Department of Biology

M.Sc. Students

FERNANDES, Caroline
Montreal General Hospital
Office: 8888-42520
caroline{dot}fernandes{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor; Yong Rao
Research Summary:
Research interest: Using the model system Drosophila melanogaster to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease.
Background: Molecular Genetics and Microbiology BSc. University of Toronto
 

FRIESEN, Caitlin M.
Stewart Biology Building, W3/12B
Office: 514-398-5956
caitlin{dot}friesen{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Lauren Chapman
Research Summary:
I am interested in environmental physiology with an emphasis placed on aquatic systems.  Using laboratory and field techniques, I will work with the African cichlid (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae) to investigate the effect of different dissolved oxygen regimes on sex hormone levels and life history traits related to reproductive processes.
Keywords: Uganda, African cichlids (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor), aquatic systems, life history traits, endocrinology
 

GOMEZ, Catalina
Stewart Biology Building, N3/1
Tel: 514-398-6414
catalina{dot}gomezgomez{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Andrew Gonzalez
Research Summary:
I am interested in tropical marine environments, connectivity and conservation. I focus my study in Octocoral species; soft corals form the Tropical Eastern Pacific. I’m looking at species abundance, diversity, recruitment, growth, predation, interaction with other species and threats.
 

LACOURSIERE-ROUSSEL, Anaïs
Stewart Biology Building, W6/5
Office: 514-398-4120
anais{dot}lacoursiere-roussel{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Frederic Guichard
Research Summary:
Marine biology, Invasive species, propagule pressure (ballast water, biofouling), fouling macroinvertebrate, field (boat & Diving), Systat, R. Previous research: diversity of sexual systems (hermaphroditism & frequency of reproduction).
 

LOW-DECARIE, Etienne
Stewart Biology Building, W6/9
Office: 514-398-6459
etienne{dot}low-decarie{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Graham Bell, Gregor Fussmann
Research Summary:
Ecological and evolutionary response of phytoplankton to rising CO2.
 

NYBOER, Elizabeth
Stewart Biology Building, N3/11
Office: 514-398-6192
elizabeth{dot}nyboer{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Lauren Chapman
Research Summary:
My research investigates the consequences of fishing pressure on the ecology of Nile perch, an invasive, predatory fish that has fueled extremely important fisheries in East Africa, but at the cost of catastrophic loss of native fish biodiversity. I use field-based techniques to characterize patterns of growth, condition, and diet of Nile perch between wetland and open-water habitats in Lake Nabugabo, and quantify movement patterns to determine whether ecological divergence between habitats is transient, ontogenetic, or represents distinct phenotypes within the population.
 

OSMOND, Matthew
Stewart Biology Building, W3/19
Office: 514-398-5965
matthew{dot}osmond{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Claire de Mazancourt
Research Summary:
Mathematically addressing the effects of biodiversity and predation on evolutionary dynamics. In particular, does increased biodiversity increase rates of evolution through the creation of novel niches, or does increased biodiversity decrease evolutionary rates by reducing available niche space? How does the relation between biodiversity and evolutionary dynamics change when we consider different interaction types, such as competition, predation, and mutualism?
 

REID, Andrea
Redpath Museum, Room 303
Office: 514-398-4086 ext. 176
andrea{dot}reid2{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisors: Lauren Chapman and Anthony Ricciardi
Research Summary:
Little is understood about how native species may find ways to survive among invasives. My MSc research examines areas on the margins of the invasive Nile perch’s (Lates niloticus) territory that are being exploited by native fish as a refuge (focusing on endangered haplochromine cichlids). I am investigating whether the differences in populations are based on subtle chemical and biological features by sampling fish and environmental factors in a series of wetland transects in central Uganda. My field work in Lake Nabugabo, a satellite of Lake Victoria, hopes to determine whether there is an optimal distance from the predator that enables the natives to thrive.
 

TOMBAK, Kaia
Peterson Hall, Room 26
Office: 514-398-4400 ext. 089759
kaia{dot}tombak{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Colin Chapman

Research Summary:
My interests lie in conservation, ecology and animal behaviour.  My current research focuses on the behavioural ecology of primates. Specifically, I am looking at whether Ugandan red colobus monkeys have inter-female dominance hierarchies. This species is folivorous (leaf-eating) and according to current theory it is not expected to have distinct dominance hierarchies between females.  However, my supervisor and I have seen indications of subtle differences in status among red colobus females. I am also exploring questions on kinship and inter-female relations within a group, effects of dominance status (if differences in rank do occur between females) on an individual's reproductive fitness, and dispersal rates from natal groups in this endangered species.
 
 

VELGHE, Katherine
Stewart Biology Building, Room W6/5
Office: 514-398-4119
katherine{dot}velghe{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Irene Gregory-Eaves
Research Summary:
Project title: Defining diversity-productivity relationships of communities preserved in sediment cores.
 

WIECZOREK, Michal
Bellini Life Sciences Complex, Room 273
Office: 514-398-8837
michal{dot}wieczorek{at}mail{dot}mcgill{dot}ca
Supervisor: Gary Brouhard
Research Summary:
Microtubules are major components of the cytoskeleton required for proper cell growth, division and signalling events. I am focusing on the effects of kinesin protein family members on microtubule dynamics in vitro using a combination of total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and bioinformatics / structural biology.