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Fiona Soper
PI, Assistant Professor I am Zimbabwean-Australian (our lab logo, an Acacia, is emblematic of these places as well as being a nitrogen-fixer– of course!), and have also lived in the US (New York and Montana), Sweden, and Nunavut. As well as being a physiological ecologist, biogeochemist and nutrient enthusiast, I'm a budding herpetologist, and an average-but-enthusiastic rock climber, tree climber, backpacker, kayaker, sailor, and hunter. [email protected] Download Soper CV |
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Photo credit: Dado Galdieri
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Caroline Dallstream
PhD student I'm a nature lover who's interested in exploring the physiology of plant-fungus-microbiome interactions and scaling up to the ecosystem level. I grew up in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona but completed my B.Sc. in Environmental Science at Western Washington University where I collected tree ring records in the North Cascades for my honors projects. After school, I moved to Chile to work as a research assistant at a Patagonian ecological research center (CIEP), where I mostly worked on non-structural carbohydrate dynamics and leaf nutrient resorption in trees. My varied interests include literature, art, music, and all physical activities which I hope to incorporate, directly or indirectly, into my work with the Soper Lab. [email protected] |
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Ana Avila Vitorino
PhD student (co-supervised Leung lab) I'm a lifelong lover of tropical forests and marine life. I came to McGill in 2017 for an undergrad in quantitative biology, and tried out research in cell biology and theoretical ecology before finding my passion for statistical modelling in ecology. I am beginning a career as a tropical forest modeller, and my current research involves the regrowth of native vegetation after agricultural abandonment. My main career goal is to contribute to research in the Neotropics, particularly on my native country Brazil, to help recover previously forested land. On my free time, you can find me doing morning yoga, studying foreign languages or drawing wildlife. [email protected] |
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Katie Nelson
PhD student I’m from the mountains of Colorado, USA, where I did my undergraduate degree in geology. I went on to complete a MSc degree in geophysics, specifically volcanology, at Michigan Technological University. There, I investigated carbon outputs from active volcanoes to gain understanding of large-scale volcanic degassing dynamics and how abiotic carbon can impact tropical trees in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Now, entering the field of biogeochemistry in the Soper lab, I will be pursuing questions of how we numerically model the flow of nitrogen through natural systems, especially in tropical forests, where biodiversity and changing climate create complex interactions. I hope to use my career to bridge disciplines and borders to improve our understanding of the natural world and how we interact with it. When not outside for science, I love to go outside to hike, teach, draw, ski, take pictures, and look for cool rocks. [email protected] |
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Molly Gatreau
MS student I am a MSc. student in the Soper lab, where I will be working on root systems and traits in nitrogen-fixing plants. My first exposure to the true scientific process came from a summer position as an entomology research assistant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Fun fact: I have mounted over 15,000 beetle specimens for taxonomic research! Participating in entomological research helped me to be more conscious of the small-scale organisms and their profound impacts on their ecosystems. Due to this, I became interested in the relationships that exist between plants, soil organisms and their environment. I obtained my BSc. (Honours) in Biology at Queen’s University, where my undergraduate thesis work on roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inspired me to continue delving into roots in my graduate studies. I have a deep love for science, ecology, and the outdoors. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and painting in watercolour. Sofia Sanabria Quijada
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Former Members
Cara Flynn (Hons Biochemistry), PhD student at Northwestern
Samti Luk (Hons Environment), Research Assistant at U Nevada Reno
Jacob van Oorschot (NSERC summer undergraduate researcher), MS student at McGill
Mia Marcellus (MS researcher), Longevity Modeler at Club Vita
Natalie Swartz (Hons Environment), MS student at UT Austin
Emily Brown (NSERC summer undergraduate researcher), MS student at UBC
Lola Milder (summer undergraduate researcher), current McGill student
Salvador Babinet, (summer undergraduate researcher), current McGill student
Cara Flynn (Hons Biochemistry), PhD student at Northwestern
Samti Luk (Hons Environment), Research Assistant at U Nevada Reno
Jacob van Oorschot (NSERC summer undergraduate researcher), MS student at McGill
Mia Marcellus (MS researcher), Longevity Modeler at Club Vita
Natalie Swartz (Hons Environment), MS student at UT Austin
Emily Brown (NSERC summer undergraduate researcher), MS student at UBC
Lola Milder (summer undergraduate researcher), current McGill student
Salvador Babinet, (summer undergraduate researcher), current McGill student
