CV
Appointments
Assistant Professor (2021–)
Department of Biology, York University
Research Associate (2021–)
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Postdoctoral Researcher (2018–)
Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Research focus: The evolution of visual systems during major life history transitions in frogs
Advisor: Dr. Rayna C Bell
Education
Ph.D. (2018)
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Thesis: Evolution and molecular mechanisms of photoreceptor transmutation in reptiles
Advisor: Dr. Belinda SW Chang
M.Sc. (2011)
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Thesis: Ontogeny, diversity, and systematics of pachycephalosaur dinosaurs from the Belly River Group of Alberta
Advisor: Dr. David C Evans
H.B.Sc. (2008)
Evolutionary Biology Specialist, University of Toronto
Thesis: Individual and ontogenetic variation in the cranial horns of the horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae): implications for horn evolution and function
Advisor: Dr. David C Evans
- SMBE Young Investigator Travel Award (2018)
- Peter A. Abrams Prize for Research Excellence (2017)
- Gans Collections and Charitable Fund Conference Attendance Grant (2017)
- Doctoral Completion Award (2016/17)
- Vision Science Research Program Scholarship (2015/16)
- Frederick P. Ide Graduate Award in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2015)
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2015)
- Vision Science Research Program Scholarship (2014/15)
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2014)
- Vision Science Research Program Scholarship (2013/14)
- Jackson School of Geosciences Student Member Travel Grant (2011)
- NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship D (2011–2013)
- Doris O. and Samuel P. Welles Research Fund (2010)
- DRI Student Oriject Grant (2009)
- NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship M (2009/10)
- Frederick P. Ide Graduate Award in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2008/09)
- CS Rufus Churcher Graduate Award in Zoology (2008/09)
- Helen Sawyer Hogg Graduate Admission Award (2008/09)
- UTEA NSE Undergraduate Student Research Award (2008)
- High Distinction, H.B.Sc (2008)
- Most Outstanding Poster (Evolution), EEB 4th Year Independent Research Course Poster Day (2008)
- UTEA NSE Undergraduate Student Research Award (2007)
- St. Michael’s College Foundation Scholarship (2007)
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (2008–2016)
- Molecular Evolution (2016)
- Evolutionary Genetic Analyses using PAML Graduate Course (2013)
- Molecular and Cell Biology (2011)
- Adaptation and Diversity (2010)
- Macroevolution (2008–2010)
- Benedict Darren—Characterizing the visual pigment complement of the northern pine snake P. melanoleucus. Co-author on a published article.
- Bhawandeep Panesar—NGS Data Analysis, development of scripts and methods. Co-author on a published article.
- Daniel Gow—BlastPhyMe: A toolkit for rapid generation and analysis of protein-coding sequence datasets. Co-lead, preprint on bioRxiv. Also co-author on a published article.
- Mark Hibbins—Molecular evolution of lens crystallin genes in snakes. Article in preparation.
- Matthew Preston—De novo assembly methods for complete coding regions from hybrid enrichment data. Co-author on a published article.
- Maya Woolfolk—Molecular evolution of phototransduction genes during major life history transitions in frog. Ongoing project