Department of Biology Chilton Parasitology Laboratory

Former Members

Picture of  Alexander Haplin

Alexander Haplin
Summer Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSERC USRA, 2016 & 2017)

Alex characterized the mitochondrial genome of Dermacentor albipictus.


Picture of  Alexander Zahara

Alexander Zahara
Undergraduate Student Researcher (BIOL 480.3 Research Project, 2011-2012)

Alex compared the ITS-1 and ITS-2 sequences of two species of parasitic nematode of the genus Alocostoma.


Picture of  Angela Murray

Angela Murray
Undergraduate Student researcher (Biol 480 research project)

Photo taken by Katherine Fedoroff


Picture of  Anish Mann

Anish Mann
Summer Undergraduate Student Researcher (NSERC USRA, 2010)

Anish examined the magnitude of genetic variation among populations of Dermacentor variabilis.


Picture of Ms. Chantel Krakowetz

Ms. Chantel Krakowetz
PhD (awarded 2015)

Chantel studied the population genetics of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Chantel had previously worked in my lab on ticks for two summers (2007 & 2008) as an NSERC USRA and conducted a research project as part of her undergraduate degree (BIOL 481.6).


Picture of  Clare Anstead

Clare Anstead
PhD (awarded 2013)

Clare examined questions relating to the ticks (Ixodes spp.) and bacteria from pocket gophers, ground squirrels and other small mammals (shrews, voles, mice, etc.). Clare previously conducted a research project in my lab as part of her undergraduate degree (BIOL 481.6).


Picture of  Cole Wolbaum

Cole Wolbaum
Undergraduate Student Researcher (MCIM 491.6 research project)

Cole studied the prevalence of the different non-pathogenic Francisella-like endosymbionts in Dermacentor variabilis.


Picture of  Emily Sterling

Emily Sterling
Summer Student Research Assistant (2016)

Emily assisted in the field collection of ticks, their identification and preparation of total genomic DNA samples. She also conducted preliminary microsatellite assays on black-tailed prairie dogs and their ectoparasitic fleas.


Picture of  Heather Buchholz

Heather Buchholz
Undergraduate Student Researcher (BIOL 480 research project)

Heather used molecular tools to investigate the transovarial transmission of the non-pathogenic Francisella-like endosymbionts in ticks.


Picture of  James Armstrong

James Armstrong
MSc (awarded 2015)

James studied the mitochonrial genomes of bedbugs and their relatives.


Picture of  James Paul

James Paul
Summer Student Research Assistant (2011)

James assisted in the field collection of ticks, their identification and preparation of total genomic DNA samples.


Picture of  Jana Ebersbach

Jana Ebersbach
Postdoctoral Fellow (Co-supervised by José Andrés)

Jana is interested in the mechanisms underlying geographic and phylogenetic patterns of biodiversity. Using genomic data and population genetic approaches, she is studying hybrid zones and evolutionary patterns in the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris.


Picture of  Katie Sim

Katie Sim
Research Assistant and Undergraduate Student Researcher

Katie identified ticks submitted to our lab. She had conducted research in my lab previously as a undergraduate student (NSERC USRA and BIOL 480.3) working on several projects including the genetic characertization of parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes, and the population genetics of Dermacentor albipictus.


Picture of  Morgan Kelley

Morgan Kelley
Undergraduate Student researcher (BIOL 481 research project)

Morgan is characterizing the mitochondrial genome variation in winter ticks.


Picture of  Prasobh Thampy

Prasobh Thampy
Research Assistant

Prasobh is comparing the population genetics of Dermacentor andersoni and D. variabilis across the Canadian prairies.


Picture of  Raymond Ko

Raymond Ko
Undergraduate Student Researcher (BIOL 481.6 Research Project, 2009-2010)

Ray conducted a preliminary study on the use of microsatellites for population genetic studies in black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis).


Picture of  Scott Wallace

Scott Wallace
Undergraduate Student Researcher (BIOL 480.3 Research Project, 2011-2012)


Picture of  Shaun Dergousoff

Shaun Dergousoff
Phd (awarded 2011)

Shaun examined fundamental questions relating to the ticks, Dermacentor variabilis and D. andersoni, and the bacteria (pathogenic and endosymbionts) they habour.


Picture of  Tina Giroux

Tina Giroux
MSc (awarded 2008)

Tina conducted her MSc research project on the population genetics and phylogeography of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Saskatchewan. Tina was cosupervised by Prof. Doug Chivers.


Picture of  Veronica Duran

Veronica Duran
Research Assistant