Dr. Marina Cvetkovska, Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, uOttawa (2019-current)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Western University (2014-2018)
PhD, University of Toronto Scarborough (2006-2013)
BSc, Carleton University (2001-2006)
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Assistant Professor, uOttawa (2019-current)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Western University (2014-2018)
PhD, University of Toronto Scarborough (2006-2013)
BSc, Carleton University (2001-2006)
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Mackenzie Poirier, PhD
Mackenzie arrived at uOttawa in September 2019, after obtaining her BSc from the University of Waterloo. Mackenzie is currently looking at how Antarctic algae synthesize chlorophyll and how they perceive light signals in and extremely light-limited environment under the polar ice.
Pomona Osmers, Research Technician
Pomona has been a part of the lab since 2019 as an Honours and a MSc student. After defending her thesis with flying colors in 2023, she decided to stay in the lab and help us with several projects. Pomona is currently simulating climate change scenarios in the lab and measuring the effects on environmental stress on algal extremophiles.
Pomona has been a part of the lab since 2019 as an Honours and a MSc student. After defending her thesis with flying colors in 2023, she decided to stay in the lab and help us with several projects. Pomona is currently simulating climate change scenarios in the lab and measuring the effects on environmental stress on algal extremophiles.
Danielle Bowman, PhD
Danielle comes from Delaware Valley University with lots of experience in plant and microbe molecular biology. She's been a member of the lab since September 2023, and has decided to investigate the molecular biology of polar algae, including the role of the environment in algal adaptation and evolution.
Shaalin Dlaymi , MSc
Cannabis sativa is an important medicinal crop, but its biology is poorly understood. Shaalin joined the group in September 2023, bringing experience in plant biology from her BSc at Lakehead University and work in the cannabis industry. She is currently examining the role of light in cannabis growth and development.
Allison Szenasi, MSc
Allison has been a MSc student since September 2024, after finishing a BSc at the University of Waterloo. Allison's project aims to answer the following question: Are algae from Arctic and Antarctic environments similar, or do they display differences in their physiology related to their geographic location?
Angeline Thomsen, Honour's Thesis Student
Angeline joined us in September 2023 as a 3rd year Research Practicum student and a NSERC USRA-funded research assistant from the Biomedical Program at uOttawa. Angeline is particularly interested in the genetics of cannabis and is keen to apply her knowledge to medical aspects of working with this plant in the future
Gemma Giorgio, Honour's Thesis Student
Gemma is in her 4th year at uOttawa and is working on an exciting new project. In collaboration with Dr. Julie Lee-Yaw she is examining the evolution of green algae under stressful conditions
Ella McBoyle, Honour's Thesis Student
Ella has held several roles in the lab: a volunteer, a participant in the Undergraduate Science Research Opportunity, and is now continuing her research through an Honour's Thesis project. Ella is optimizing transformation techniques in polar algae with the goal of making transgenic polar algae
Alexander Lee, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Alex is a 2nd year BSc student who has been part of the lab for two years as a recipient of the prestigious Undergraduate Research Scholarship at uOttawa and participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. Alex is learning many methods in plant physiology and will be helping us with several projects, including exciting new work on barley stress
We are grateful to all past lab members who have helped support our research:
Postdoctoral Fellows:
Dr. Marc Possmayer (2019-2020)
Graduate Students:
Pomona Osmers, MSc (2023; NSERC CGS M, OGS). Current Position: Research Technician, uOttawa
Josephine Payment, MSc (2022; OGS). Current Position: Research Technician, Vineland Research & Innovation Centre
Galyna Vakulenko, MSc (2022). Current Position: Digitalization Specialist, Canadian Museum of Nature
Undergraduate Students:
Sophia Caputo (2024) - Honours Thesis student, CO-OP Research Assistant
Robbie Wright (2024) - Honours Thesis student
Eliza Aguhar (2023) - CO-OP Research assistant
Abby Simms (2023) - Honours Thesis student
Rhys Tushingham (2023) - Honours Thesis student
Emily Gallipeau (2023) - Research Project student
Alex Northey (2022) - URS Research Assistant
Vanthanaa Sridhar (2022) - Mitacs Globalink Intern
Nicholas Bradette (2022) - Research Project, Collège La Cité
Sabina Henry (2022) - Honours Thesis student
Laura Kostyniuk (2022) - Honours Thesis student
Laura Dublin (2022) - Honours Thesis student
Natalija Vasilevska (2021) - Mitacs Globalink Intern
Kirsten Holy (2021) - CO-OP Research Assistant
Peter Noel (2021) - URS Research Assistant
Kieran Wilkins (2020-2021) - Honours Thesis student
Andrew Racz (2020-2021) - Honours Thesis student
Sam Benzaquen (2020) - Volunteer
Dourra Assani (2020) - Research Assistant
Kassandra Fugard (2019-2020) - Honours Thesis student, CO-OP Research Assistant
Shazara Khan (2019-2020) - Honours Thesis student
Michelle Tran (2019-2020) - UROP Scholarship and volunteer
