Laura Wegener Parfrey
Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
Laura is fascinated by microbial diversity and enjoys exploring many facets of our microbial world. She got her scientific start investigating the eukaryotic tree of life, and carries this phylogenetic perspective into all aspects of her research. [CV]
Email: Lwparfrey@botany.ubc.ca
Office phone: 604-827-2214
Lab phone: 604-827-1879
Location: Biodiversity Research Centre 109 (Office) and 170 (Lab)
Address: 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
Nora Salland (she/her)
Postdoc
Background: PhD in the Smale lab, Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, UK; MSc and BSc at University of Rostock, Germany
I am a marine ecologist and phycologist, interested in kelp ecology, and impacts of climate change on coastal communities. I have worked in the Baltic Sea, Northeast Atlantic, and South Pacific. With the Sentinels of Change Alliance, I will explore how changing conditions, such as ocean warming, influence kelp assemblages and their associated microbial communities in the Northeast Pacific. By integrating field surveys and experimental approaches, I am investigating the dynamics of host-microbe interactions under climate change conditions. I am based on Quadra Island within the Hakai research team.
Email: nora.salland@hakai.org / nora.salland@botany.ubc.ca
Twitter: @nora_mare
Parker K Lund (they/them)
PhD Student
Background: Oregon State University (BSc), Cal Poly Humboldt (MSc)
I am broadly interested in host-associated microbial communities, and how microbial functions can support the health and resilience of their host during stress. Previous research focused on microbial communities on sea anemones, however I also have worked in plant pathogen testing and with marine eDNA data.
Email: parker.lund@botany.ubc.ca
Twitter: @ParkerKLund
Alice Olivia Simon (she/her)
PhD Student
Background: Freie Universität Berlin (BSc)
I’m studying what role bacteria-kelp interactions play in the development of microscopic kelp. How temperature and other environmental factors can affect the microbiome of kelp, and if microbes can enhance the resilience of kelp to environmental stressors are topics I want to explore. My previous work focused on micro and macroalgae ecology and physiology.
Email: alice.simon@botany.ubc.ca
MJ Herrin (she/her)
MSc Student (co-supervised with Dr. Alex Moore)
Background: University of British Columbia (BSc)
I’m broadly interested in coastal restoration ecology & the role of microbes in seagrass ecosystems. My project focuses on characterizing the microbial community patterns and sediment chemistry associated with different seagrass meadow states, through a combination of manipulative lab experiments and field work. The output of this work aims to provide additional context for seagrass restoration practitioners in assessing potential sites and increase transplant success rates.
Email: mj.herrin@botany.ubc.ca
Evan Morien (she/her)
Background: 2007 – BSc in Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo
2012 – MSc in Bioinformatics, Pavlidis Lab, University of British Columbia
2012-2014 – Bioinformatics Technician, Rieseberg Lab, Univeristy of British Columbia
2014-2015 – Bioinformatics Technician, Bohlmann Lab, University of British Columbia
2015-present – Bioinformatics Scientist & Lab Manager, Parfrey Lab, University of British Columbia
2019-present – Bioinformatics Scientist, Hakai Institute
I’ve worked in a research facilitation role as a technician and lab manager in ecology-focused academic & not-for-profit labs for about 15 years. My work with the Parfrey lab started in 2015 and has been hugely influential in defining what I’m interested in working on now and in the future. I’m broadly interested in eukaryotic ecology, and bioinformatic techniques that can reveal new details about community composition, ecological shifts, and both recent and ancient history of the ecologies that surround us.
Grace Young (she/her)
Undergraduate Student, SURE
I am interested in the role of the microbiome in conferring kelp, seagrass, and other ocean organisms an advantage as they face stressors due to climate change. I have done research on peach blossom jellyfish and the microbial environment associated with kelp gametophytes.
Ananya Mahapatra
Undergraduate Assistant
Background: University of British Columbia (BSc)
I am interested in the multi-omics exploration of microbial community composition and effects in marine systems. I am working on data analysis and bioinformatics for several projects in the lab, primarily focusing on seagrass and kelp.