Dr. NIELS VAN STEENKISTE
Research Associate (2021-2025)
Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-2021)
Research Project:
Diversity, evolution & molecular systematics of marine meiofauna (Rhabdocoela)
Education:
NSERC PDF (2012-2014), Pacific Biological Station, Canada; PhD (2011) Zoology, Hasselt Univ.; MSc (2007) Zoology, Univ. Liege; BSc (2003) Ghent Univ., Belgium.
Dr. EUNJI PARK
Postdoctoral Fellow (2021-2025)
Research Project:
Diversity & evolutionary history of marine gregarine parasites (Apicomplexa) and their hyperparasites (Metchnikovellida)
Education:
PhD (2021) Zoology, University of Otago, New Zealand; MSc (2011) EcoScience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; BSc (2009) Life Sciences, Ewha Womans University, South Korea.
WILLIAM MACIEJOWSKI
PhD candidate, Botany (2022-present)
Research Project:
Evolution & phylotranscriptomics of symbiontid euglenozoans
Education:
BSc (2022) Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, First Class Honors (2020-2021); Undergraduate Researcher & NSERC-USRA (2021-2022) in Comparative Protistology, Dacks Lab, University of Alberta.
CORMAC TOLER-SCOTT
MSc student, Zoology (2023-present)
Research Project:
Species discovery of pycnogonids (sea spiders) and their symbionts; SCUBA
Education:
BSc (2021) Biology, University of Washington; Research Scientist/Marine Technician (2018-2023), University of Washington.
MAIA PALKA
MSc student, Botany (2023-present)
Research Project:
Comparative ultrastructure of marine meiofaunal flagellates & their symbionts; scanning & transmission electron microscopy
Education:
BSc (2023) Applied Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
SIVANNA TRAINER
PhD student, Zoology (2024-present)
Research Project:
Convergent evolution of peristaltic motility in marine gregarines using confocal, SEM/TEM/FIB-SEM and molecular phylogenetics.
Education:
MSc (2024) Marine Science, Stony Brook University, New York; BA (2022) Environmental & Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego.
GABRIELLE MARTINEZ
Undergraduate Researcher (2023-2025)
Publication:
Martinez, G., Leander, B.S. and Park, E. 2025. Morphology and molecular phylogeny of endosymbiotic ciliates (Peritricha, Mobilida) of marine invertebrates with descriptions of Urceolaria clepsydra sp. nov. and Urceolaria bratalia sp. nov. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. In press.
Dr. LIZ COONEY
PhD student, Botany (2017-2022)
Co-supervised with Patrick Keeling
Research Project:
Evolution of dinoflagellates using single-cell transcriptomics
Education:
MSc (2016) Western Washington University; BSc (2010) University of Oregon.
DANJA CURRIE-OLSEN
MSc student, Zoology (2021-2023)
Research Project:
Novel cytoskeletal traits in the myzozoan parasites (Platyproteum vivax) of peanut worms (Sipuncula); confocal laser scanning microscopy
Education:
BSc with Honours (2021) Marine Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Dr. MARIA HERRANZ
Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2019)
(
Herranz Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Diversity, evolution & functional morphology of marine meiofauna (kinorhynchs)
Education:
PhD (2014) Cum laude, MSc (2009) and BSc (2007) in Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
ELIZABETH HERBERT
MSc student, Zoology (2017-2019)
Research Project:
Diversity of thraustochytrids & labyrinthulids associated with sea star wasting disease.
Education:
BSc (2017) Biology, University of British Columbia.
INDIA STEPHENSON
MSc student, Zoology (2016-2018)
Research Project:
Kleptoplasty in marine rhabdocoels.
Education:
BSc (2015) Biology, University of Oxford.
Current Position:
Assistant Editor, Scientific Reports.
PHIL ANGEL
MSc student, Zoology (2017-2019)
Research Project:
Evolution of haplozoon parasites (Dinoflagellata) in marine invertebrates.
Education:
BSc (2017) Biology, University of Ottawa.
Dr. NAOJI YUBUKIResearch Associate (2012-2017)
Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2012)
Research Project: Evolutionary morphology and molecular phylogeny of marine predatory flagellates
Current Position:
TEM Technician (2021 - present) BioImaging Facility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; PDF (2017-2021) University of Paris SUD, France.
Dr. ELENA ZAIKOVAPostdoctoral Fellow (2015-2016)
Co-supervised with (
Steven Hallam)
Research Project:
Metagenomic analysis of extrusive episymbionts on euglenozoan hosts
Current Position:
Bioinformatics Scientist, The Aparicio Lab, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. GREG GAVELIS
PhD student, Zoology (2011-2015)
Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2017)
Research Project:
Evolution of complex organelles in dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Scientist (2020-present), Bigelow Lab - Single Cell Genomics Center, Maine.
Dr. MONA HOPPENRATHPostdoctoral Fellow (2004-2008)
(
Hoppenrath Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Biodiversity and phylogeny of dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Scientist (2008-present), DZMB, Germany.
Dr. SONJA RUECKERT
Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2010)
(
Rueckert Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Ecology and evolution of marine gregarine apicomplexans and metazoan parasites of fish.
Current Position:
Senior Lecturer (2012-present), Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, UK.
Dr. HEATHER ESSON
PhD student, Botany (2005-2009)
Research Project:
Evolution and development of euglenozoans
Current Position:
Research Scientist - Laboratory of Evolutionary Protistology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Dr. CHITCHAI CHANTANGSIPhD student, Zoology (2006-2009)
(
Chantangsi Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Diversity and molecular phylogeny of marine cercozoans
Current Position:
Assistant Professor (2009-present), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dr. REBECCA RUNDELL
Postdoctoral Fellow (2008-2011)
(
Rundell Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Evolution, biodiversity, and conservation of marine invertebrates
Current Position:
Assistant Professor, State University of New York, Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, USA.
Dr. THIERRY J. HEGER
Postdoctoral Fellow (2008-2013)
(
Heger Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Biodiversity, ecology, and evolutionary history of testate amoebae
Current Position:
Assistant Professor (2017 - present), University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland.
Dr. SUSANA BREGLIA
PhD student, Zoology (2008-2012)
Research Project:
Evolution of phagotrophic euglenids and their symbionts
Current Position:
Research Associate (2016-present), PDF (2012-2016), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Dr. AIKA YAMAGUCHI
Postdoctoral Fellow (2008-2011)
Research Project:
Biodiversity and phylogeny of marine dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Fellow (2011-present), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Dr. KEVIN WAKEMANPhD student, Zoology (2010 - 2013)
(
Wakeman Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Diversity and evolutionary history of marine gregarine apicomplexans
Current Position:
Assistant Professor (2016-present), Hokkaido University, Integrated Science Program, Japan.
DAVIS IRITANI
MSc student, Zoology (2015-2017)
Research Project:
Diversity of gregarine parasites in marine invertebrates.
Current Position:
PhD student (2017 - 2021), Hokkaido University, Integrated Science Program, Japan.
SARAH SPARMANN
MSc student, Zoology (2010 - 2012)
Lab Manager/Technician (2012 - 2014)
Research Project:
Molecular systematics of jellyfish and dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Technician, Department of Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology, The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany.
ROYA ESHRAGH
MSc student, Zoology (2011-2013)
Biodiversity Alumni Spotlight
Research Project:
Molecular systematics of dicyemid parasites of Pacific cephalopods
Dr. SHEHRE-BANOO MALIKPostdoctoral Fellow (2010-2012)
Co-supervised with
Claudio Slamovitz, Dalhousie University
Research Project:
Phylogenomics of apicomplexan parasites.
JANE YANGEL
Undergraduate Student (2016-2018)
Publication:
Herranz, M., Yangel, E. and Leander, B.S. 2017. Descriptions of two mud dragon species (Kinorhyncha, Echinoderidae) from the northeastern Pacific Ocean: Echinoderes hakaiensis sp. nov. and E. pennaki, Higgins 1960. Marine Biodiversity. (23 pages)
REBECCA FIORITO
Honours Student (2014-2016)
Publication:
FioRito, R., Leander, C.A. and Leander, B.S. 2016. Characterization of three novel isolates of Labyrinthulomycota associated with sea star wasting syndrome. Marine Biology. 163:170-180.
SHANE LLOYD
Undergraduate Student (2003-2004)
Publication:
Leander, B.S., Lloyd, S.A.J., Marshall, W. and Landers, S.C. 2006. Phylogeny of marine gregarines (Apicomplexa) - Pterospora, Lithocystis and Lankesteria - and the origin(s) of coelomic parasitsm. Protist 157:45-60.
PETRA VILLETTE
Undergraduate Student (2009-2010)
Publication:
Rueckert, S., Villette, P. and Leander, B.S. 2011. Species boundaries in gregarine apicomplexans: A case study comparison of morphometric and molecular variability in Lecudina cf. tuzetae. J. Euk. Microbiol. 58:275-283.
Dr. SHIHO HAYAKAWA
Research Associate (2011-2014)
Co-supervised with Patrick Keeling
Research Project:
Evolution of complex organelles in marine dinoflagellates (warnowiids)
Other NSERC-USRA, BIOL 448 & 449 Undergraduate Students
- Anika Chen (2023-2024)
- Avery Rose (2023-2024)
- Jimin Kim (2023-2024)
- Sam Huang (Summer 2011)
- Catalin Voiniciuc (2008-2010)
- Sam Sivertz (2007-2008)
- Nav Kanwal (2005-2006)
- Allen Larocque (Spring 2006)
- Elena Zaikova (Summer 2006)
- Kevin Wong (Summer 2005)