ABOUT ME
I began my academic career specializing in environmental sciences at the University of Western Ontario. During the fourth year of my undergraduate studies I was introduced to the paleo-sciences, and was immediately drawn by the potential for addressing long-term environmental questions. This led me to pursue my MSc in paleoecology with Dr. Sarah Finkelstein in the Department of Geography at the University of Toronto. During my MSc research, I developed an interest in northern/high latitude environmental change.
I recently completed my PhD in the Physical Geography Department at University College London in the UK. During my doctoral research, I used a combination of ecological and paleolimnological techniques to investigate the response of shallow lake wetland ecosystems in southern Siberia to natural and anthropogenic stressors during the past 200 years. My recent research has led me to an interest in combining contemporary ecological and paleoecological methods to address important environmental and ecological questions and issues.
Sampling macrophytes from Selenga Delta (Siberia) shallow lakes, August 2014.
Sarcpa Lake region, Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, June 2008.
Currently, I am a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Toronto. In my research, I aim to combine my background in, and passion for, environmental science and paleolimnology, to address pertinent environmental questions. My current research investigates the emerging threat of microplastic pollution to freshwater ecosystems, and answers questions regarding spatial distribution of the contaminant in Ontario lakes, and sources and transport of the pollutant to lakes in Canada.
Professional Academic Positions
PhD (2013-2017)
Department of Geography, University College London (United Kingdom)
Title: Multiproxy reconstructions of recent environmental change: Understanding the ecological response of shallow lakes within the Selenga River basin, southeast Siberia, to anthropogenic and natural disturbances
MSc (2007 – 2009)
Department of Geography, University of Toronto (Canada)
Title: Quantitative Paleoclimate Reconstructions from the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada
BSc (Honours) (2003 – 2007)
Honours Specialization in Environmental Science, University of Western Ontario (Canada)
Honours thesis title: Effects of Potential Changes of Nitrogen Loads to Nitrous Oxide Efflux from Prairie Potholes
Publications
Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
University of Toronto Faculty of Arts and Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, University of Toronto (2017-2019)
Postgraduate Conference Travel Grant, University College London (2017)
British Phycological Society Student Bursary (2016)
British Ecological Society Training and Travel Grant (2016)
Faculty of Graduate Studies Postgraduate Award, University College London (2014-2015)
Canadian Centennial Scholarship (2014-2015)
New Research Workers’ Award, Quaternary Research Association (2014)
Postgraduate Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) PGS-D (2014-2017)
Graduate School Project Fund, University College London (2014)
Dudley Stamp Memorial Award, Royal Geographical Society – Institution of British Geographers (2014)
Henrietta Hutton Research Grant, Royal Geographical Society – Institution of British Geographers (2014)
Overseas Research Scholarship, University College London (2013-2016)
Postgraduate Scholarship, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) PGS-M (2008-2009)
Graduate Expansion Funds, University of Toronto (2008-2009)
Northern Scientific Training Program (NSTP), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (2008-2009)
University of Toronto Fellowship, University of Toronto (2007-2008)
Teaching and Supervising
Teaching Distinctions
Associate Fellow of the United Kingdom Higher Education Academy, awarded April 2017.
Supervising
MSc Students:
E. Eftesum (2017): Reconstructing shallow lake ecosystem dynamics in southeastern Siberia using macrofossil analysis. MSc Dissertation in Aquatic Sciences, Department of Geography, University College London.
D. Kuznetsova (2015): Temporal and spatial variations in ostracod communities in the Selenga Delta, Siberia. MSc Dissertation in
Conservation Biology, Department of Geography, University College London. (Distinction)
Undergraduate Students:
R. Springle (2018-2019): Spatial variation in microplastic pollution of surface waters from freshwater ecosystems in Ontario, Canada. Research Opportunity Program, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto.
S. Yohannes (2018-2019): Spatial variation in microplastic pollution of surface waters from freshwater ecosystems in Ontario, Canada. Research Opportunity Program, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto.
D. Nouri Parto (2018): Assessing the contribution of atmospheric deposition of microplastics from snow fall in the Greater
Toronto Area. Research Opportunity Program, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto.
S. A. Anas (2018): Assessing the contribution of atmospheric deposition of microplastics from snow fall in the Greater
Toronto Area. Research Opportunity Program, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto.
Training Courses
Teaching Assistantship Program, University College London (2016)
Object-Based Learning Seminar (2016)
University College London Arena One Gateway Program (2015)
Demonstrating and Lecturing Experience
Teaching Assistantships
Graduate Courses:
Global Environmental Change, Department of Geography, University College London (2013-2017)
Biological Indicators of Environmental Change, Department of Geography, University College London (2014-2015)
Undergraduate Courses:
Global Environmental Change, Department of Geography, University College London (2013-2017)
Statistics for Environmental Geographers, Department of Geography, University College London (2014-2016)
Reconstructing Past Environments, Department of Geography, University College London (2013-2016)
Data Acquisition and Interpretation, Department of Geography, University College London (2013-2015)
Global Warming, Department of Geography, University of Toronto (2008 - 2009)
Research Positions
Oct 2010 - Aug 2013
Aquatic Science Technician, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Burlington, Ontario
May 2010 - Aug 2010
Field Technician, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute
Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures, Vegreville, Alberta
Nov 2009 - Jan 2010
Research Assistant, Paleoecology Lab, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
Committees and Services
Member of Diversity in Science Committee (2018 – present)
Laurentian Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (L-SETAC)
Regional Representative for Canada, PAGES Early Career Network (June 2018 - present)
Workshop participant (2018)
Athena SWAN Made-in-Canada initiative, “Adapting the UK Athena SWAN program for implementation in Canada”, Sponsored by the Tri-Agency Council (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)
Guest co-editor, special issue of Geo: Geography and Environment: “Aquatic transitions: tracking the nature and trajectories of anthropogenically forced change in freshwater and coastal ecosystems” (2018)
Co-organizer and Session chair, “Aquatic Transitions: tracking the nature and trajectories of change using paleolimnological
approaches”, Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Honolulu, Hawai’i (2017)
PhD research student representative, Athena SWAN Committee (2015 - 2016)
Committee for assessing departmental policies and practices regarding gender equality
Department of Geography, University College London, United Kingdom
Co-organizer, Physical Geography Weekly Seminar Series (2014 – 2016)
Department of Geography, University College London, United Kingdom
Graduate Student Representative, Geography Lab Committee (2014 – 2016)
Department of Geography, University College London, United Kingdom
Co-founder and Vice-President, Arctic Student Network (2007 - 2009)
University of Toronto, Canada
Graduate Student Representative, Physical Geography Building Health and Safety Committee (2007 – 2009),
University of Toronto, Canada
Journal reviewer: Environmental Science & Technology, Inland Waters, Journal of Paleolimnology, Limnologica, Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Neobiota
Shortened CV
Education
Faculty of Arts and Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow (September 2017 – present)
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto