Plants face various challenges when they grow. They are attacked by numerous diseases and this can negatively affect their growth and productivity. Plants have complex means of defending against diseases. In order to create disease resistant crops it is important to first understand how plants are able to defend against these diseases and understand how […]

Chez les vertébrés, le mode de reproduction le plus fréquent est la reproduction sexuée, ce qui implique la fusion de gamètes, soient l’ovule et le spermatozoïde, provenant de deux parents de sexes opposés. Dans certains cas rares, le mode de reproduction d’une espèce peut devenir asexuée c’est-à-dire, une reproduction par soi-même. Chez les vertébrés, ces […]

My research focuses on understanding the mechanism of action of a new class of tumor suppressor genes using the well established round worm (nematode) model system. Previously published data from Gupta and Chamberlin lab have shown that deleting the function of these genes causes excessive proliferation of cells (similar to cancerous growth). To further understand […]

A human protein “interleukin-2” plays a key role in immunity. The target of this project is to modify this protein, triggering more immune cells in body, and hence enhancing body defense. At first, the intern will produce normal interleukin-2 in bacteria. The protein will then be mixed with the immune cells. Increase in cell amount […]

There are Atlantic sturgeon in the Restigouche River estuary. This species is millions of years old and it is still found in our waters today. Fishers have reported their sightings every year in the last decade. Unfortunately, this species is now considered to be a species at risk of extinction. Because their numbers are so […]

Many species on earth are experiencing changes in their geographic distributions as climate change progresses. Ecologists don’t fully understand what limits or promotes a species ability to move in response to global change- factors such as temperature, interactions with other species, and population genetics can all play a role. I am interested in exploring how […]

Natural history collections and the specimens stored within are vital to our understanding of biodiversity, ecology, and evolution. To both preserve and increase their accessibility, efforts are being made to digitize the world’s natural history collections. In herbariums (natural history collections for plants), machine learning is being used to assist the digitization process by classifying […]

Low lying coral reef islands are considered among the most vulnerable landforms to the impacts of climate change. Currently, an incomplete understanding of reef island evolution and morphology (island evolution is typically analysed in 2-dimensions), and lack of data for reef islands in the Caribbean is limiting predictions regarding how these landforms will respond to […]

Les maladies transmises par les tiques (MTT), comme la maladie de Lyme et l’anaplasmose, représentent un fardeau sanitaire en constante croissance au Québec et au Canada. Cette croissance est notamment liée aux changements climatiques et environnementaux modifiant la distribution des tiques à pattes noires. Ce sont les micromammifères qui sont responsables du maintien et de […]

The purpose of this research is to compare the musicians’ genetics to the general population to understand the role of genetics in how music training influences brains changes. Neuroimaging research, behavioural studies, and music-based interventions show that music training influences neuroplasticity (i.e., the brain’s ability to change and adapt) because it is a special type […]

Freshwater mussels are in decline across North America, but due to their filtering capacity, this taxon remains an important part of lake ecosystems. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Water Utility (CBRMWU) utilizes several lakes as surface water sources, some of which contain populations of freshwater mussels. The CBRMWU is interested in the contribution of freshwater […]

Since legalization, cannabis has become a multibillion dollar industry and is now one of our most economically important crops in Canada. A unique aspect of the cannabis industry is that the market demands are continually evolving and there is a constant need for new cultivars with unique chemical and flavour profiles. This is an expensive […]