Cameron So
I am a PhD student in the Conservation, Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour group at McGill University, jointly supervised by Drs. Anna Hargreaves and Daniel Schoen. I previously completed a M.Sc with Dr. Arthur Weis at the University of Toronto studying the capacity of a field mustard (Brassica rapa) to adapt to climate change. ​At McGill, I'm studying the conservation value of range-edge populations using a genetics perspective (see PhD Lupine). My research focuses on the beautiful and at-risk plant Lupinus perennis, crosses borders between the US and Canada, and engages with multiple conservation groups. Broadly, I'm interested in biodiversity conservation, climate change, and genetics/genomics.
April Kowalchuk-Reid
I began my studies in January 2024 in the Schoen Lab. My research focuses on exploring the genetic characteristics of the Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) in their core and edge ranges. To achieve this, I have been conducting a series of experimental crosses at various levels of inbreeding. This will allow me to assess the genetic load and measure inbreeding depression in both core and edge populations. Overall, my research aims to provide important context for understanding the genetic characteristics of marginal native plant populations and their viability as a source of range expansion under global climate change. I am extremely passionate about conservation biology and evolutionary ecology, and I am excited to explore these topics further through my research.
April Ozere I am a master’s student supervised by Melania Cristescu and Dan Schoen. Originally from Halifax, I completed my bachelor’s here at McGill in Microbiology & Immunology. In my research I am exploring the relationships between mutation and gene expression in the model organism Daphnia pulex. To achieve this, I am analyzing RNA sequencing data from D. pulex mutation accumulation lines which have reproduced clonally allowing spontaneous mutations to accumulate in the genome for ~300 generations. Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking and artistic swimming. This year I will compete on the McGill Artistic Swimming team for my fourth season, hoping to bring home a third National Championship title in my time here at McGill.
Daniel Schoen
I am a Professor of Biology at McGill, where I have spent my career studying the evolutionary biology and genetics of plants. I did my graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley, and post-docs with David Lloyd in New Zealand, and Michael Clegg at the University of Georgia. At McGill, I teach basic genetics and evolutionary genetics to undergraduates and graduate students.