PEOPLE

Dr. Mike Waddington
Professor and Canada Research Chair
Mike has over 30 years of boreal wetland research experience and over 20 years of expertise working with energy companies on boreal wetland restoration. He is a self-proclaimed map geek and an active adventure runner and adventure racer.


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Katie Black
Lab Manager
Katie keeps us organized by managing field logistics, assisting with field data collection, and performing administrative tasks. Her research background is in ecology and she is an enthusiastic plant nerd.


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Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Lorna Harris
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Manuel Helbig
Postdoctoral Fellow
Lorna's  research focuses on the ecohydrology and biogeochemistry of rock barrens and northern peatlands. She is interested in how peatlands form and develop over time and how this development may be impacted by environmental change (climate change or development).

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Manu makes use of direct measurements of energy and greenhouse gas flux measurements between land and atmosphere (with the eddy covariance technique) to better understand the boreal water futures.


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Dr. Chantel Markle
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Paul Moore
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chantel is a conservation biologist who uses spatial and landscape ecology principles and techniques to better understand how reptiles use a landscape and enhance protection of species at risk. She is examining how changes in climate and land-use  impact the availability and resilience of vital habitats.
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Paul's research integrates field and lab-based measurements of peatland processes and properties in order to parameterize physically-based models. His modelling is being used to define thresholds of disturbance which significantly impact ecosystem function under future climate scenarios.

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Graduate Students
Patrick Deane
MSc Candidate
Patrick Deane (no, he is not the McMaster President) is examining novel approaches to enhance Sphagnum propagation in black spruce peatlands to decrease wildfire burn severity.



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Danielle Hudson
MSc Candidate
Danielle aims to understand the ecohydrological dynamics of lichen cushions on the rock barren landscape of Near-Northern Ontario. These cushions provide critical nesting habitat for native turtle species.


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Kieran Lehan
MSc Candidate
Kieran is researching rattlesnake hibernacula habitat restoration.





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Nicole Sandler
MSc Candidate
Nicole is examining rock barrens ecohydrology and organic soil characteristics at the landscape scale to assess turtle nesting habitat suitability.




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Jessica Vu
MSc Candidate
Sophie Wilkinson
PhD Candidate
Jess is examining the potential impacts of road construction and culvert design on peatland ecohydrology and SAR habitat.





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Sophie is investigating ecohydrological thresholds to deep burning peat and the role of feedbacks in peatland  resilience to wildfire and climate change. She is evaluating and developing forest fuel modification treatments to reduce peat burn severity and aid fire suppression in wildland-urban and wildland-industry interfaces.
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Undergraduate Students

Hope Freeman
Research Assistant
Hope is an Honours B.Sc. Earth and Environmental Science student and is a research assistant at the NOBEL working on SAR habitat ecohydrology.
Becky Janssen
Research Assistant
Becky is an Honours BSc Environmental Science student and is a research assistant at the NOBEL working on SAR habitat ecohydrology.
Taylor North
Research Assistant and Undergraduate Thesis Student
Greg Verkaik
Research Assistant and Undergraduate Thesis Student
Taylor is an Honours Biology and Environmental Science student investigating the factors that influence hummock distribution in Eastern Georgian Bay peatlands. Taylor is also our iWetland Citizen Science Co-ordinator.
Greg is an Honours Biology and Environmental Science student and is researching the effects of wildfire peat moss hydrophocity on near surface moisture dynamics.
All photographed research personnel handled turtles under approved research permits. 

Undergraduate Interns

  • Taylor Luu  (Honours iSci, Earth and Environmental Science)
  • Alex Tekatch  (Honours Biology and Environmental Science)

Alumni

(alphabetical listing of former grad students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians)
  • Craig Allison (GIS Specialist, County of Grande Prairie, AB)
  • Steve Baisley (Hydrologist, O’Kane Consultants, Calgary, AB)
  • Jason Cagampan (Lands and Economic Development at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Vancouver, BC)
  • Sarah Day (Hydrologist, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Hamilton, ON)
  • Ben Didemus (Researcher, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Burlington, ON)
  • Tim Duval (Assistant Professor, University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, ON)
  • Melissa Greenwood (Scientist, Environment Canada, Burlington, ON)
  • Alex Furukawa (Reserch Assistant, McMaster Ecohydrology Lab, Hamilton, ON)
  • Gustaf Granath (Scientist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden)
  • Kristen Harrison (Senior Ecologist, Savanta, Kitchener, ON)
  • Steve Kaufman (Hydrologist, Golder and Associates, Sudbury, ON)
  • Kelly Hokanson (PhD Student, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB)
  • Kristyn Housman (Terrestrial Ecologist, Halton Region Conservation Authority, Burlington, ON)
  • Rebekah Ingram (Geoscientist, Dillon Consulting, Oakville, ON)
  • Erik Kellner (Hydrologist, Midvatten Consulting, Borlange, Sweden)
  • Scott Ketcheson (Postdoctoral Fellow, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON)
  • Nick Kettridge (Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK)
  • Max Lukenbach (Groundwater Scientist, Advisian - WorleyParsons Group, Edmonton, AB)
  • Maria Lucchese (Hydrologist, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Toronto, ON)
  • Brandon Mackinnon (Fire Scientist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Calgary, AB)
  • Merrin Macrae (Associate Professor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON)
  • Cameron McCann (Environmental Scientist, Wood PLC, Thorold, ON)
  • Pippa McNeil (Biologist, Yukon Government, Whitehorse, YT)
  • Paul Moore (Postdoctoral Fellow, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON)
  • Paul Morris (Lecturer, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK)
  • Adriana Puentes (Postdoctoral Fellow, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden)
  • Rich Petrone (Associate Professor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON)
  • Kate Shea (Environmental Compliance Specialist, BHP Billiton, Yellowknife, NT)
  • James Sherwood (Wetland Reclamation Technician, Suncor and U.Waterloo, Waterloo, ON)
  • Alanna Smolarz (Researcher, Wildlife Preservation Canada)
  • Danielle Solondz (Rehabilitation Scientist, Ontario Aggregate Resources Corp., Burlington, ON)
  • Maria Strack (Associate Professor, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON)
  • Dan Thompson (Forest Fire Scientist, Canadian Forest Service, Edmonton, AB)
  • Karola Tóth (Environmental Engineering Manager, SNC Lavalin, Mississauga, ON)
  • Eeva-Stiina Tuitilla (Professor, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland)
  • Fiona Warren (Scientist, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, ON)
  • Kevin Warner (Senior Hydrogeologist, Cambium Inc., Peterborough, ON)
  • Lana Wilhelm (Water Resources Specialist, Credit Valley Conservation Authority, Meadowvale, ON)