Last updated April 2026
Principal Investigator
Edeline Gagnon
2023-....
Assistant Professor U. of Guelph
2022-2023
MSCA EurotechPostdoc2 Fellowship
2018-2021
FQRNT postdoctoral fellowship
2010-2015
Msc-PhD University of Montreal
Msc Student
Delaney McTavish-McHugh
September 2024- ...
Having completed my BSc in Environmental Biology at U of G in 2024, my favourite subjects of interest include plant functional ecology & evolution, soil biodiversity, and phylogenetic analysis. My undergraduate thesis investigated the influence of nonmycorrhizal plants on their arbuscular mycorrhizal neighbours in plant communities. My current research involves the collection of genomic data to explore genome size diversity within the Potato clade of Solanum L., searching for potential patterns between genome size and environmental factors (temperature, moisture, etc.). Through this research, I hope to help determine whether the size of a plant’s genome could influence the environments in which it can survive.
Postdoctoral researcher
Sophia Stoltz
October 2025 - ....
I am an integrative ecologist and postdoctoral researcher whose research focuses on understanding how genetic and ecological processes shape population persistence and recovery under severe population declines and environmental change, with an emphasis on conservation, restoration, and applied genomics.
During my doctoral research in the Husband Lab at the University of Guelph, I examined how genetic diversity influences evolutionary rescue and restoration outcomes in the endangered American chestnut, integrating theoretical modelling with population genetic and genomic approaches. In my current work, she uses temporal genomics and herbarium collections to investigate long-term genetic change in Solanum chilense, a wild relative of tomato, with implications for conservation and crop resilience."
Undergraduate thesis student
Cameron Duncan
October 2024 - ...
I'm a fourth year BSc Biodiversity student minoring in Plant Science. I started out in the Gagnon lab helping with flow cytometry data collection and conducting some germination trials. I am now working on my undergrad thesis using DNA sourced from herbarium specimens to improve our understanding of the evolutionary relationships of endemic Caribbean Solanum, which includes 26 understudied, undercollected, and likely threatened species.
Undegraduate Research Assistant
Brianna Kolman
December 2025- ...
My research focuses on using genetic tools to address ecological and conservation questions, with the goal of informing the management and protection of biodiversity. Currently, I am analyzing a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) dataset to determine the taxonomic identity of horticultural Magnolia individuals escaping from an arboretum, in collaboration with the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. This project aims to protect local ecosystems by preventing the establishment of a potentially invasive species in a highly biodiverse region, while also supporting the Royal Botanical Gardens in managing and preserving its valuable horticultural collection to ensure long-term sustainability.
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Student
Quinten Wiegersma
May 2025 - ...
Working on a project related to species delimitation and morphometrics of a widespread sedge species, Carex debilis.
Msc Student
Taya Cosby
Starting Fall 2026- ...
Undergraduate Honors thesis student
Carlo di Loreto
Starting Fall 2026- ...
Undergraduate Honors thesis student
Lukas Jablonski
Starting Fall 2026- ...
Co-supervision PhD student
Briggitthe Melchior-Castro
Working on phylogenomics and taxonomy of pea-eggplants
Main supervisor: Dr Tiina Sarkinen, Royal Botanicl Garden, U.K.
Current Lab Members
and Co-Supervisions
Past lab members and co-supervisions
Camilo Ospina Pardo (2025-2026)
Work Study student 2025-2026
Undergraduate student honors thesis 2025-2026
co-supervision: Dr. Karl Cottenie
Olivia Demetrakopoulos (2024-2025)
NSERC-USRA summer 2024
Undergraduate student honors thesis 2024-2025
Research assistant summer 2025
As of September 2025, Msc Student in the Kharouba lab, at University of Ottawa.
Recipient of NSERC-CGRS Msc Scholarship!
Maryam Allyahari (2025)
Msc BINF Student, May-August 2025 .
Thesis:
co-supervision Dr. Merhdad Hajibabaei
Aparna Ramanathan (2025)
Wildlife biology and conservation coop-student, supported by a Mitacs Accelerate Fellowhip. Worked as a resesarch assistant in the lab and herbarium on the invasive Magnolia next-generation sequencing project.
As of December 2025, completing her undergraduate degree at U. of Guelph.
Juan David Torvar (2023-2025)
PhD Student, Universidaded Federal de Paraiba, Brazil. Main-supervisor Dr. Leandro Giacomin, co-supervision
Qing Yuan Pei
(2024)
Msc BINF Student, May-December 2024 .
Thesis:
co-supervision Dr. Lewis Lukens
Sarah Morris
(2024)
Undergrad research assistant, May - August 2024.
Supported by the CBS Summer Research Assistanship Award -
"Dr. Anne Innis Dagg Research Assistantship"
Sasi Mohan Sonnai
(2024)
Msc Agrigenomics University of Kiel, November 2023 - February 2024 .
Co-supervision of Msc thesis; Main supervisor: Dr. Remco Stam.
Jay Delves
(2021)
Co-supervision of Msc thesis at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Moved on as PhD Student at Western Sydney University, Australia.
Ludwig Baldaszti
(2021)
Co-supervision of Msc thesis at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Moved on as PhD Student at University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Rebecca Hilgenhof (2019)
Co-supervision of Msc thesis at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Starting in Fall 2024 as a PhD Student at University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Mathew Rees
(2019)
Principal supervisor of Msc thesis at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Currently PhD Student at University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Carlos Cormier
(2018)
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Université de Moncton, Nouveau-Brunswick