Contact & People
Department of Biology
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
University of British Columbia Okanagan
1177 Research Road
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
Canada
Email: biology.okanagan@ubc.ca
Please direct all general inquires to the above email address.
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Nijiati Abulizi | Laboratory Technician | Biology | nijiati.abulizi@ubc.ca | 250.807.8489 | SCI 103
Ayelign Adal | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Biology, Faculty of Management | ayeadal@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Study of terpenoid biosynthesis in lavender using functional genomic approaches, particularly targeting the functional characterization of genes that control the production of monoterpenes.
Ryan Ard | Sessional Instructor | Biology | ryan.ard@ubc.ca | FIP 236
Courses & Teaching: Cancer Biology, BIOL 420A Covid-19
Kate Arpin | MSc Student | Biology | kearpin@mail.ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 79566 | FIP 345
Research Interests: Conservation Genetics; Evolutionary Biology, and Ecological Genetics.
Vivek Arulnathan | PhD Student, IGS | Biology | vivek.arulnathan@ubc.ca | FIP 226
Research Interests: Developing and implementing a life cycle Sustainability Assessment Platform (SAP) for the Canadian egg industry. The tool will serve as a decision support mechanism for Canadian egg farms by assessing their sustainability performance across various relevant indicators and in relation to different industry benchmarks.
Susan J. Bach | Adjunct Professor | Biology | susan.bach@agr.gc.ca | 250.494.6398
Laura Balyx | MSc Student | Biology | laura.balyx@ubc.ca | 39205 (Internal) | SCI 149
Research Interests: The spatial ecology of mountain goats in Cathedral Provincial Park
Nicole Bamber | PhD Student, IGS | Biology | nbamber@mail.ubc.ca | EME 4133
Research Interests: Life cycle analysis of alternative uses of wood chips in orchards and vineyards.
Phil Barker | Vice-Principal, Research | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Office of the Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, Research & Innovation Office (VPRI) | philip.barker@ubc.ca | 250.807.9582 | ADM006M
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Neurodegenerative disease, signal transduction, neurotrophin biology, cell biology, fly and mouse genetics.
Jacqueline Alexandra Barnett | PhD Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | jacqueline.barnett@ubc.ca | ASC 355
Research Interests: Examining the effects of the herbicide glyphosate on the gastrointestinal microbiome and gut inflammation.
William Bates | Associate Professor Emeritus | Biology | william.bates@ubc.ca
Kirk Bergstrom | Assistant Professor | Biology | kirk.bergstrom@ubc.ca | 250.807.8696 | ASC 373
Graduate student supervisor. Not currently considering graduate students.
Research Interests: Host-microbiota interactions; Glycobiology
Courses & Teaching: BIOL420 Functional Glycoscience; BIOL314 Medical Microbiology
Pankaj Bhowmik | Adjunct Professor | Biology | pankaj.bhowmik@ubc.ca | 306.203.2714
Research Interests: Plant Tissue culture, transformation, gene editing; Application of cell technologies - protoplasts and microspore-based genetic manipulation for crop improvement; Genetic enhancement of protein, off-flavour, anti-nutritional quality and processability in pulse crops.
Christine Bishop | Adjunct Professor | Biology | cab.bishop@ec.gc.ca
Joyce Boon | Associate Professor Emerita | Biology | joyce.boon@ubc.ca
Patricia Bowen | Adjunct Professor | Biology | pat.bowen@agr.gc.ca | 250.494.6424
Maxwell Brubaker | MSc Student | Biology | bruba016@mail.ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: TBD
Deborah Buszard | Professor | Biology | deborah.buszard@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Sustainability; agriculture; plant science and plant breeding. My academic discipline is plant science with a focus on fruit crops.
Mackenzie Campbell | MSc Student | Biology | mac.campbell@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: Evaluating how the secondary metabolites of non-native mustards alter soil fungal communities.
Simone Castellarin | Associate Member | Biology | simone.castellarin@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Molecular and hormonal signals in ripening grapes; cis-regulatory code for transcriptional regulation in grapevines; impact of deficit irrigation and crop size on fruit and wine aroma and quality; canopy management.
Courses & Teaching: Grapevine and berry crop biology; advances in food biotechnology.
Cheryl Craig | Senior Department Assistant | Biology | cheryl.craig@ubc.ca | 250.807.8935 | SCI 155
Leah D'Aloisio | MSc Student | Biology | leahdal@mail.ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 38204 | ASC 365
Research Interests: Gut microbiome, mucosal immunity and inflammatory bowel disease.
Brendan D'Souza | Lecturer | Biology | brendan.dsouza@ubc.ca | 250.807.9628 | SCI 316
Research Interests: Cell signaling; molecular mechanisms underlying development and progression of cancer.
Courses & Teaching: Biology for science majors; genetics; cell signaling; molecular biology.
Siobhan Darlington | PhD Student | Biology | sdarlington@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #:39205 | SCI 149
Research Interests: Cougar-prey dynamics in Southern Interior British Columbia.
Sandy Davidson-Hunt | MSc Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | alexander.davidsonhunt@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Conservation Genetics; Evolutionary Biology; Ecological Genetics
Rosemarie De Clerck-Floate | Adjunct Professor | Biology | rosemarie.declerck-floate@agr.gc.ca | 403.317.2270
Michael Deyholos | Professor | Biology | michael.deyholos@ubc.ca | 250.807.8541 | SCI 156
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Genetics and genomics of plants, especially in relation to pectin, cell walls, and fibers.
Courses & Teaching: Biochemistry, bioinformatic.
Melanie Dickie | PhD Student | Biology | melanie.dickie@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Studies how anthropogenic habitat alteration and climate change the boreal food web in relation to woodland caribou declines
Daniela Dominguez Aldama | MSc Student, IGS | Biology | ddomingu@student.ubc.ca | FIP 224
Research Interests: Sustainable Food Systems Management
Tyler Donner | Laboratory Program Manager | Biology | tyler.donner@ubc.ca | 250.807.9544 | SCI 162
Chris Dumigan | PhD Student | Biology | cdumigan@student.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Exploring the Cannabis microbiome to develop safe and sustainable bio-fungicides; plant microbiology; evolution of symbiotic events
Daniel Durall | Associate Professor | Biology | daniel.durall@ubc.ca | 250.807.8759 | SCI 307
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Fungi in forest and wine systems; determining the structure of fungal networks connecting trees and the strains of yeast responsible for fermentation.
Courses & Teaching: Microbiology; mycology; botany; ecology.
Nathan G. Earley | MSc Student | Biology | earley@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Native fruit fly diversity; classical biological control of insect pests; community dynamics of parasitic wasps
Cameron Egan | Adjunct Professor | Biology | cegan@okanagan.bc.ca
Research Interests: Botany; Ecology; Mycology; Microbiology; Ecological Restoration
Dave Emde | MSc Student | Biology | dsemde@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39211 | SCI 372
Research Interests: Investigating the effects of irrigation on soil organic carbon stocks in agricultural soils.
David Ensing | Adjunct Professor | Biology | david.ensing@agr.gc.ca | 250.859.0749
Research Interests: Agroecology; botany; biological control of weeds; Indigenous food systems and security; plant evolutionary ecology; range limits; rangeland ecology.
Cat Fauvelle | PhD Student | Biology | cfauve@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Food web restoration; wildlife habitat connectivity; protected area management
Jannatul Ferdous | PhD Student, IGS-Sustainability | Biology | ferdousj@mail.ubc.ca | FIP 224
Research Interests: Life Cycle Assessment; Life Cycle Costing; Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing
Rachel Field | PhD Student | Biology | rachel.field@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39205 | SCI 133
Research Interests: Using network theory to assess the connectivity between ecosystem services and the resilience of multifunctional landscapes.
Tomas Filip | PhD Student | Biology | tomas.filip@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 37012 | ASC 387
Research Interests: Study of the cellular and molecular mechanism of neuronal remodeling in mammals and Drosophila Melanogaster.
Adam Ford | Associate Professor | Biology | adam.ford@ubc.ca | 250.807.9773 | SCI 109
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Wildlife ecology and conservation; mammals; temperate forests, grasslands, and tropical savannas.
Courses & Teaching: Animal ecology
Thomas Forge | Adjunct Professor | Biology | tom.forge@agr.gc.ca | 250.494.2119
Mary Forrest | Associate Professor Emerita | Biology | mary.forrest@ubc.ca
Rosemary Garner | Laboratory Technician | Biology | rosemary.garner@ubc.ca | 250.807.8058 | SCI 103
Danielle Gauthier | MSc Student | Biology | danielle.gauthier@ubc.ca | SCI 149
Research Interests: Enhancing wolf monitoring methods in the Kootenay region.
Tirhas Gebretsadikan | Research Assistant Technician | Biology | tirhas.gebretsadikan@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Investigating the productivity and fruit quality of sweet cherry using deficit irrigation and orchard floor amendments on newly and previously established orchards in the Okanagan Valley.
Sanjoy Ghosh | Associate Professor | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | sanjoy.ghosh@ubc.ca | 250.807.8162 | ASC 369
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Biochemical aspects of dietary fats and exercise in preventing the development and complications of obesity and diabetes.
Courses & Teaching: Biochemical basis of nutrition.
Julien Gibon | Assistant Professor without review, Research Lab Manager | Biology | julien.gibon@ubc.ca | 250.807.8647 | SCI 160
Research Interests: Learning and memory; Working memory; The central nervous system; neurotrophins; neuronal activity; synaptic activity and plasticity. Mechanisms of persistent firing activity in the cortex.
Courses & Teaching: Neurobiology, Clinical Neurosciences
Deanna Gibson | Associate Professor | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology | deanna.gibson@ubc.ca | 250.807.8790 | ASC 368
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Gut health; intestinal microbiome; gut immunity; dietary lipids; susceptibility to acute and chronic gut diseases like colitis.
Courses & Teaching: Medical microbiology, virology and immunology.
Purnima Govindarajulu | Adjunct Professor | Biology | purnima.govindarajulu@gov.bc.ca | 250.387.9755
Bridget Greuel | MSc Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | bkgreuel@mail.ubc.ca | ASC 365
Research Interests: Inhibitors and neuroinflammation; Alzheimer's
Kirsten Hannam | Adjunct Professor | Biology | kirsten.hannam@canada.ca | 250.404.3351
Miranda Hart | Professor | Biology | miranda.hart@ubc.ca | 250.807.9398 | ASC 372
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Microbial ecology of soil microbes; the role and the applications of microbes in sustainable agriculture, viticulture, and ecological restoration.
Courses & Teaching: Botany; ecology; microbial ecology; microbiology.
Natasha Haskey | PhD Student | Biology | natasha.haskey@gmail.com | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: The effect of diet modification on clinical disease activity, the gut microbiome and immune response in inflammatory bowel disease.
Tristyn Hay | Laboratory Program Manager | Biology | tristyn.hay@ubc.ca | 250.807.9550 | SCI 164
Research Interests: Assessing the current level of our post secondary students in three core competencies and implement teaching strategies in order to increase these competencies.
Davoud Heidari | Postdoctoral Researcher | Biology | md.heidari@ubc.ca | FIP 225
Research Interests: Environmental sustainability assessment of crop-livestock production system.
Darcy Henderson | Adjunct Professor | Biology | darcy.henderson@canada.ca | 250.491.1507
Karen Hodges | Professor | Biology | karen.hodges@ubc.ca | 250.807.8763 | SCI 382
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Ecology; conservation biology; effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on behaviour and population dynamics; predator-prey dynamics; extinction risks; species-at-risk legislation; wildfires and wildlife; biosolids and wildlife.
Courses & Teaching: Conservation Biology; Science Writing; Spatial Ecology.
Laura Hooker | Associate Professor Emerita | Biology | laura.hooker@ubc.ca | 250.807.9551 | SCI 158
Research Interests: Aquatic ecology.
Courses & Teaching: Aquatic ecology; limnology; evolution and ecology; microbial ecology.
Christina Horst | MSc Student | Biology | christina.horst@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39211 | SCI 372
Research Interests: Identify the effect of microbial inocula on cannabis growth and biochemical properties.
Elizabeth Houghton | MSc Student | Biology | elizabeth.houghton@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Influence of postharvest deficit irrigation on sweet cherry cold hardiness in the Okanagan Valley
Jacob Hubner | MSc Student | Biology | jkhubner@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Disease tracking; wildlife movement; community ecology
John Hume | MSc Student | Biology | john.hume@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39211 | SCI 372
Research Interests: Phylogeography and ecological impacts of the invasive death cap mushroom.
Rain Inaba | MSc Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | rain.inaba@ubc.ca | ASC 355
Research Interests: Gut Microbiology/ Glycobiology; Organoid Culture
Robyn Irvine | Adjunct Professor | Biology | robyn.irvine@canada.ca | 778.361.0298
Research Interests: In my work with Parks Canada, I am researching how to best incorporate different streams of evidence into carrying out effective applied restoration ecology projects. This work is based on my research background and extensive experience in quantitative ecology, fisheries biology, invasive species biology and evidence-based conservation biology. I also do some consulting work on questions of mitigating impacts of development for First Nations, NGOs, government and industry.
Simin Jafaripour | MSc Student | Biology | simin.jafaripour@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Large intestine microbiotac contribution to host fitness
Vladimir Jiranek | Adjunct Professor | Biology | vladimir.jiranek@adelaide.edu.au | +618.8303.6651
Melanie Jones | Professor | Biology | melanie.jones@ubc.ca | 250.807.9553 | SCI 385
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Physiology of ectomycorrhizas and roots of woody plants; effects of fire and silviculture on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities; carbon allocation within and between woody plants, orchard management under climate change.
Courses & Teaching: Soil ecology; plant physiology; general biology.
Dieter Kahl | MSc Student | Biology | dieter.kahl@hotmail.com | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: Grapevine virus epidemiology. Research affiliate at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland Research and Development Center
Sunil Kainth | Teaching Laboratory Technician | Biology | sunil.kainth@ubc.ca | 250.807.8489 | SCI 103
Farah Kanani | MSc Student | Biology | farah.kanani@ubc.ca | FIP 226
Research Interests: Life cycle assessment of renewable energy and waste valorization options for Canadian egg supply chains and development of a regionally-resolved technology deployment decision support tool.
Andis Klegeris | Professor | Biology | andis.klegeris@ubc.ca | 250.807.9557 | ASC 371
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Neuroimmunology; pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases; Glial cell biology; cellular and molecular pharmacology; method development for protecting neurons from age-related deterioration; signaling between different cell types of the central nervous system; problem-solving skills of students and effectiveness of alternative instructional techniques.
Courses & Teaching: Pharmacology; neuroimmunology; inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
John Klironomos | Professor | Biology | john.klironomos@ubc.ca | 250.807.9254 | ASC 448
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Community ecology; soil ecology; plant ecology; microbial ecology; restoration ecology; invasion biology; global change biology; determinants of plant and microbial community structure; biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Courses & Teaching: Evolutionary ecology; general biology.
Darrek Stephan Kniffen | MSc Student | Biology | kniffend@mail.ubc.ca | 39206 (Internal) | ASC 374
Research Interests: Studying human health using model organisms to better understand the causes and possible treatments for bowel disease. My research interests include medical microbiology, glycobiology, pathogenics, and molecular biology.
Robert Lalonde | Associate Professor | Biology | robert.lalonde@ubc.ca | 250.807.8764 | SCI 381
Research Interests: Effects of information use on population and community processes; evolutionary ecology and population ecology of parasitic insects; developing insights into the biology of parasitic insects and the dynamics of parasite-dominated communities; potential applications in the area of biological control of both insect pests and introduced weeds.
Courses & Teaching: Animal and insect ecology; evolutionary and population ecology.
Karl Larsen | Adjunct Professor | Biology | klarsen@tru.ca | 250.828.5456
Someshwar Latchman | MSc Student | Biology | rav.latchman@ubc.ca | 250.494.6384 | SCI 372
Research Interests: To investigate multi-species biofilms, and evaluate the biofilm formation, and the role of the viable but non culturable state in multi-species biofilms on leafy greens. Furthermore, the multi-species biofilms will be evaluated using confocal microscopy, ddPCR and qPCR.
Ivan Lindhout | MSc Student | Biology | ivanlindhout@hotmail.com | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
D. Thomas Lowery | Adjunct Professor | Biology | tom.lowery@canada.ca | 250.404.3324
Research Interests: Grape pest management, biology and management of homopteran insects, epidemiology and management of insect-borne plant pathogens.
Matt Macpherson | PhD Student | Biology | mmacph02@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Human activity as an evolutionary driver of variation in snake behaviour; Ontogeny of anti-predator behaviour in rattlesnakes; behavioural responses of different snake species and age classes to ecopassages
Savanna Maddock | MSc Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | smaddock@mail.ubc.ca
Research Interests: Terpene metabolism in plants
Brooklyn Maher | MSc Student | Biology | brooklyn.maher@alumni.ubc.ca | SCI 124
Research Interests: Effects of timber harvest strategies on predators; wildlife ecology and conservation
Soheil Mahmoud | Associate Professor | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | soheil.mahmoud@ubc.ca | 250.807.8752 | SCI 312
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Molecular, cellular, biochemical and environmental factors that regulate the quality and quantity of aromas and essential oils produced by herbal and medicinal plants; identification, cloning and characterization of structural and regulatory genes that are involved in the biosynthesis, inter- and intra-cellular trafficking, secretion and storage of monoterpenes in plants cells specialized for secondary metabolite production.
Courses & Teaching: Plant molecular biology and biochemistry; metabolism of natural products; plant biotechnology.
April Mahovlic | MSc Student | Biology | april.mahovlic@gmail.com | 39206 (Internal) | ASC 374
Research Interests: Effects of grapevine viruses on vine health and fruit quality; vineyard management strategies to mitigate virus effects
Bruce Mathieson | Associate Professor Emeritus | Biology | bruce.mathieson@ubc.ca
Portiaa McGonigal | PhD Student | Biology | portiaa.mcgonigal@ubc.ca | 39211 (Internal) | SCI 372
Research Interests: Identifying a biocontrol and sustainable management strategies for Crown gall disease in grapevine
Vivien Measday | Associate Member | Biology | vivien.measday@ubc.ca | 604.827.5744
Research Interests: Isolate and characterize yeast populations associated with vineyards; retrotransposons.
Courses & Teaching: Food Microbiology; microbiology of food and beverage fermentation; advances of food biotechnology; advanced topics in molecular biology.
Stefano Mezzini | MSc Student | Biology | stefano.mezzini@ubc.ca | SCI 354
Research Interests: statistical ecology; animal movement; environmental stochasticity; event history analysis
Andrew Midwood | Research Associate | Biology | andrew.midwood@ubc.ca | 250.462.7530 | SCI 103
Research Interests: Examining soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in irrigated agricultural systems of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.
Michael Morgan | MSc Student | Biology | michael.morgan@ubc.ca | 39211 (Internal) | SCI 372
Research Interests: Molecular genetics of hemp seed nutritional components
Denise Neilson | Adjunct Professor | Biology | neilsend@agr.gr.ca
Louise Nelson | Honorary Professor (Post-Retirement), Professor Emeritus | Biology | louise.nelson@ubc.ca | 250.807.8756 | SCI 103
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Plant-microbe interactions; soil health; plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria; biological control; postharvest fungal pathogens; orchard replant disease; nitrogen cycling; nitrification; denitrification.
Courses & Teaching: Environmental microbiology; sustainability; plant-microbe interactions.
Matthew Nelson | Lecturer | Biology | matthew.nelson@ubc.ca | 250.807.9569 | SCI 316
Research Interests: Behavioural ecology; arachnid diversity; life history.
Courses & Teaching: Invertebrate zoology; sustainability; biology II for science majors; cell biology.
Christopher J. Neufeld | Adjunct Professor | Biology | chris.neufeld@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Foundation species; biodiversity; marine heatwaves; ecosystem resilience under climate change; climate solutions; phenotypic plasticity and adaptation.
Courses & Teaching: Marine Ecology (MRNE 430) and Coastal Community Ecology (MRNE 402/502.
Blythe Nilson | Associate Professor Emerita | Biology | blythe.nilson@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Skepticism and scientific literacy.
Courses & Teaching: Biology for non-science majors; anatomy and physiology for nursing students; biochemistry; molecular genetics labs.
Michael J Noonan | Assistant Professor | Biology | michael.noonan@ubc.ca | SCI 379
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Animal movement, conservation, encounter theory, evolutionary processes, macro-ecology, and statistical ecology.
Courses & Teaching: Evolutionary Ecology (Biol 417); Statistical Modelling for Biological Data (Biol 520C)
Emily O'Brien | MSc Student | Biology | emily.obrien@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Studying the effects of stress and stress-linked phytohormones on phytocannabinoid and terpenoid biosynthesis in Rhododendron dauricum
Rob O'Brien | Adjunct Professor | Biology | R.OB@SupraRnD.ca
Corynne O'Farrell | MSc Student | Biology | corynne.ofarrell@ubc.ca | 39206 (Internal) | ASC 374
Research Interests: Investigating the effects of biofumigant cover crops on soil microbial communities in vineyards
Lindsay Odne | Graduate Program Assistant | Biology, Chemistry | lindsay.odne@ubc.ca
Emmanuel Twumasi Osei | Assistant Professor | Biology | emmanuel.osei@ubc.ca | SCI 217
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Establishing 3D bioartificial models to aid in understanding how abnormal multicellular and multiorgan interactions contribute to lung diseases.
Courses & Teaching: Biol 363, Developmental Biology
Lael Parrott | Professor | Biology, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystems Services (BRAES) | lael.parrott@ubc.ca | 250.807.8122 | ASC 451
Research Interests: Understanding ecosystems and landscapes as complex systems in which human and biophysical processes are coupled across multiple scales of space and time; incorporating complexity into natural resource management approaches; regional-scale landscape modelling; social-ecological networks; agent and individual-based modelling approaches; landscape science and scenario building.
Courses & Teaching: Dynamic modelling of coupled human-environment systems.
Malcolm Paterson | Adjunct Professor | Biology | macpaterson@hotmail.com | 250.486.5608
Research Interests: genotoxic stress-sensing (i.e., cell-cycle control and DNA repair) mechanisms and their deregulation in human cells as an initiating and rate-limiting event in cancer development; environmental and hereditary interactions underlying human cancer: breast cancer drug development, Herceptin (Trastuzumab)
Nathan Pelletier | Assistant Professor | Biology, Faculty of Management | nathan.pelletier@ubc.ca | 250.807.8245 | FIP 340
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Sustainability measurement and management; life cycle thinking; environmental and social life cycle assessment of food, feed and biomass supply chains; resource efficiency; social license and market access; trade-based externalization of environmental and social risk.
Courses & Teaching: Sustainable food systems; sustainability measurement and management; ecological economics.
Lori Ann Phillips | Adjunct Professor | Biology | lori.phillips@agr.gc.ca | 519.738.1264
Brian John Pickles | Adjunct Professor | Biology | b.j.pickles@reading.ac.uk | (+44) 118.378.7955
Jason Pither | Associate Professor | Biology | jason.pither@ubc.ca | 250.807.9629 | ASC 367
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Biogeography; landscape ecology; biodiversity conservation; community ecology; paleoecology; biodiversity patterns in space and time.
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to Biostatitistics; Biodiversity: patterns and processes.
Nikita Planz | MSc Student | Biology | nikita.planz@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Restoration ecology; grasslands
Richard Plunkett | Associate Professor of Teaching | Biology | richard.plunkett@ubc.ca | 250.807.9650 | SCI 163
Research Interests: oxidative stress defences in anaerobic bacteria; microbe/metal interactions (e.g. Cu, U, As) and the role of microbes in biogeochemical cycles; antimicrobial peptides
Courses & Teaching: microbiology; biochemistry; prokaryotic physiology
Jean Polfus | Adjunct Professor | Biology | jean.polfus@canada.ca | 250.469.1967
Research Interests: Interdisciplinary approaches to conservation, collaborative caribou management, diverse ways of knowing, Indigenous governance, language, and knowledge.
Lana Puddu | MSc Student | Biology | lana.puddu@ubc.ca | FIP 244 and FIP 246
Research Interests: Sustainability measurement and management; life cycle thinking and resource efficiency
Sarah Purcell | Investigator | Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Southern Medical Program | sarah.purcell@ubc.ca
Scott Reid | Associate Professor | Biology | scott.reid@ubc.ca | 250.807.8761 | ASC 452
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Comparative physiology, fish physiology, and metal metabolism in freshwater fish; how animals physiologically adjust to changes in the quality of their environment.
Courses & Teaching: Comparative animal physiology; membrane biophysics; general biology.
Mark Rheault | Associate Professor | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology | mark.rheault@ubc.ca | 250.807.9630 | ASC 370
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Physiology of epithelial ion transport; insect toxicology; insect-plant interactions; metals toxicology; organic ion transport.
Courses & Teaching: Cellular physiology; vertebrate zoology; invertebrate zoology; insect physiology; biochemistry.
Jennifer Rhodes | Department Assistant | Biology | jennifer.rhodes@ubc.ca | 250.807.9421 | SCI 154
Carmen Richter | MSc Student | Biology | carmen.richter@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Lichen abundance and productivity in North Eastern BC. Caribou herds in NE BC are near extirpation as a result, Indigenous people are working together to help protect the herd. The research would help aid in the short and long term goals of caribou food security.
Michael Russello | Professor | Biology | michael.russello@ubc.ca | 250.807.8762 | FIP 346
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Population genomics; conservation genetics; molecular ecology; life-history evolution.
Courses & Teaching: Evolution; population genetics; ecology; conservation biology.
Ken Savage | Lecturer | Biology | ken.savage@ubc.ca | SCI 161
Melody Sayrany | MSc Student | Biology | m.sayrany@ubc.ca | ASC 365
Jenna Scherger | MSc Student | Biology | scherger@mail.ubc.ca | SCI 149
Research Interests: Investigating wolf-human coexistence in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Danielle Schmidt | PhD Student | Biology | danielle.schmidt@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 78435 | FIP 345
Research Interests: Studying the population genetics of Western Rattlesnakes to help inform conservation management.
Robert Serrouya | Adjunct Professor | Biology | serrouya@ualberta.ca
Mehdi Sharifi | Adjunct Professor | Biology | mehdi.sharifi@canada.ca | 250.494.6415
Amritpal Singh | Adjunct Professor | Biology | amritpal.singh@canada.ca | 250.460.0672
Alyssa Smart | MSc Student | Biology | alyssa.smart@ubc.ca | FIP 226
Research Interests: Employing life cycle assessment to quantify GHG emissions and energy costs of irrigation in the Okanagan.
David Smith | Associate Professor Emeritus | Biology | dave.smith@ubc.ca
Zoë Soon | Associate Professor of Teaching | Biology | zoeanne.soon@ubc.ca | 250.807.9400 (email is preferred) | SCI 158
Research Interests: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; Research in Innovative Teaching Strategies designed for Higher Education
Courses & Teaching: Anatomy and Physiology, Lifespan Motor Growth and Development; Pathophysiology
Jodi Souter | Adjunct Professor | Biology | jodi.souter@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Plant Breeding; Agricultural Crop Development; Quantitative Genetics
Mitra Tabatabaee | Sessional Lecturer | Biology | mitra.tabatabaee@ubc.ca | FIP 236
Research Interests: Microbiology of Built Systems; Signaling; Chemotaxis; Chemotaxis in Brain Cancer cells (Glioma);
Courses & Teaching: Environmental microbiology; Food and Industrial Microbiology; Virology
Kuselah Tayaban | MSc Student | Biology | kmt18@mail.ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: microbial ecology and evolution, host-microbe interactions, soil microbiology, molecular biology
Kristine Teichman | PhD Student | Biology | kristine.teichman@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39205 | SCI 149
Research Interests: Assess human-induced trophic cascades on farmlands; identify changes in predator diet and movement patterns in response to non-lethal predator control measures; identify key variables that predict caracal kill site selection on farmlands.
David Theilmann | Adjunct Professor | Biology | david.theilmann@agr.gc.ca | 250.494.6395
Howard Thistlewood | Adjunct Professor | Biology | howard.thistlewood@ubc.ca | 250.494.6419
Corrina Thomsen | PhD Student | Biology | corrina.thomsen@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: Landscape ecology of mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with tree ranges.
Anna Tigano | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Biology | anna.tigano@ubc.ca
Melissa Torney | Research Assistant Technician | Biology | melissa.torney@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Determining biological and epidemiological characteristics of pathogenic fungi isolated from sweet cherry in the Okanagan.
José Ramón Úrbez-Torres | Adjunct Professor | Biology | joseramon.urbeztorres@agr.gc.ca | 250.404.3359
Andrea Alejandra Verdugo Meza | PhD Student | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | averdugo@mail.ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39206 | ASC 374
Research Interests: The protective role of designer probiotics in ulcerative colitis models.
Tanja Voegel | Research Associate | Biology | tanja.voegel@ubc.ca | 250.807.9965 | SCI 103
Research Interests: Effect of irrigation and fertilization management practices on abundance and activity of nitrifying and dentrifying microbial populations in woody perennial cropping systems and how changes in abundance and activity of nitrogen cycle microbial populations relate to the emission of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.
Ian Walker | Professor | Biology, Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences | ian.walker@ubc.ca | 250.807.9559 | SCI 134B
Graduate student supervisor
Research Interests: Environmental change; chironomid palaeoecology; quaternary palaeoecology and paleoclimatology; dynamics of arctic and alpine tree-line ecosystems; aquatic insect ecology; and biomonitoring; use of aquatic insects (living and fossil) as indicators of environmental change.
Courses & Teaching: Quaternary palaeoecology; limnology; freshwater plants and animals; non-vascular plants.
Hillary Ward | Adjunct Professor | Biology | hillary.ward@gov.bc.ca | 250.490.8267
Chloe Wright | PhD Student | Biology | chloe.wright@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #: 39205 | SCI 149
Research Interests: Mule deer responses to landscape change in southern British Columbia.
Nasser Yalpani | Adjunct Professor | Biology | nasser.yalpani@ubc.ca | 515.770.2599
Research Interests: Discovery of novel insecticidal and antifungal proteins for crop protection.
Naomi Yamaoka | MSc Student | Biology | naomi.yamaoka@ubc.ca | Internal UBC Phone #:39211 | SCI 372
Research Interests: Following nitrogen relationships between ectomycorrhizal fungi and pine seedlings germinating after wildfire or clearcutting.
Jiayu Ye | Postdoctoral Fellow | Biology | jiayu.ye@ubc.ca
Research Interests: The inflammatory crosstalk between gut and heart under high-fat diet.
Jamie Yearley | MSc Student | Biology | jamie.yearley@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Soil Biology; soil ecology; cover cropping; sustainable agriculture; carbon cycling; carbon sequestration; agricultural soil; soil organic matter; viticulture.
Robin Young | Assistant Professor of Teaching | Biology | robin.young@ubc.ca | 250.807.8693 | SCI 159
Research Interests: Plant Cell Biology, Organelle morphology, Plant Cell Wall Synthesis.
Courses & Teaching: Introductory Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Biochemistry.
Jian Zhang | Adjunct Professor | Biology | jian.zhang@ubc.ca