I am primarily interested in the conservation and management of species in light of environmental change, particularly using genomic techniques.
I am a Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, a department of the Federal Government of Canada. My work is focussed on assessing and monitoring intra-specific genomic diversity as well as assessing vulnerability to environmental change, currently focussing on caribou (Rangifer tarandus) across Canada.
I was also a guest editor for Molecular Ecology, helping to compile a special issue on the use of whole genome sequencing in the field of molecular ecology.
Background and Early Research
I did my B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Bristol, U.K., following which I took a position as a researcher for a professional conservation organisation, Wildscreen, working on their ARKive website. My responsibilities included finding images and footage of rare and endangered species to be used for educational purposes, which entailed a great deal of networking with academics. My conversations with these researchers, learning about their work and experiences, inspired me to pursue a career in applied wildlife research.
I undertook my M.Sc. in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology with the University of Exeter, U.K. I chose a thesis project studying the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia in wild British moths. I used a phylogenetic approach to investigate the prevalence and horizontal transfer of strains across moth species.
Ph.D. Research
For my Ph.D. thesis at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, I investigated speciation in the Leach’s and band-rumped storm-petrel (Hydrobates spp.) species complexes using a combination of microsatellite analysis, sanger sequencing of mitochondrial DNA, and high-throughput sequencing (ddRADseq).
Both the Leach’s and band-rumped storm-petrels were suspected to be cryptic species complexes in need of taxonomic revision. As a result of my thesis and working with many international collaborators, the band-rumped storm-petrel will likely be split into up to six different species, allowing these species to be managed separately, which may be key for their conservation.
Post-Doctoral Research
I did a short Post-Doctoral position at Queen's University after my Ph.D. working on a few projects, including investigating mitonuclear discordance in crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia spp.) using genome-wide SNP data. I also continued my work with the band-rumped storm-petrels, finishing a detailed study into isolation by time (akin to isolation by distance) and adaptation by time in a year round breeding population in Cape Verde.
I then started a position as a Post-Doc at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, working on caribou genomics, primarily using whole genome sequence data to to investigate parallel evolution, introgression, and demographic history of caribou sub-species and Designatable Units across North America, with a goal to improve management. See the Ecogenomics website for information about our research group, and the caribou genome website for resources and information about the caribou reference genome.
I am a Research Scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, a department of the Federal Government of Canada. My work is focussed on assessing and monitoring intra-specific genomic diversity as well as assessing vulnerability to environmental change, currently focussing on caribou (Rangifer tarandus) across Canada.
I was also a guest editor for Molecular Ecology, helping to compile a special issue on the use of whole genome sequencing in the field of molecular ecology.
Background and Early Research
I did my B.Sc. in Biology at the University of Bristol, U.K., following which I took a position as a researcher for a professional conservation organisation, Wildscreen, working on their ARKive website. My responsibilities included finding images and footage of rare and endangered species to be used for educational purposes, which entailed a great deal of networking with academics. My conversations with these researchers, learning about their work and experiences, inspired me to pursue a career in applied wildlife research.
I undertook my M.Sc. in Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology with the University of Exeter, U.K. I chose a thesis project studying the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia in wild British moths. I used a phylogenetic approach to investigate the prevalence and horizontal transfer of strains across moth species.
Ph.D. Research
For my Ph.D. thesis at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, I investigated speciation in the Leach’s and band-rumped storm-petrel (Hydrobates spp.) species complexes using a combination of microsatellite analysis, sanger sequencing of mitochondrial DNA, and high-throughput sequencing (ddRADseq).
Both the Leach’s and band-rumped storm-petrels were suspected to be cryptic species complexes in need of taxonomic revision. As a result of my thesis and working with many international collaborators, the band-rumped storm-petrel will likely be split into up to six different species, allowing these species to be managed separately, which may be key for their conservation.
Post-Doctoral Research
I did a short Post-Doctoral position at Queen's University after my Ph.D. working on a few projects, including investigating mitonuclear discordance in crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia spp.) using genome-wide SNP data. I also continued my work with the band-rumped storm-petrels, finishing a detailed study into isolation by time (akin to isolation by distance) and adaptation by time in a year round breeding population in Cape Verde.
I then started a position as a Post-Doc at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, working on caribou genomics, primarily using whole genome sequence data to to investigate parallel evolution, introgression, and demographic history of caribou sub-species and Designatable Units across North America, with a goal to improve management. See the Ecogenomics website for information about our research group, and the caribou genome website for resources and information about the caribou reference genome.