About Me

I am a former professional ballet dancer who is now a researcher in the fields of evolution, behaviour, and ecology. After dancing with ballet companies such as the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, I hung up my pointe shoes and went to McGill University for my BSc. I received my PhD from McGill University, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Cambridge and Université de Sherbrooke. I am currently an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Brock University. My third passion after science and dance is photography, which bridges the gap between my interests in art and science.
Sketch by Meredith Hart at Rutgers University, Camden in 2022. Check her artwork out and her store!
Sketch by Lorraine Perez from the Galapagos in 2023
Picture
Photo by Claudio Calligaris
Academic Positions
​
2021-present
  • Assistant Professor
           Brock University; Department of Biological Sciences
2022-present
  • Faculty Affiliate
           Brock University; Environmental Sustainability Research Centre
2022-present
  • Affiliated Professor
            Universidad San Francisco de Quito; Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales
2020-2021
  • Postdoctoral Fellow
           Université de Sherbrooke; Départment de Biologie
2019-2020​
  • Visiting Research Fellow
            University of Cambridge; Department of Zoology
2016-2020​
  • Research Fellow in the Sciences
            University of Cambridge; Clare Hall            
2017-2019
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Banting Postdoctoral Fellow
            University of Cambridge; Department of Zoology
2016-2017
  • Le Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT) Postdoctoral Fellow
            University of Cambridge; Department of Zoology
2016-2017
  • Phyllis and Eileen Gibbs Travelling Research Fellow           
            University of Cambridge; Newnham College            
PicturePuerto Rico, Photo by Chris Rush
​     Education

  • Ph.D., Biology, McGill University, Canada (2009-2016)
  • B.Sc., First Class Honours Biology, McGill University, Canada (2005-2009) Honours thesis: The effects of dissolved oxygen levels on critical swimming speed in an African Cichlid
Fellowships and Awards
2020
​2017-2019

​2018-2020

​2016-2018

2017-2020

2017-2019
​2016-2017

​​2016
​2015
​2015

2014-2015
2011–2014
2011–2014
2011–2014
2014
2014

2014

2013

2013
2013
2013
2013

2012
2012

2011
​
2011
2011
2010–2011
2010–2011
2010–2011
2010–2011
2010
2010
​
2010
2010
Canadian Society for Ecology & Evolution Early Career Award
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
​​Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowship (Declined)
​Le Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies (FQRNT) Postdoctoral Fellowship
Christ's College Charles Darwin – Galápagos Islands Visiting Scholarship Scheme
​Clare Hall Whitehead Fund
​​Newnham College Phyllis and Eileen Gibbs Travelling Research Fellowship
​British Ornithologist's Union Research Grant
​Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science (QCBS) Biodiversity Award
​McGill Department of Biology International Graduate Research Travel Award 
McGill Department of Biology Vineberg Fellowship
NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship 
NSERC Alexander Graham Bell Doctoral Scholarship (Declined)
FQRNT  Doctoral Research Scholarship (Declined)
QCBS Training Excellence Award 
European Society of Evolutionary Biology Godfrey Hewitt Mobility Award
McGill Department of Biology International Graduate Research Travel Award 
Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation of Canada Scholarship for Canadian Women
American Society of Naturalists Student Travel Award
QCBS Training Excellence Award 
Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research 
McGill Department of Biology International Graduate Research Travel Award 
QCBS Training Excellence Award
Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Graduate Student Award of Merit
McGill Dept. of Biology Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel Award (GREAT)
Society for the Study of Evolution International Travel Award
QCBS Training Excellence Award 
FQRNT Doctoral Research Scholarship
Lorne Trottier Science Accelerator Fellowship 
Principal’s Graduate Fellowship 
Provost’s Graduate Fellowship
FQRNT Bourse pour le stage international  through QCBS
Redpath Museum Delise Alison Graduate Student Development Award 
American Society of Naturalists Student Travel Award
QCBS Training Excellence Award
Picture
Magnetic Island, Australia
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Media

Reviewer for The American Naturalist, Animal Behaviour, Animal Biology, Animal Conservation, Animals, Aquatic Ecology, Axios, Behavioral Ecology,  Biological Invasions, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, BMC Ecology, Ecology and Evolution, Evolution, Evolutionary Applications, Evolutionary Ecology, Hydrobiologia, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Fish Biology, Nature Communications, Notornis, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences, PLoS One, Proceedings of the Royal Society B - Biological Sciences, Royal Society Open Science, Science Advances, Scientific Reports