WilkieLab | Alumni

PhD Alumni

Dr. Laura Tessier

Laura Tessier completed her HBSc (Biology) at Trent University, and earned her MSc under the supervision of Dr. Wilkie at WLU. Laura studied invasive sea lamprey control in the Great Lakes and quantified their metabolic scaling physiology according to body size and life stage, relating this to their sensitivity to TFM. For her PhD thesis, Laura focused on the effects of TFM to non-target species such as juvenile lake sturgeon and rainbow trout and examined how changes to the gill microenvironment influence the uptake and toxicity of TFM to these fishes.

Dr. Adrian Ionescu

Adrian Ionescu completed his HBSc in Biology at York University. His undergraduate thesis was supervised by Dr. Donini and focused on the effects of cardio acceleratory peptide on secretion rates of Malpighian tubules in larval mosquitoes. This work resulted in Adrian’s first publication, the first to demonstrate an anti-diuretic action on Dipteran tubules. Adrian also earned his MSc in Biology in the Donini Lab, concentrating on the characterization of ammonia transport mechanism in the anal papillae of larval Aedes aegypti (yellow fever) mosquitoes. As a PhD candidate in Biological and Chemical Sciences, Adrian studied the toxicological effects imparted by the lampricide TFM, on various non-target fishes of the Great Lakes.

Dr. Oana Birceanu

Oana Birceanu was a PDF in the Wilkie lab. Her projects involved investigating forensic markers of lampricide toxicity and determining the long-term effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of lampricides on the stress response pathway in non-target fishes.

Her professional interests involve fish physiology, toxicology and the role that maternal transfer of chemicals impacts the endocrine regulation of development, growth and stress response in fish.

MSc Alumni

Julia Xeni

Julia completed her BSc (Biology) at Wilfrid Laurier University before starting her MSc (Integrative Biology) under the supervision of Dr. Wilkie. Her work focused on the effect of micro-acoustic tagging on energy stores and stress response indicators of juvenile sea lamprey.

Emily Bouffard

Emily completed her BSc in Biological Sciences at SUNY-University at Buffalo.

At Wilfrid Laurier University, her work examined how temperature influences sensitivity and transcriptional responses to the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens).

Her professional interests include scientific writing and communication, ecology, conservation biology, and genetics.

Matthew Trzcinski

Matthew completed his MSc (Integrative Biology) at Wilfrid Laurier University under the supervision of Dr. Wilkie and worked as a research associate in the Wilkie lab. His projects involved quantifying markers of oxidative stress in goldfish and sea lamprey.

Alexandra Muhametsafina

Alexandra Muhametsafina completed her HBSc in Environmental Science at Carleton University. She became interested in fish after her second year and completed her thesis in the Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Steven Cooke. As a MSc candidate, she examined the effects of season and temperature on the sensitivity of larval sea lamprey to the lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), used to control invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes.

Her general interests include fish, ecology, aquatic toxicology, telemetry, conservation biology, habitat protection and restoration, aquatic sciences, invasive and threatened species and community engagement, outreach and teaching.

Scott Hepditch

Scott Hepditch completed a BSc double degree in Biology and Physical Geography at Wilfrid Laurier University. Under the supervision of Dr. Michael Wilkie and Dr. Oana Birceanu, he conducted a thesis on the toxicity and internal lethality of the common lampricides, TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) and niclosamide (5-chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydrobenzamide), on the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Scott hopes to pursue his studies in aquatic sciences to someday obtain a career involved in aquatic toxicology.

Darren Foubister

Darren Foubister completed his honour BSc in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. As an MSc candidate in Integrative Biology, Darren is worked on a collaborative project studying the forensic markers of lampricide toxicity and mortality in non-target fishes including Rainbow Trout, Bluegill and White sucker. Darren wishes to pursue a career in marine biology.

Darren enjoys travels, sports, and long walks on the beach.

Chris White

Chris completed his Hon. B.Sc. in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University prior to joining the Wilkie lab as a M.Sc. candidate. He investigated how decomposition affects forensic markers of lampricides in non-target fish, specifically rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Chris’ interest includes forensics, biochemistry, toxicology, and physiology. He hopes to obtain a career working for the Ministry.

Julia Sunga

Julia completed her H.B.Sc. in Zoology at the University of Guelph, and joined the Wilkie lab as an M.Sc. candidate studying lamprey physiology. She worked on a project investigating the nitrogenous waste excretion mechanisms of lamprey, and how these mechanisms differ between parasitic and non-parasitic lamprey.

Her research interests include environmental physiology, conservation biology, and endangered species management, and she hopes to eventually pursue a career in wildlife conservation.

David Lister

David Jones Lisser graduated from an program Honours Biology with High Distinction at Wilfrid Laurier University. During his undergraduate study, he completed Honours thesis project examining the role of antioxidant defenses in tolerance to hyperammonemia and anoxia in fish. As a MSc candidate, he investigated the role of oxidative stress in the mechanisms of ammonia-induced brain swelling in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). His major research interests include biochemical bases of disease, particularly neurophysiological stress through free-radical mediated cell injury.

Phillip Pham-Ho

Phillip Pham-Ho graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Honours Biology and completed his MSc in Integrative Biology. Phillip has been interested in aquatics since his early childhood. He has bred and nurtured many species of tropical fish for over 14 years. Such species include Discus, Betta, Koi and cichlids. Phillip was also involved in numerous community service organizations helping organize annual leadership camps for youths and young adults.

Ben Hlina

Ben Hlina completed his BSc in Fisheries Management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. As a MSc candidate, he investigated detoxification processes in larval sea lamprey when exposed to the lampricide 3-triflouromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM). He hopes to find employment after completion of his M.Sc. with the US-Federal Government working as a Fish Biologist either on the Great Lakes or the Pacific Northwest.

Ben’s interests include aquatic habitat restoration, stream ecology, invasive species management, and fish physiology.

Michael LeClair

Michael completed his BSc in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. For his MSc, he studied the distribution and elimination of 3-Trifluoromethyl-4-Nitrophenol (TFM) by sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and non-target rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens).

Lisa Sorensen

Lisa Sorensen completed her BSc in Honours Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. For her MSc, Lisa investigated the effects of lampricide, 3-triflouromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) on non-target species. She was also a great mentor and dedicated a lot of her time helping out the undergraduate and graduate students during her MSc.

Undergraduate Alumni

Alexandra Negotei

Alexandra Negotei completed her BSc with a major in Health Sciences. She enjoyed her time working and learning with an Undergraduate Student Research Award from NSERC. Her project involves examining the reversible effects of anoxia on the physiology of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Alexandra hopes to one day pursue her own thesis in the field of toxicology.

Heather Bauman

Heather completed a BSc in Honours Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University. During her second year she received an NSERC USRA and worked as a research assistant in the Wilkie lab studying ammonia excretion in larval sea lamprey. After completing her undergrad, Heather hopes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College.

Malcolm Glennie

Malcolm Glennie completed an Honours BSc in Biology. His research involved examining the mechanism of ammonia excretion across larval sea lamprey gills. After he graduated he intended to take a few years off of school to teach English as a second language in Korea before starting a Master’s in Marine Science. Outside of school he enjoys playing and making music, reading books, exploring nature, and is attempting to improve his dancing skills.

Erik Daroczi

Erik Daroczi graduated with HBSc Biology with a minor in Chemistry (Physiology/Toxicology stream) at Wilfrid Laurier University. Erik undertook a thesis project in his final year under the supervision of Dr. Wilkie and Dr. Birceanu studying the mechanistic connections between brain swelling and anoxia exposure in the common goldfish (Carassius auratus). Results from this work are currently being finalized with the help of Phillip Pham-Ho for potential publishing. Erik is currently deciding on graduate studies he would like to pursue and how he wants to further his academic goals.