Ev Berger-Wolf,
Hello! I鈥檓 Ev, a PhD student in Dr. Sarah Woolley鈥檚 lab, studying sensorimotor integration of wind somatosensory information during flight in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis). I attended undergrad at Middlebury College, during which I spent my summers studying the tactile profile of the nipple and breast at University of Chicago with Dr. Sliman Bensmaia. There, I developed an interest in unique sensory and perceptual experiences. After graduating, I worked at MIT in Dr. Earl Miller鈥檚 lab studying working memory and travelling waves in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). When I鈥檓 not in the lab, I can be found climbing, baking, or bird-watching (I鈥檓 especially on the lookout for raptors!).
James Connolly,
I am a first year MSc student in Anna Hargreaves鈥� lab. My research is focused on elevational range limits and plant dispersal. I do work in Kananaskis, Alberta collecting plant community data and animal faeces samples to later germinate. I spent my undergraduate degree in biology at Concordia where I contributed to projects based around trout communities in Newfoundland, the behavioural ecology of aquatic prey, and pollinator visitation rates of plants. When it came time to consider graduate school I decided to pursue more plant-oriented ecology research and found myself drawn to the work being done at 每日探花 and in the Hargreaves鈥� lab specifically. I have lived in Montreal for the last 6 years and when I am not spending all day doing field work, I relax by bouldering, cycling, and playing board games with friends.
Isabelle Gurney,
I graduated from the University of New Mexico with my B.Sc. in biology. During my undergrad, I worked as a research assistant in a fungal microbiology lab assisting graduate students with identifying fungal isolates of interest to public health and pollinator ecology. I carried out my senior thesis project with the same lab surveying a Sandhill Crane winter environment in New Mexico for drug-resistant fungal pathogens. I am now a PhD student in Dr. Rees Kassen鈥檚 lab where I am studying the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria sampled from hospitals. When I鈥檓 not working, I like to be outside, journal, paint, and explore artisan markets with friends.
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Xinquan Hu,
Hello, I鈥檓 Xinquan Hu, a PhD student in Dr. Reyes鈥檚 Lab. I finished my bachelor's degree in NWAFU, China, in 2024. During my one-year internship and subsequent role as a research assistant, I worked on CRISPR screening in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Currently, I am investigating the regulation of mammalian DNA replication initiation by certain limiting factors using live-cell single-molecule microscopy. In my free time, I enjoy birdwatching, practicing the cello, playing chess, and paddleboarding, while my cat enjoys rummaging through drawers and watching cartoons :)
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Brianna Lane,
My name is Brianna Lane (she/her), and I am PhD student in Dr. Virginie Millien's lab. My current research will be looking at the green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus) in Barbados. I will be monitoring this species using camera traps to investigate its population, distribution and range. I aim to examine the human-monkey conflict in the area including how human activity may impact the population and its spatial ecology. Previously, I completed my BSc in ecology and evolutionary biology and MSc in physical geography at the University of Toronto, where I studied lake ice and snow in the Canadian High Arctic using digital camera imagery. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, playing soccer, reading, watching movies and hiking.
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Jessica Lecours,
I have a BSc in Biology from the University of Winnipeg in the city that I鈥檝e always lived and worked in before coming to 每日探花. Research projects undertaken in my undergraduate degree revolved around animal behaviour. For one, I analysed the difference in behaviour exhibited by wood frog tadpoles exposed to varying levels of microplastics sediment. In another, I examined the reproductive behaviours that may contribute to the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in male white-tailed and mule deer. My interest in animal behaviour has continued into my current degree, in which I am focusing on sex difference in cognitive ability in cowbirds over spatial scales in Dr. Guigueno鈥檚 lab. Over the last three summers I鈥檝e worked for Wildlife Resources Consulting Services MB conducting sweeps for migratory bird nests across Manitoba. This work encapsulated many of my favorite hobbies including spending time outdoors, aiding in conservation, observing wildlife, and hiking. Outside of those, my interests include rock climbing, camping, cooking, reading, playing video games and watching movies with my partner and two cats.
Emmett Lewis-Hoeber, and Labs
Hello! I鈥檓 Emmett, and I am a first-year PhD student co-supervised by Dr. Jon Sakata and Dr. David Ostry. I recently graduated from 每日探花 with a bachelor's in psychology. Here, I studied the involvement of the somatosensory cortex in human motor learning in Dr. Ostry鈥檚 lab. My current research is focused on sensorimotor learning and plasticity in both humans and zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis). In my free time I enjoy cycling, camping, and making ice cream.
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Deschanel Li, Reader Lab
I am a master's student in the Reader Lab at 每日探花 university. I have a strong background in computer science and am especially interested in applying computational tools to improve experimental workflows in ecology. As an undergraduate in the Fraser lab, I developed an ImageJ algorithm to automatically count trout eggs to study how fecundity varied with life history. For my current thesis, I am using video analysis to quantify exploratory behavior in guppies as a component of social learning. I aim to test how such behaviours may confer evolutionary advantages. I am also an artist and enjoy using illustration to communicate science. Some of my other hobbies include fishing, camping, and gaming.听My artwork can be found .
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Sandra Litto,
Though holistically my interest lies in Cancer Research, my lab work deepens our basic understanding of DNA Damage Repair at the cellular level. My research goal was always to enhance our understanding of diseases and human health. Through years of study, I developed a focused interest in one of the most critical factors in cancer - our DNA and how the damage it suffers, if not properly mitigated, can predispose us to various diseases. I joined the Reyes-Lamothe Lab at 每日探花 as a PhD student with this goal in mind, and my model organism is budding yeast. I completed an integrated Bachelor of Science 鈥� Master of Science dual degree course in July 2024 from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram. Outside of 鈥榮igh鈥檌ng at my laptop screen 20 times over a paper, I'm passionate about cats, music, dancing, and basketball, and I also have a talent for awkwardly posing in photos. In theory, I'm also into fitness鈥� but it's a work in progress.
William Mattana dos Santos,
I鈥檓 Will, an incoming PhD student in the Watt lab. I obtained my bachelor鈥檚 degree from the Federal University of Paran谩 in Brazil, where I first entered the world of research by studying the effects of psychedelics on memory and learning. During a summer project in the Watt lab as a MITACS intern, I also became fascinated by the cerebellum and decided I wanted to learn more about the field. Back in the lab, I鈥檓 interested in studying cerebellar development and axonal plasticity, and how these plastic events may affect axonal function. Outside the lab, you鈥檒l likely find me reading, running, watching TV shows, traveling, or simply discovering new activities and learning new stuff!
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Claire McPolin,
I did my bachelor's at Queen鈥檚 University in Biology and Math, after which I completed my MSc in Biology at the University of Victoria, where I studied how evolutionary strategies can influence the spatial dynamics of ectomycorrhizal fungi communities across forest age classes. I began my PhD here with Andrew Hendry this past January, studying eco-evolutionary dynamics in stickleback fish. My project focuses on how ecological niche space can be partitioned between the sexes, and the role this plays in rapid evolution. The project is part of a larger collaboration in Alaska, where stickleback have been reintroduced into a series of fishless lakes. Outside of school, I most enjoy dancing, biking, and creative writing.
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Sabrina Elizabeth Mruczek,
Hi everyone! My name is Sabrina, and I鈥檓 a first-year Ph.D. student. I completed both my Honours B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences at Concordia University. For my undergraduate research, I focused on paleoclimatology, flooding patterns, and river dynamics in Southern Qu茅bec. I then shifted my attention to ecology and biodiversity in the context of transportation policy for my Master鈥檚. Before embarking on my Ph.D. journey, I worked as an environmental analyst for small rural municipalities in Qu茅bec鈥檚 Eastern Townships, where I gained practical experience working on environmental policy and sustainability initiatives. This role gave me an understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities and reinforced my passion for applied environmental research. This led me to 每日探花, where I鈥檓 now working at the interface of human-wildlife interactions in Dr. Virginie Millien鈥檚 lab. My research explores the emergence of Lyme disease in Southern Qu茅bec along hiking trails that span rural-to-urban gradients. Specifically, I鈥檓 studying tick abundance in relation to the foraging behaviors of white-footed mice and white-tailed deer, as well as how human activity contributes to this complex system.
Andre Mueller, Larsson Lab
My name is Andre Mueller, a Master鈥檚 student in the Hans Larsson lab. My research involves Cretaceous insect taxonomy, paleobotany, and Ceratopsian dinosaur anatomy. I love discovering new things, unlocking the history of our world, and rebuilding ancient ecosystems! What draws me to science, and paleontology in general is its ability to inspire people and its ability to teach us more about this world we live on. My research profile can be found on .
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Madelaine Picard,
I am an MSc student in the Ricciardi lab studying the impacts of the invasive Tubenose Goby. I completed my BSc at the University of Western Ontario with a specialization in Biodiversity and Conservation. For my Honour鈥檚 thesis, I studied the invasive European Green Crab on the North coast of B.C., which is where I was born and raised. Growing up in the remote outdoors sparked my passion for ecology and conservation. My interest in invasion biology began in 2023, when, at my summer job, I was part of the team that found the first Green Crabs in our region, marking the northernmost extent of their range in Canada. Outside of school, I love exploring the outdoors, rock climbing, and reading.
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Brendon Ross-Greenberg,
I am a first year PhD student in the Brouhard lab, where we study cytoskeleton morphology, and specifically, microtubules. I completed my bachelor's at UC Berkeley in 2019, receiving a double major in Biochemistry and French. After graduation, I worked for 4 years at a reagent company called Biolegend, where I expanded my purification experience from undergraduate research. After taking a couple years off to teach English in France and spending time with my family in New Mexico, I have returned to academia to apply my biochemistry skills to study tubulin and microtubule associated proteins through in vitro reconstruction studies. I have a keen interest in the French language, which drew me to Montr茅al in the first place. I also enjoy creative writing, collaging, wandering around, museums, new music, and card games!
Alex Warren,
My name is Alex Warren, I鈥檓 from Saskatchewan, and I hold a B.Sc. in Honours Microbiology and Immunology from 每日探花. In summer 2024, I interned at the Crop Protection Laboratory of the Government of Saskatchewan as Dutch elm disease laboratory technician. I tested over 500 elm samples for the presence of Dutch elm disease, a dangerous and incurable fungal infection threatening Canadian elm trees. I performed my Honour鈥檚 research under the supervision of Dr. Kostas Pantopoulos, where I investigated small molecule treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I am now starting a Master鈥檚 in the Gerhold lab, where I will be studying the role of mitotic spindle orientation in C. elegans gonad morphogenesis. I enjoy cooking, biking and reading.
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