Teaching Assistants

I am interested in looking at population genetics in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). In particular, how we can apply genetics in a conservation framework in order to develop appropriate managment units for marine mammal species.

Mammals are often faced with extreme environmental challenges, such as low oxygen availability (hypoxia) and unregulated reductions in body temperature (hypothermia). In such conditions, respiration slows, and over time, ceases. Newborn mammals are capable of spontaneous recovery from respiratory arrest when conditions return to normal, yet the ability to autoresusicate is lost in most adults. Interestingly, some mammals capable of hibernation are able to autoresusicate even as adults. The purpose of my study is to understand which respiratory traits common to all newborn mammals hibernators retain into adulthood. By studying how respiratory adaptations change between hibernators and non-hibernators throughout development we can get a better understanding of how animals cope in environmentally challenging conditions.

My research examines the evolution of physiological performance capacity.

For my PhD dissertation I'm studying how differences in endurance swimming

capacity have evolved between stream (fresh-water resident) and migratory

marine (anadromous) populations of the threespine stickleback using a

combination of molecular, genetic and physiological techniques."

My research will revolve around evolutionary genetics as well as aspects of physiology and ecology. For my PhD I will most likely be performing a project that looks at tolerance of water temperature change in stickleback or killifish. This is exciting to me because of my interest in the molecular scale as well as broader issues such as climate change and global warming.

I am interested in the pulmonary mechanics of turtles and the work, cost

and efficiency involved with their respiration. Metabolic cost, in

particular, has been a subject of controversy as studies in the past

presented a wide range in estimated values. This controversy, which may

have stemmed from using different methods to determine cost, is yet to be

resolved; therefore, using all of the various methods known for

calculating ventilatory costs, I will attempt to present a more clear idea

as to why the results vary from study to study and have a better

understanding of cost of ventilation in turtles.

I am currently working on reconstructing the phylogeny of the spider subfamily Euophryinae (Araneae: Salticidae) using both molecular and morphological data. On the basis of phylogeny, I further study the historical biogeography and genitalia organ evolution of this group.

Lab Co-Ordinator

I am the co-ordinator for the Vertebrate (and Invertebrate) labs. I am often behind the scenes, putting up and taking down the labs which I have designed. I make the lab manual and change it, design and give the material that is studied in your labs and make the questions on the lab exams and in your lab books. I also train your teaching assistants and help them out. I am currently redoing the lab website into a more current format as the old one became out of date. As much as I can, I like to come into the lab and help out. I do a lot of administration for the course as well. My research area is marine biology and I describe new species of sea slugs (nudibranchs).

Lecture Professor

My background is in medicine and neurobiology. I am looking forward to teaching vertebrate biology for the first time this year.