Here is a list of some of the more recent trainees from the lab. Their efforts in pushing our research forward are all greatly appreciated.

Krista Fjordbotten (BSc(Hons), 2018): Krista completed a large project on neuronal morphology in the medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices of Richardson's ground squirrels. She is currently working as a field assistant in Australia.

Olivia Stephen (BSc, 2018): Olivia worked on several projects including neuronal morphology in ground squirrels, rat brains and most recently chickens and junglefowl. She was integral to training new students in the lab in histology as well. Olivia is currently a DPharm student at the University of Alberta.

Lauren Williams (BSc(Hons), 2016; MSc, 2018): Lauren was in the lab longer than anyone else in the history of the lab and worked on wide range of studies, most notably the effects of domestication on the brains of Norway rats. She is currently an MD student at the University of Calgary.

Brittainy Smith (BSc, 2018): Brittainy completed a lot of very important neuron reconstructions to help Ben and I along with our studies of neuronal morphology in Richardson's ground squirrels.

Ryaan EL-Andari (BSc(Hons), 2018): Ryaan worked on two main projects: stereological estimates of optic tectum volume in birds and the effects of artificial selection on the cerebellum in quail (his Honours thesis). He is an MD student the University of Alberta.

Ashley Jensen (MSc, 2017): Ashley was co-supervised by Theresa Burg (Biology, UofL) and worked on the population genetics of ruffed grouse. She is working as a research technician at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Juliana da Costa Araujo (MSc, 2017): Juliana was co-supervised by Alex Ophir (Cornell University) and worked on the expression of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors in Richardson's ground squirrels. She is working on her PhD at University of Konstanz.

Ayanda Ngwenya (PDF, 2015-2017): Ayanda got the lab up and running with the isotropic fractionator and Golgi staining, both of which are being heavily used in the lab today. She is currently a Lecturer at University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Taryn Salik (independent studies, 2015-2016): Taryn was one of our stereology jockeys and helped out Lauren with a lot of her rat cerebellum quantification. She is now a high school math teacher in rural Alberta.

Janae Nahirney (independent studies, 2015-2016): Janae was our first expert in the use of the slide scanner and generated a lot of data on Purkinje cell scaling in birds that we are still working on. She is currently working with special needs children in local schools.

Nicholas O'Neil (MSc, 2016): Nick completed his MSc on the bioacoustics of the ruffed grouse drumming display, including some playback experiments. He has worked with greater prairie chickens in Illinois and is currently employed by an environmental consulting company in northern Alberta.

Nathan Grigg (BSc(Hons), 2016): Nathan worked on a very ambitious project on the olfactory system of New World vulture in collaboration with Gary Graves (Smithsonian Institution). Nathan is currently working at a local business and working on a second degree in Computer Science.

Grethell Urciel (MITACS, 2016): Grethel was our first MITACS student from Mexico and did an amazing job helping Lauren out with her MSc thesis research. She is pursuing an MSc.

Courtney Heuston (BSc, 2015): Courtney was responsible for starting our long-term project of quantifying Purkinje cell numbers in the avian cerebellum. She is currently a technician at a large veterinary clinic in Lethbridge County.

Justin Krilow (MSc, 2014): Justin worked on seasonal neuroplasticity in ruffed grouse and species differences in wing and syrinx morphology across grouse species. In addition, he was involved in other projects concerning the anatomy of the auditory system in galliforms and the expression of arginine vasopressin in grouse. He is currently a professional biologist based in BC.

Danielle Burger (MSc, 2014): Danielle completed her Honours thesis on seasonal changes in the hippocampus of Richardson's ground squirrels. Her MSc thesis focused on the effects of developmental exposure to PCB126 on the hippocampus of American mink and domestic chicks. She is busy making money working for the provincial government.

Jeremy Corfield (PDF, 2011-2014): Jeremy was the first post-doc in the lab. He supervised several student projects and completed several papers on the anatomy of the auditory system in galliforms as well as olfactory and somatosensory pathways. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Salisbury University in Maryland.

Tom Lisney (PDF, 2011-2013): Tom was based in Doug Wylie's lab, but I served as a co-supervisor. Tom's focus was primarily on differences in retinal topography across bird species. He is currently working at the Bristol Zoo.

Brandon Earl (BSc(Hons), 2013): Brandon's Honours thesis was on species differences in trigeminal nerve anatomy across waterfowl species. He is currently in dentistry at the University of Alberta.

Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez (PhD, 2013): Cristian's thesis (co-supervised with Doug Wylie) was a comprehensive analysis of species differences in somatosensory, auditory and visual pathways in birds, all of which have been published as papers. He is now a research associate at the University of Alberta.

Brian Ward (BSc, 2010): Brian worked on hippocampal anatomy in hummingbirds. He is currently busy making money in the private sector.

Maxime Garcia (MSc, 2010): Max was the first student to conduct behavioural studies on ruffed grouse in the lab. He recently completed his PhD in bioacoustics at the University of Vienna and is now a post-doc at Universite Jean Monnnet.

Alix Blackshaw (BSc, 2010): Alix was one of the first independent study students in the lab working on a variety of projects and helping me to get the lab up and running. She is an MD in Hinton, Alberta.

Katelynn Goodwin (BSc, 2010): Katelynn worked on several small projects in the lab as an independent study student, primarily wet lab work with lots of sectioning and staining of bird brains when the lab was first running. She is an MD.