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I am an Assistant Professor in Biology at Trent University broadly interested in population and behavioural ecology. I enjoy studying the natural world and whenever possible I try to help foster an appreciation and understanding of the animals and interactions that surround us. Presently, this involves teaching, mentoring graduate students, and promoting science through outreach in person and via social media.
I have a special interest in amphibian conservation, and in 2015 I initiated a long-term study of an endangered unisexual-bisexual Ambystoma salamander complex on Pelee Island. This study is ongoing and has provided exciting new insights into to the population and behavioural ecology of this unique system. It is a collaborative effort, and provides data critical for evidence-based management. My research also investigates how predator-prey interactions shape prey morphology and behaviour over behavioural and evolutionary time scales, as well as how these interactions shape the predator's kill rate (i.e., the functional response). |
Teaching:
Students in Research Design & Data Analysis (BIOL 4030H) and Data Analysis for Environmental Professionals (BEMA 5003H) are supported by DataCamp, and receive full access to the entire DataCamp course curriculum for the semester (6 months). DataCamp is an intuitive learning platform for data science and analytics, and students in these courses will use it to assist them in becoming experts in R. DataCamp’s learn-by-doing methodology combines short expert videos and hands-on-the-keyboard exercises to help learners retain knowledge, and thereby provides a suitable learning experience for all skill levels.
Specialties:
Animal behaviour, Ecology, Evolution, Amphibian conservation, Predator-prey interactions, Eyespots, Functional response, Phenotypic plasticity.
Academic Work Experience:
Education:
- BIOL 1020H - Foundations in Biodiversity
- BIOL 2260H - Introductory Ecology
- BIOL 3340H - Herpetology
- BIOL 3360H - Behavioural Ecology
- BIOL 3380H - Advanced Ecology
- BIOL 4020H - Research Thesis
- BIOL 4030H - Research Design & Data Analysis
- BIOL 4390H - Conservation Biology
- BIOL 4610H - Evolutionary Ecology
- BEMA 5003H - Data Analysis for Environmental Professionals
- BEMA 5004H - Science Communication for Environmental Professionals
- BEMA 5010H - Landscape Ecology
Students in Research Design & Data Analysis (BIOL 4030H) and Data Analysis for Environmental Professionals (BEMA 5003H) are supported by DataCamp, and receive full access to the entire DataCamp course curriculum for the semester (6 months). DataCamp is an intuitive learning platform for data science and analytics, and students in these courses will use it to assist them in becoming experts in R. DataCamp’s learn-by-doing methodology combines short expert videos and hands-on-the-keyboard exercises to help learners retain knowledge, and thereby provides a suitable learning experience for all skill levels.
Specialties:
Animal behaviour, Ecology, Evolution, Amphibian conservation, Predator-prey interactions, Eyespots, Functional response, Phenotypic plasticity.
Academic Work Experience:
- 2023-present Assistant Professor (Teaching-intensive), Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- 2022-2023 Assistant Professor (LTA), Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2021-2022 Half-time Assistant Professor (LTA), Biology Department (BEMA), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2020-2021 Assistant Professor (LTA), Biology Department / BEMA, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2019-2020 Half-time Assistant Professor (LTA), Biology Department (BEMA), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2019-2020 Half-time Postdoctoral Fellow, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2018-2019 Assistant Professor (LTA), Biology Department, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2016-2018 NSERC PDF Postdoctoral Fellow, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2015-2016 Postdoctoral Fellow - CREATE Enviro Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
- 2014-2015 Postdoctoral Fellow - Integrative Conservation Biology Lab (Dr. Dennis Murray), Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Education:
- 2014 Ph.D. Biology - Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- 2010 M.Sc. Environmental & Life Sciences - Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
- 2007 B.Sc. Biology (Honours) - Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada