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Dr. Jessica Gillung
Principal Investigator, Director Lyman Entomological Museum I am an evolutionary biologist who integrates molecular, morphological, behavioural, and ecological data into a comparative phylogenetic framework to understand the insect Tree of Life. I aim to address key questions in the evolution of insect diversity: (1) What are the relationships within the insect Tree of Life? (2) Why are some lineages more diverse than others? (3) How have host-parasitoid and plant-insect interactions influenced trait and lineage diversification? By using phylogenomics to establish evolutionary hypotheses, my integrative approach seeks to understand how biotic and abiotic factors have shaped and influenced patterns of biodiversity. |
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Dr. Stéphanie Boucher
Curator of Entomology, Lyman Entomological Museum Stéphanie's research focuses on the biodiversity, taxonomy and systematics of small phytophagous flies of the family Agromyzidae. These flies are commonly known as leaf-miner flies, as most species with known biology feed in between the epidermis of leaves in the larval stage, forming a feeding channel. She has spent many years studying the Nearctic fauna of Agromyzidae, and more recently the poorly known Neotropical fauna, which resulted in various taxonomic revisions, description of new species and new host plant records for the family. |
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Dr. Morgan Jackson
Postdoctoral Researcher Morgan's research, both as a graduate student at the University of Guelph and now as a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University, has focused on Diptera systematics and natural history, and the intersections of biodiversity science with social media and digital technologies. He is continually exploring the unknowns of Canadian biodiversity, and helping to enable others to do so for themselves through advocacy, education, and outreach. |
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Dr. Catherine Scott
Postdoctoral Researcher (Buddle Lab) Catherine is a behavioural ecologist, arachnologist, and natural historian whose MSc and PhD research focused on the communication and chemical ecology of black widow spiders. As an NSERC postdoc she will focus on the foraging ecology of the candy-striped spider—an introduced predator that hunts primarily on flowering plants—and its impact on pollinator abundance and behaviour in Canada. A former arachnophobe, she is passionate about shifting perceptions of spiders and other arachnids through science communication, education, and outreach activities. |
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Alice Assmar
PhD student Alice works on the evolution, diversification, and biogeography of freshwater insects. For her PhD project, she is focusing on the macroevolution of spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae), which are parasites of freshwater sponges as larvae. As many specialized freshwater feeders are being replaced by generalist species due to pollution and habitat fragmentation, understanding spongillafly evolution and distribution may help us understand how to protect freshwater biodiversity. |
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Heloisa Flores
PhD student – University of Sao Paulo, co-supervised with Dr. Dalton Amorim Heloisa is interested in investigating the evolution of kleptoparasite-host interactions in animals integrating phylogenomics, morphology, biogeography and ecology. She is currently exploring the origin and diversification of kleptoparasitism in jackal flies (Milichiidae), an interesting model for understanding the correlation between specialized life histories and associated phenotypic adaptations across time and space. |
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Catherine Woo-Durand
MSc student Cat is passionate about sustainability, wildlife conservation and anything insects! More specifically, she is interested in investigating anthropogenic impacts on native species and the natural environment. This coming fall, she will be starting on her MSc project studying insect pollinators from Quebec cranberry farms. She is also very interested in the inner-workings of museum collections and likes to create her own insect displays with pin mounted specimens. When she is not distracted by insects, she also enjoys birding, mushroom hunting, hiking and camping. |
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Ruishen Zhang
MSc student – co-supervised with Dr. Morgan Jackson Ruishen is interested in museum science, especially in insect identification and morphological taxonomy. His MSc project focuses on the Canadian species of bot flies (Diptera: Oestridae). His research aims to develop tools to differentiate species using adult morphology, as well as to redescribe them using modern taxonomic tools. Besides insects, he is also passionate about amphibians and reptiles. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and hiking. |
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Stéphanie Gagnon
MSc student – Buddle Lab Stéphanie is interested in community ecology and plant-insect interactions. She is currently investigating the effect of anthropogenic disturbances from the Dempster Highway on both the arctic tundra and the arthropod community in the Yukon, Canada. Other than insects, Stéphanie is also very passionate about plants, and in her spare time, she loves hiking and camping. |
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Marcela Zichinelli
MSc student – University of Sao Paulo, co-supervised with Dr. Dalton Amorim Marcela is interested in insect systematics and evolutionary biology. Her research project focuses on understanding the origin and evolution of parasitoidy and parasitoid-host associations in Sciomyzidae (Diptera), integrating phylogenomics, behavioral and ecological data. Besides the research, she is also interested in extension projects which encourage girls from basic education to do science. |
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Katie Mallet
BSc student – Independent research project Katie is interested in phylogenomics, macroevolution and understanding what drives changes leading to diversification. She is also intrigued by collections-based research. Currently, Katie is working on a project investigating the evolution of kleptoparasitism across Diptera using phylogenetic analyses. She have just finished her Bachelors in Life Science at McGill and hopes to use both morphological and molecular data to continue exploring the origins of more adaptations in the future. |
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Océan François-Saint-Cyr
BSc student – USRA Project Océane is a first-year undergraduate student in Life Sciences with a Specialization in Animal Health and Disease. She is researching parasite and parasitoid relationships and will be investigating the behaviour of parasitoid bee flies. She has always been interested in insect behaviours and is excited to learn more about symbiotic relationships between different organisms. She is passionate about creating a sustainable relationship with the environment around her. |
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Savannah Burroughs
BSc student – Independent project Savannah is currently an undergraduate student in Environmental Biology with a specialization in wildlife biology. She has a passion for conservation, sustainability, and everything outdoors. She will be beginning an independent project pertaining to pollinators found in cranberry bogs of Québec. |
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Kireni Sparks-Ngenge
BSc student – Honours Project Kireni is studying Environmental Biology with a specialization in Applied Ecology. As a person of mixed heritage from Canada and an Indigenous community in Papua New Guinea, she often find herself working at the intersection between Western science and Indigenous issues. Her current Honours project involves collecting insects in Vanuatu and classifying them using Western scientific taxonomy, while also conducting activities to highlight how Indigenous people have their own taxonomic systems in their vernacular languages. In this way, the project aspires to uphold diverse ways of knowing and naming species. |
Alumni
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Dimitrios Markou
BSc student – Honours Project (2021) |
Vinko Culjak Mathieu
MSc student (2021) |
Anthony Zerafa
MSc student (2022) |
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Gloria Van
BSc student – Honours Project (2022) |
Megan Raposo
BSc student – Honours Project (2022) |
Sarah Blincoe
BSc student – Independent project (2022) |
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Linley Sherin
MSc student (2022) |
Grace McDougall-Vick
BSc student – Independent research project (2022) |
