Dr. NIELS VAN STEENKISTE
Research Associate, Botany/Zoology
Research Project:
Diversity, evolution & molecular systematics of marine meiofauna (Rhabdocoela)
Education:
Hakai PDF (2014-2021), University of British Columbia; NSERC PDF (2012-2014), Pacific Biological Station, Canada; PhD (2011) Hasselt Univ.; MSc (2007) Univ. Liege; BSc (2003) Ghent Univ., Belgium.
Dr. EUNJI PARK
Postdoctoral Fellow, Botany/Zoology
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
MSc student, Botany
Research Project:
Evolution & transcriptomics 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
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
Research Project:
Comparative ultrastructure of marine meiofaunal flagellates & their symbionts; scanning & transmission electron microscopy
Education:
BSc (2023) Applied Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Dr. LIZ COONEY
PhD (2017-2022), Botany, UBC
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 (2021-2023) student, Zoology
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, Botany/Zoology
(
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 (2017-2019) Zoology, UBC
Research Project:
Diversity of thraustochytrids/labyrinthulids associated with sea star wasting disease.
Education:
BSc (2017) Biology, University of British Columbia.
INDIA STEPHENSON
MSc (2016-2018) Zoology, UBC
Research Project:
Kleptoplasty in marine rhabdocoels.
Education:
BSc (2015) Biology, University of Oxford.
Current Position:
Assistant Editor, Scientific Reports.
PHIL ANGEL
MSc (2017-2019) Zoology, UBC
Research Project:
Evolution of haplozoon parasites (Dinoflagellata) in marine invertebrates.
Education:
BSc (2017) Biology, University of Ottawa.
Dr. NAOJI YUBUKIResearch Associate, Botany/Zoology
Postdoctoral Fellow, Botany/Zoology
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, Botany/Zoology
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 (2011-2015) Zoology, UBC
Postdoctoral Fellow, Zoology (2016)
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, Zoology & Botany
(
Hoppenrath Lab webpage)
Research Project:
Biodiversity and phylogeny of dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Scientist (2008-present), DZMB, Germany.
Dr. SONJA RUECKERT
Postdoctoral Fellow, Zoology
(
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 (2005-2009) Botany, UBC
Research Project:
Evolution and development of euglenozoans
Current Position:
Research Scientist - Laboratory of Evolutionary Protistology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Dr. CHITCHAI CHANTANGSIPhD (2006-2009) Zoology, UBC
(
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, Zoology
(
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, Zoology
(
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 (2012) Zoology, UBC
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, Zoology (2008-2011)
Research Project:
Biodiversity and phylogeny of marine dinoflagellates
Current Position:
Research Fellow (2011-present), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Dr. KEVIN WAKEMANPhD (2010 - 2013) Zoology, UBC
(
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 (2015-2017) Zoology, UBC
Research Project:
Diversity of gregarine parasites in marine invertebrates.
Current Position:
PhD student (2017 - 2021), Hokkaido University, Integrated Science Program, Japan.
SARAH SPARMANN
MSc (2010 - 2012) Zoology, UBC
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 (2011-2013) Zoology, UBC
Biodiversity Alumni Spotlight
Research Project:
Molecular systematics of dicyemid parasites of Pacific cephalopods
Dr. SHEHRE-BANOO MALIKPostdoctoral Fellow, Zoology
Co-supervised with
Claudio Slamovitz, Dalhousie University
Research Project:
Evolutionary genomics of apicomplexan parasites.
JANE YANGEL
Undergraduate Research Student
Zoology (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 Undergraduate Student
Zoology (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
NSERC USRA Undergraduate Student
Zoology (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
NSERC USRA Undergraduate Student
Zoology (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, Botany
Co-supervised with Patrick Keeling
(2011-2014)
Research Project:
Organelle evolution in marine dinoflagellates (warnowiids)
Other NSERC-USRA, BIOL 448 & 449 Undergraduate Students
- 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)