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Research

Our faculty members have broad and dynamic research interests that address contemporary issues in three main areas as follows. See also Faculty Research Interests.

Cell, Molecular and Microbial Biology, and Genetics

  • Innate antiviral immune responses (Associate Professor Stephanie DeWitte-Orr)
  • Molecular mechanisms of plant immunity; plant defence gene regulation; temperature signalling in plants (Assistant Professor Danve Castroverde)
  • Comparative and functional genomics (Professor Gabriel Moreno-Hagelsieb)
  • Microbial pathogen dynamics in natural waters and wetlands (Professor Robin Slawson)
  • Mechanisms of protein targeting and import into chloroplasts (Professor; Chair Matthew Smith)
  • Microbial glycobiology: Structure-function analysis of protein-carbohydrate interactions (Associate Professor Joel Weadge)
  • Host plant-pathogen interactions: sustainable and resilient agriculture through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) (Assistant Professor Zhongwei Zou)

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If you're a graduate student, research assistant, doing a thesis, or otherwise needing access to restricted research areas or outside of regular hours, please fill out this form in consultation with your supervisor and send the completed form to: bioadmin@wlu.ca

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Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology

  • Comparative tree biology and responses of forests to global change (Professor Jennifer Baltzer)
  • Biodiversity, biogeography and systematics of flowering plants (Professor Mihai Costea)
  • Conservation biology, population dynamics, and biostatistics (Professor Douglas Deutschman)
  • Limnology, plankton ecology, climate change (Associate Professor Derek Gray)
  • Evolutionary genetics of sexual selection and conflict (Associate Professor Tristan A. F. Long)
  • Grassland ecology, ecological impacts of climate change, invasive species, metabolomics and proteomics as methods for studying plant-endophyte interactions, mathematical modelling, plant fungal interactions, plant-herbivore interactions (Professor; Vice-President: Research Jonathan Newman)
  • Reproductive biology & ecology of songbirds (Associate Professor; Scott Ramsay)
  • Wetlands, wetland plant ecology, aquatic botany (Assistant Professor; Co-Director, Laurier Institute for Water Science Kevin Stevens)
  • Wildlife biology, conservation, and ecological forecasting (Assistant Professor; Canada Research Chair in Northern Wildlife Biology Frances Stewart)
  • Northern aquatic ecology (Associate Professor; Jarislowsky Chairholder in Sustainable Water Futures Heidi Swanson)

Physiology and Toxicology

  • Physiology and ecotoxicology of animals in the anthropocene (Assistant Professor Erin Leonard)
  • Effects of anthropogenic contaminants on fish biology (Professor, Biology; President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah MacLatchy)
  • Stress physiology of aquatic animals; toxicology and risk assessment of metals (Professor; Co-Director, Laurier Institute for Water Science Jim McGeer)
  • Fish physiology and toxicology in extreme and unpredictable environments (Professor Michael Wilkie)
  • Bioenergetics and environmental stress physiology of plants (Professor Allison McDonald)
  • Molecular ecophysiology of aquatic animals (Associate Professor Jonathan Mark Wilson)
  • Responses of northern aquatic ecosystems to climate change; multiple stressor effects on benthic food webs of rivers (Environment and Climate Change Canada Research Scientist in Residence Joseph Culp)

Research Centres