Melania Cristescu
My research addresses fundamental questions about the evolution and maintenance of biological diversity in aquatic systems, with focus on: 1) the genetics of aquatic invasions, 2) the nature and scale of recombination and mutation rate variation across genomes and, 3) molecular methods for biomonitoring. For example, our research group is developing molecular methods for large scale monitoring of biodiversity trends and ecosystem health. These non-invasive and sensitive methods are based on traces of DNA and RNA released by organisms into their environment (environmental nucleic acids). Thus, our research provides innovative solutions and future perspectives on environmental problems.
Email: melania.cristescu[at]mcgill.ca
Graduate Students
Julien Beaulieu (PhD)
I am an aquatic ecologist interested in how different scales of ecology (population, communities and ecosystem) interact with each other and how those interactions are affected by abiotic factors. My PhD project includes a replicated whole ecosystem experiment where invasive brook trout were size-selectively harvested along an elevation gradient. My objectives are to determine how eDNA and eRNA concentrations can predict fish demography, and how does fish demography impact invertebrates communities, consumer-driven nutrients dynamics, and lake metabolism.
Email: beaulieu.julien.3 [at] courrier.uqam.ca (beaulieu.julien.3[at]courrier.uqam.ca)
Robert Hechler (MSc)
I'm a molecular ecologist broadly interested in understanding the effects of anthropogenic activities on aquatic biodiversity. My MSc research in the Cristescu Lab consisted of developing environmental RNA based transcriptomics as a tool to monitor the ecological health of aquatic communities. I am also an avid outdoor enthusiast and nature photographer. When I'm not in the lab, you can catch me spending my free time hiking, camping, and making photographs!
Email: robert.hechler [at] mail.mcgill.ca (robert.hechler[at]mail.mcgill.ca) | Twitter: @robert_hechler
Jigar Trivedi (PhD)
I am interested in the interplay of evolutionary forces in shaping and maintaing genetic variation. I am also interested in the downstream impact of mutations on transcriptional processes. I address my research goals by propagating mutation accumulation lines of Daphnia pulex, minimizing selection and allowing mutations to accumulate in the genome. I am particularly interested in assessing the colonization of nuclear genome by the mitochondrial DNA.
Email: jigar.trivedi [at] mail.mcgill.ca (jigar.trivedi[at]mail.mcgill.ca)
Kaushar Kagzi (MSc)
I am broadly interested in comparatively investigating the utility and applicability of environmental nucleic acids (eNAs; environmental DNA and environmental RNA) in surveying biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems. My Master’s thesis (and current research) aims to improve our collective understanding of the influence of site-specific environmental parameters on the ecology (i.e. degradation and persistence dynamics) and performance of eNA-based survey methods, with a focus on the acidity of the sampled environment.
Email: kaushar.kagzi [at] mail.mcgill.ca (kaushar.kagzi[at]mail.mcgill.ca)
Aleksei Sychterz (PhD)
Email: sashasychterz[at]gmail.com
Elizabeth Weller (PhD)
Email: lizzy.weller[at]gmail.com
Wendy Morgado (PhD)
I am a microbiologist interested in non-invasive methods for evaluating ecosystem health. As a PhD student, I evaluate the ecology and applications of environmental nucleic acids, focusing on 1) the state and degradation of molecules when they are released into the aquatic environment, 2) their transportation in networks that simulate lotic ecosystems, and 3) the use of environmental transcriptomics to monitor the physiological responses of communities under environmental stress. I combine laboratory experiments with highly replicated field experiments at LEAP.
Email: wendy.morgadogamero [at] mail.mcgill.ca (wendy.morgadogamero[at]mail.mcgill.ca)
Postdoctoral Fellows
Takahiro Maruki
I am an evolutionary biologist broadly interested in mechanisms of evolution under natural conditions. I aim to address how genetic changes result in phenotypic changes and how biotic and abiotic factors surrounding organisms influence genotype-phenotype relationships. Currently, I analyze genome-wide mutation accumulation data in order to investigate how genetic changes are introduced into organisms and how the changes evolve through time. I am also employing environmental RNA from communities of organisms to look at the effect of environmental stressors on their gene expression patterns in a noninvasive manner.
Email: takahiro.maruki[at]mcgill.ca
Marie-Eve Monchamp
My research focuses on long-term changes in diversity and genetic structure of aquatic communities in human-impacted lakes. I have developed an expertise in high-resolution environmental DNA analyses and paleo-reconstructions of aquatic communities using lake sediments. I have developed workflows for the analysis of freshwater metazoan diversity using metagenomics. I seek to continue using both modern and ancient eDNA to gain insights on the impact of multiple stressors on aquatic biota and ecosystems function over decadal to millennial time scales and over broad spatial scales.
Email: marie-eve.monchamp [at] mcgill.ca (marie-eve.monchamp[at]mcgill.ca) | Personal Website
Xiaoping He
I am a molecular biologist interested in using genetic tools to address questions related to species and ecosystem conservation. During the past 10 years my work has focussed on: (1) the failure of Atlantic salmon reintroduction in Lake Ontario; (2) impacts of marine finfish farming on benthic communities; and (3) the use of environmental DNA for marine fish biodiversity survey and Marine Protected Areas planning and monitoring. Currently, I work on the BIOSCAN project and plan to continue to use transcriptomics, metabarcoding and metagenomics approaches based on environmental DNA and RNA.
Email: xiaoping.he[at]hotmail.com
Technicians
Michelle Gros
Email: michelle.gros[at]mail.mcgill.ca
Åsa Lind
Email: asa.lind[at]mcgill.ca
Independent Study Students
April Ozere
My main research interest is exploring spontaneous mutation and their role in evolution.
Email: april.ozere[at]mail.mcgill.ca
Gabrielle Pellegrin
My independent research project focusses on molecular mechanisms of assessing biodiversity.
Email: gabrielle.pelegrin[at]mail.mcgill.ca
Patricia Humer
I am studying how environmental nucleic acids are released by organisms into the environment and how they degrade in the aquatic environment.
Email: patricia.humer[at]mail.mcgill.ca
Lab Alumni
PhD Students
Tiffany Chin (2014-2020)
Katie Millette (2014-2020)
Alessandra Loria (2014-2020)
Sen Xu (2007-2012)
MSc Students
Kaushar Kagzi (2018-2021)
Michaela Harris (2016 – 2019)
James Bull (2015 – 2017 )
Guang Zhang (2014 – 2017 )
Jullien Flynn (2015 – 2016 )
Sarah Finlayson (2013 – 2016)
Ianina Altshuler (2010 – 2012)
James J. Vaillant (2010 – 2012)
Bora Demiri (2009 – 2011)
Anna Constantin (2008 – 2010)
Dan Bock (2008 – 2010)
Postdoctoral Fellows
Tiffany Chin (2021 – 2022)
Alessandra Loria (2021 - 2022)
Christina Pernice Tadiri (2020 – 2021)
Mathew C Yates (2018 – 2021)
Sergio Jose Hleap (2018 – 2020)
Joanne Littlefair (2016 – 2019)
Frederic Chain (2014 – 2016)
Emily Brown (2013 – 2016)
Roland Vergilino (2012 – 2014)
Martha Patricia Celis-Sagado (2012 – 2014)
Aibin Zhan (2009 – 2012)
Christophe Lejeusne (2007 – 2008)
Emmanuel Egbosimba (2008 – 2009)