May 2023 - till now....

Assistant Professor U. of Guelph

 

I am a systematist and evolutionary ecologist interested in understanding how plant diversity arises, and how it changes through space and time. My work is multidisciplinary, combining field studies, comparative phylogenetics, genomics and herbarium-based research to build evolutionary frameworks that help answer questions related to taxonomy, conservation and evolution. My lab is currently focusing on the Tomato family (Solanaceae), but I've worked in the past on biogeography of the Pea family as well (Caesalpinioideae-Leguminosae).

2022-2023 : MSCA EurotechPostdoc2 Fellowship (Technical University of Munich and Kiel University,  Germany)

2018-2021: FQRNT postdoctoral fellowship (Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh)

2010-2015 : Msc-PhD University of Montreal (IRBV, Jardin Botanique de Montréal)

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Fall 2026 - exp. Summer 2028​

(co-supervised with Dr. Quinn Webber, CBS)

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After completing my BSc in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto in 2021, I worked as a Terrestrial Monitoring Technician for the Ministry of Natural Resources across several initiatives, including their Growth & Yield, Wildlife, and Forest Health programs. Upon returning to school in 2025 and completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Bioinformatics at Humber Polytechnic, I shifted focus toward research and am now studying the winter dietary niches of moose and caribou in Northern Ontario using metagenomic analysis, co-supervised by Dr. Quinn Webber and Dr. Edeline Gagnon. Through this work, I aim to better understand how changing winter foraging dynamics impact conservation efforts for both species.​​

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Fall 2026- ... (exp. Aug 2028)​

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I am an MSc student investigating the evolution and biogeography of floral traits in Solanum. My research explores the patterns of floral diversity and distribution within the genus. I completed my BSc in Zoology at the University of Guelph in 2026. During my undergraduate degree, I developed an interest in ecology, evolution, and biodiversity, which led me to the Gagnon lab. In my free time, I enjoy birdwatching, hiking, crafting, and travelling.

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May 2025 - ...

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Working on species delimitation morphometrics and population genomics of a widespread sedge species, Carex debilis. Also hired as a work study student to help with developing a teaching herbarium and botanical learning app.

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Fall 2026- ...

(Co-supervised with Dr. Dan Tulpan, OVC)​​​

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I am currently completing my BSc in Zoology, where I have developed a strong interest in combining biology with computational approaches. As an undergraduate researcher in the Gagnon Lab, I am conducting my honours thesis on using optical character recognition and large language models to digitize herbarium specimen labels and improve digitization workflows. I am passionate about working with biological data to address questions in biodiversity and conservation, and I plan to pursue this through a master's degree next fall.

Fall 2026- ...

​(co-supervision Dr. ​Brendan Daisely, CBS)

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Exploring reconstruction of microbial genomes from herbarium vs. field samples of Solanum chilense. 

Fall 2026- Winter 2027

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I am a BSc student in Wildlife Biology and Conservation, with a minor in Applied Geomatics. As a Work-Study Student in the Gagnon Lab, I help with research investigating the diets of moose and caribou in Northern Ontario using molecular and genomic approaches. Outside the lab, I am also working on my honours thesis, where I contribute to research investigating how temperature and resource quality interact to affect population dynamics in Tribolium beetles. My interests include wildlife ecology, conservation, and using molecular, genomic, and spatial approaches to better understand how animals respond to changing environments.

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Msc Sept. 2024- Aug. 2026

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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. 

Winter 2026- Summer 2026

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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.