI technician in the summer of 2013, he worked with AESRD. In his MSc Brandon investigated phenotypic and genetic changes that have occurred in fisheries with different adaptive management strategies since the 1960’s. He is now an Senior Terrestrial Ecologist with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute
Ella
Bowles
PhD 2010-2016
Ella Bowles studied the population genetic consequences of environmental change in threespine stickleback populations that have colonized a series of lakes in Alaska. She completed a PDF with Jesse Popp (Mount Allison University) and Adam Ford (UBC Okanagan) interweaving Indigenous knowledge and Western science. She is now a Policy Advisor with the Canadian Wildlife Service.
Stevi
Vanderzwan
MSc 2011-2015
Stevi was our lab manager in 2010 and 2011 before starting her MSc in the fall of 2011. She worked with Parks Canada, was an Instructor at Mount Royal University, a research technician at the Grasslands Zoo in Saskatchewan, and is now working in the Veterinary Genetics Lab of Dr. Ben Sacks at the University of California, Davis.
Taylor
MacLeod
NSERC USRA, BMSC 2015
Taylor conducted a common garden experiment to elucidate the genetic basis of covariance in temperature tolerance and shoaling behaviour. She was awarded a Dick and Leona Peter Bursary to conduct her directed research project. Taylor completed an exchange program in Australia and recently completed her BSc at UCalgary. She is now an MSc student in Mark Poesch’s Lab at UofA.
Lauren
McLachlan
BSc Honours 2014-2015
Lauren conducted an independent research project on Walleye in the Red Deer River to determine if fish that predominantly return to a single tributary to spawn are breeding randomly - looks like they do! This work was conducted with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
Faizan
Malik
BSc Independent Studies 2014-2015
Faizan volunteered in the fish lab since 2013. His independent research project on Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout tested whether Yellowstone exhibit hybridization with the endangered Westslope Cutthroat Trout. He completed an MSc in Neuroscience at the Cumming School of Medicine and is now a Senior Analyst at Serna Bio
Janneke
Wit
PDF 2013-2015
Janneke explored population genomic approaches to identify mutations that confer drug resistance in parasitic nematodes. Janneke was funded by the University of Calgary Eyes High Program. Janneke is a PDF in John Gilleard’s Lab in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Haley
Tunna
MSc 2011-2014
Haley was a research associate in the Rogers lab from 2010 to 2011. Haley then did her MSc on the population genetic consequences of pollutants in freshwater fishes using the charismatic longnose dace. Haley was co-supervised with Dr. Lee Jackson. She is now a Resource Restoration Biologist with DFO in Nanaimo.
Qiqun
Cheng
Visiting Professsor 2013-2014
Qiqun is a professor at the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Shanghai, China. He was awarded a scholarship under the State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council to pursue study in Canada as a visiting scholar for one year. Qiqun worked on maintenance of adaptive genetic variation on brook stickleback during his sabbatical.
Romain
Richard
PhD 2008-2014
Romain used an integrative framework to test how ecological and evolutionary responses of natural populations emerge from both mechanistic responses at the individual and population level with a Daphnia-algae systems. Romain was co-supervised by Dr. Ed McCauley and is now an Assistant Professor at National Sun Yat-sen University
Becky
Johnston
RA 2012-2014
Becky worked part-time in the husbandry of our stickleback, including many many weekends and holidays. She was also a drum major for the World Champion Calgary Stampede Showband. Becky has been leading with the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa since 2015.
Meghan
Anderson
BSc Honours 2013-2014
Meghan worked on the role of genetic background, finding that it influenced hybridization between the Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout. Meghan won “Best ECOL talk" for this work. Meghan was a water quality technologist with Alberta Environment and Parks and is now a Priority Issues Coordinator with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
Rebecca
Kaufman
BSc Independent Studies 2013-2014
Rebecca was interested in the cause of differential phenotypes within this population and the role of genetic variation or phenotypic plasticity. Rebecca quantified standing genetic variation in the low-plated Eda allele, finding significant variation in the marine environment (Morris et al. Evolution 2019).
Calley Wasser
BMSC Directed Study 2015
Calley's research tested questions surrounding temperature and thermal preference in threespine stickleback. Calley has since been an intern at the Smithsonian, technician with the Boulding Lab in Guelph, and is now an independent contractor with Fisheries and Oceans in Victoria.
Nissa
Petterson
BSc Independent Studies 2013-2014
In collaboration with Parks Canada and Dr. Dwayne Lepitzki, Nissa studied the population structure of the snails in Banff National Park. She is now a Conservation Specialist with the Alberta Wilderness Association.
Florence
Chan
BSc Independent Studies, 2013-2014
Florence studied the impact of urbanization on the genetic variability of coyotes in Calgary, discovering that anthropogenic barriers do not result in population substructure. Florence is now a medical student at Jagiellonian University, Poland.
Stacy
Muise
NSERC USRA 2012-2013, RA 2012 - 2013
Stacy developed genetic markers for the Banff Springs Snail. In 2013, she was awarded another NSERC USRA to work on next generation sequencing of human gut microbial communities. In 2016, she completed her MSc with Doug Boreham at McMaster University. She is now Policy Analyst at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Ekaterina Petrovich
BSc Directed Study 2013
Katy completed a Directed Studies (Zoology 507) co-supervised by H. Jamniczky. Her research addressed the question of whether vertebrae numbers from marine threespine stickleback sampled along a latitudinal cline reflect Jordan's Rule. Katy is currently enrolled as a medical student at the University of Calgary.
Patrick
Piekarski
BSc Honours 2012-2013
Patrick's Zoology 530 sequenced several wasps and constructed phylogenies from the simultaneous analysis of phenotypic (including behavioural) and molecular data (CO1, 28S, 16S, 12S) for 74 taxa. Patrick is currently a PhD student in the Kronauer Lab at Rockefeller University.
Liam
Brinston
BSc Directed Study 2013
Liam completed a directed studies with me at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Liam conducted an experiment to thermal preference in marine threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Liam graduated from UofA and worked as a technician at Camosun College
Romain
Chaput
BSc Directed Study 2013
Romain completed a directed study (Ecology 507) co-supervised with Heather Jamniczky in the spring of 2013. Romain studied whether morphological phenotypes measured with CT scans perform better than traditional methods in QTL mapping. Romain did his MSc at the Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University, PhD at the University of Miami and is now an oceanographer at Cawthron
Ruchika
Sharma
BSc Directed Study 2013
Ruchika completed a directed study (Ecology 507) co-supervised with Heather Jamniczky on the evolution of modularity in threespine stickleback exploring cranial morphology with CT scans. Ruchika is currently completing her degree in Medicine.
Jobran
Chebib
Directed Studies 2009, MSc, 2010-2013
Jobran's MSc thesis tested predictions associated with fisheries induced evolution in Lesser Slave Lake Whitefish with funding through from the Alberta Conservation Association. Jobran completed his PhD at the University of Zurich with Fred Guillaume and then a PDF Peter Keightley at the University of Edinburgh where he is now a Lecturer in Genetics Education
Jon
Mee
PDF 2012-2013
Jon studied two pairs of freshwater fish species that hybridize in the Kananaskis region in Alberta. Jon completed a PDF with Chris Somers (Regina), and John Post and Sam Yeaman at the University of Calgary and is now Chair and Associate Professor at Mount Royal University.
Stefan
Dennenmoser
PhD 2009-2013
Stefan's doctoral thesis explored phylogeography and local adaptation in prickly sculpin (Cottus asper). Stefan returned to Germany and did a PDF in Arne Nolte’s lab at the MPI in Germany and is now a PDF at Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
Cory
Kremer
BSc Honours 2010-2011, MSc, 2010-2013
Cory first did an Honours on the population genetics of brook stickleback. This project expanded into his MSc thesis on the landcape genetics of brook stickleback, co-supervised with Steve Vamosi. He is currently an environmental scientist and project manager at Stantec in Calgary. His research was partially funded through a grant from the Alberta Conservation Association. He now teaches Math and Science at FEO in Calgary
Erika
Crispo
PDF 2012-2013
Erica studied the genetic origins of a putatively invasive population of threespine stickleback in Alberta. Her research was partially funded through a grant she obtained from the Alberta Conservation Association. She is now a Professor at Pace University in New York City.
Jamie
McEwen
MSc 2010-2012
Jamie began as a directed studies student in my lab in 2009, working with 454 sequencing. Jamie's MSc thesis explored the population genetic consequences of adaptation to alpine environments in Anemone multifida. Jamie is now an Officer the Canadian Armed Forces.
Jonathan
Lowey
PURE recipient 2012, BSc Honours, 2012-2013
Jono did his honours on the maintenance of pelvic girdle polymorphisms in brook stickleback. He returned to his home in the Yukon and is a Biologist at EDI Environmental Dynamics Inc in Whitehorse
Nick
Pink
BSc Honours, 2012-2013
Nick's honours project developed a non-invasive sampling technique to isolate DNA from the Banff Springs Snail. Nick determined sufficient DNA was obtained to amplify microsatellite loci to study the population structure of the snails in Banff National Park. Nick is currently working as an Environmental Regulatory Specialist for Jacob
Jase
Skelton
BSc Directed Studies, 2012
Jase's Zoology 507 was on the Genetics of Craniofacial Bone Morphology in Stickleback. Jase was co-supervised by Heather Jamniczky and was our first student to do a QTL analysis using MicroCT scans. Jase completed a degree in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary and is now a board certifed large animal surgeon.
Katelyn
Shortt
Ichthyology Research Technician, 2010-2011
Katelyn worked with our lab as an aquatic technician, helping with the care and feeding of our fishes. She was accepted to take part in two internships: at the Mountain View Conservation Centre in Fort Langley and the Vancouver Aquarium. She is a research technician in Squamish
Andrew Rezansoff
NSERC USRA, 2010, BSc Honours 2010-2011
Andrew worked on the genetic origins of a putatively invasive population of threespine stickleback in Alberta, and published with Erica Crispo on his work. Andrew completed his PhD student in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 and is now a PDF in Bioinformatics
at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics
Beth
Wilson
NSERC USRA 2010, BSc Honours 2010-2011
Beth worked on rainbow trout that had been stocked into Dr. John Post's experimental ponds, characterizing putatively adaptive QTL and neutral microsatellites to investigate whether demographic and/or selective forces have changed the genetic composition of two rainbow trout strains at genetic markers following a colonization event.
Omar
Khan
BSc 2010 (ECOL 507)
Omar analyzed selection on genes linked to various mental and nervous system health disorders based on HapMap data. Dr. Khan was awarded the 2015 Resident Leadership and Citizenship Award by Alberta Health Services and is now an Oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary.
Alumni Research Associates
Mathilde Guichet (International Internship, France, 2018)
Mathilde came to the lab for an internship from Le Mans University in France. She worked with Jori Harrison on the molecular basis of eDNA.
Nellie Yee (Research Associate, 2011-2013)
Nellie googled us after moving to Calgary from New York City, where she worked as a DNA forensics lab technician in homocide unit. Nellie was interested in applying her skills in a ligher setting, ideally contributing to conservation. Nellie is a technician in the Faculty of Medicine and with the Alberta Children's Hospital.
Desiree Toews (BSc Directed Study 2017)
Des studied thermal preference in threespine stickleback with Sara Smith using a new shuttlebox experimental design as part of a directed study project (ECOL507). She got it to work! She also helped us with daily fish husbandry in our LESARC fish lab and, with collaborator Tim Highan, co-authored a paper on the amazing ratfish.
Nafis Anam (BSc Directed Studies, 2013)
Nafis completed a Directed Studies in my lab (Ecology 507) on the morphological and dietary differences within an Alaskan threespine stickleback population, quantifying differences in gill raker morphology.
Michael Yiming Zhu (PURE recipient, BSc, 2013)
Michael was a 2013 recipient of the Program for Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) award to conduct summer research in the lab. Michael worked in the field, the molecular lab, and the fish lab to explore the maintenance of pelvic girdle polymporphisms in brook stickleback. Michael recently completed a Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of Alberta.
Kelly Carscadden (USRA, 2011)
Kelly worked on a contract for Golder Inc to study Westslope Cutthroat Trout genetics, and also worked on the genetics of Vireo warblers in Alberta. She completed an MSc at the University of Toronto and is currently a PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the Emery Lab at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Tasha Hansen (USRA, 2011)
Tasha sampled brook stickleback all over Alberta before moving into the lab to conduct DNA analyses. Tasha recently completed her BSc and Education degrees at the University of Calgary and works at Telus Spark Science Centre.
Sara Stephenson (USRA, 2011)
Sara tested protocols to isolate and test the DNA of bats with the Barclay Lab. She also assisted Jobran Chebib with the lake whitefish genetics.
Kenneth Urquhart (NSERC USRA, 2011)
In addition to maintaining our fish lab, Kenneth worked with Haley Tunna to sample dace and with Erica Crispo to determine whether populations exhibited genetic associations to pollutants. Kenneth is now a dentist in Hamilton, ON.
Wajeeha Sattar (BSc 2010)
Wajeeha's independent research project (Ecology 528) studied the evolutionary consequences of drug metabolism in parasitic nematodes. Wajeeha completed her Masters of Biomedical Technology in Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and completed her law degree in 2018.
©Copyright. All rights reserved.
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.