Current Graduate Students


Completed Graduate Students
  • Katherine Drotos PhD (2015 - 2023). A genomic perspective on the lichenisation of fungal species. Co-supervised with TR Gregory
  • Chris Ho MSc (2014 - 2019). Impacts of forestry on spider (Araneae) diversity, abundance, and community structure. Thesis. 
  • Sarah Dolson MSc (2016 - 2018) Staphylinid community structure across a neotropical elevation gradient. Thesis.
  • Aaron Fairweather MSc (2014 - 2016). How is Ant Diversity Impacted by Anthropogenic Disturbance? Thesis. 
    • Aaron D. Fairweather, Jake H. Lewis, Laura Hunt, Donald F. McAlpine, M. Alex Smith "Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Rockwood Park, New Brunswick: An Assessment of Species Richness and Habitat," Northeastern Naturalist, 27(3), 576-584, (27 August 2020)
  • Kate Pare MSc (2013 - 2015). Collembola diversity on a neotropical elevational gradient. Thesis. 
  • Thanushi Eagalle MSc (2012 - 2014). Latitudinal diversity and morphometric gradients in parasitoid wasps. Thesis.
    • ​Thanushi Eagalle, M. Alex Smith,. Diversity of parasitoid and parasitic wasps across a latitudinal gradient: Using public DNA records to work within a taxonomic impediment. FACETS. 2(2): 937-954. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2016-0061
  • Fiona Tsoi MSc (2011 - 2013). Breeding system, dispersal and mtDNA within Malagasy Formicidae. Thesis.
  • Connor Warne MSc (2010 - 2013). Neotropical Ant Community Structure and Diversity along an Elevation Gradient Thesis.
    • ​Warne, CW, Hallwachs W, Janzen DW and Smith M. Alex. Functional and genetic diversity changes through time in a cloud forest ant assemblage. Biotropica https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12882​
  • Ariel Levitsky MSc (2010 - 2013). Melissotarsus insularis: cryptic species and co-diversification in Madagascar.  Thesis. 

Undergraduate Students

2021/23
  • ​Emily Thouless (BIOL*4500). Thermal tolerance of ant species in old field/forest ecotone

2020/21
  • ​Almeera Ahmed (BIOL*4500). Thermal tolerance of ant species in old field/forest ecotone

2019/20
  • ​Taya Venart Johnson (IBIO*4510). Thermal tolerance and activity for five sympatric ant species in Ontario.
  • Amanda Semenuk (IBIO*4510) Carnivorous plants, arthropods and salamanders: space and stable isotopes.
  • Ida Ostovar (IBIO*4510). Thermal tolerance of Staphylinidae across a forest/field ecotone.
  • Josh Molengraff (IBIO*4510). Thermal tolerance of Araneae across a forest/field ecotone.
  • Mohamed Elmankabady (BIOL*3660). SEM analysis of elytral microstructure of neotropical Staphylinidae.

2018/19
  • Julianna Alaimo - (IBIO*4510, work study) How does abundance and diversity of staphylinids differ among three neotropical stratovolcanoes in Northwestern Costa Rica?
  • Peter Gec (IBIO*4510) Comparing and contrasting arthropod biodiversity among remediated gravel quarries: What relationship is there to topsoil chemical characteristics?
  • Francesco Scanga (IBIO*4500). How does temperature influence the foraging behavior of the winter ant (Prenolepis imparis)
  • Danny McIsaac (IBIO*4510, work study) Tapinoma sessile cryptic species
  • Mohamed Elmankabady (CBS summer internship – merit based scholarship) - SEM analysis of elytral micro-structure of neotropical Staphylinidae

2017/18
  • Lauren Janke - Testing the thermal melanism hypothesis with Neotropical Staphylinidae along an elevation gradient
  • Rebecca Smith - Pheidole spinesence along a neotropical elevational gradient. 
  • Bailey Bingham - Does the thermal melanism hypothesis explain Collembola colour along a neotropical elevation gradient
  • Tommy Do - Work Study
  • Julianna Alaimo - Work Study

2016/17
  • Elyssa Loewen (ENVS*4300). Functional diversity of Neotropical Staphylinidae along an elevation gradient
  • Lauren Stitt (IBIO*4510). Diversity of Isopoda across an elevational gradient

2015/16
  • Sarah Dolson (IBIO*4500/4510). Diversity of Neotropical spiders along an elevation gradient
  • Kelsey Jones (ENVS*4300). Diversity of Staphylinidae across an elevational gradient
  • Ellen Richard (IBIO*4510) Millipede diversity in Algonquin Park
  • Natasha Welch (IBIO*4510) Ant diversity in New Brunswick protected areas.
  • Rachel Trigatti (volunteer)
  • Ellen Richard (work study)
  • Natasha Welch (volunteer)
  • Chelsie Xavier-Blower (work study)
  • Cristina Garrido Cortes (work study)
  • Simonne Clout (volunteer)
  • Izzy Deutsch - volunteer
  • Eryk Matczak (volunteer)
  • Erin McKlusky (volunteer)
  • Scott Rieder (volunteer)
  • Ceilidh Brennan (volunteer)
  • Alana Tallman (volunteer)
  • Charlotte Burke (volunteer)
  • Gabriel Levac (volunteer)
  • Madeline Edmonds (volunteer)
  • Marcel Van Heijst (volunteer)
  • Michael Livingston (volunteer)
  • Morgan Martin (volunteer)

2014/15
  • Alannah Biega – (IBIO*4500/4510).  Salt limitation on an elevational gradient in ACG
  • Cassie Russell – (IBIO*4500/4510).  How forestry in Algonquin Park affects beetle phylogenetic diversity
  • Alice Pintaric – (IBIO*4500/4510).  Cryptic species of Camponotus in Madagascar.
  • Chelsie Xavier-Blower (volunteer)
  • Sarah Dolson (volunteer)
  • Cristina Garrido Cortes (volunteer)
  • Natasha Welsh (volunteer)
  • Ellen Richard (volunteer)
  • Simonne Clout (volunteer)
  • Crysta Stubbs (volunteer)
  • Rachel Trigatti (volunteer)
  • Rachel Wood (volunteer)
  • Elyssa Loewen (volunteer)
  • Kayla MacNeil (volunteer)
  • Kathleen Lalor (volunteer)
  • Jesse Wolf (volunteer)
  • Gabriel Levac (volunteer)
  • Carolyn Trombley (volunteer)
  • Izzy Deutsch (volunteer)

2013/14
  • Hayley Cahill – (IBIO*4521/4522). Adelomyrmex diversity within ACG cloud forest.
  • Jessmyn Niergarth – (IBIO*4521/4522). The Effect of Larval Type on Molecular Evolutionary Rates
  • Sydney Frank – (IBIO*4500/4510).  Algonquin park Lepidopteran diversity
  • Aaron Fairweather – (IBIO*4500/4510). Algonquin park Formicidae diversity
  • Kelsie Paris – (IBIO*4510). Algonquin park parasitoid diversity
  • Amelia Chan – (IBIO*4510). Algonquin park spider diversity
  • Meike Corriveau – (IBIO*4510). Bergmann's and Allen's rule along a neotropical elevational gradient
  • Daniel Gibson – IBIO*4510). Aphid:plant specificity in Churchill
  • Tim Dance (volunteer)
  • Thomas Morgan (volunteer)
  • Mieke Corriveau  (volunteer)
  • Amelia Chan (volunteer)
  • Kelsie Paris (volunteer)
  • Allison Sawyer (volunteer)
  • Alice Pintaric (volunteer)
  • Eric Jolin (volunteer)
  • Chelsie Xavier-Blower (volunteer)
  • Sarah Doloson (volunteer)
  • Morgan Piczak (volunteer)
  • Cassie Russell (volunteer)
  • Kristina Deenik (volunteer)
  • Michaela Cruz (volunteer)

2012/13
  • Megan McPhee – (IBIO*4521/4522). ACG spider diversity with elevation.
  • Tyler Schmitt – (IBIO*4521/4522).  Algonquin park Hemipteran diversity
  • Morgan Roblin – (IBIO*4521/4522). Algonquin park Coleopteran diversity
  • Kate Pare – (IBIO*4521/4522). Algonquin park arthropod diversity with cut age
  • Sean Espinola: work study
  • Sydney Frank (volunteer)
  • Beverly McClenaghan (volunteer)
  • Tim Dance (volunteer)
  • Idean Golzari (volunteer)
  • Thomas Morgan (volunteer)
  • Nick Koss (volunteer)
  • Cole Anderson (volunteer)
  • Mieke Corriveau  (volunteer)
  • Ester Suen (volunteer)
  • Amelia Chan (volunteer)
  • Candice Jahani Aval (volunteer)

2011/2012
  • Paulson des Brisay: (IBIO*4521/4522). Paulson investigated the phylogeographic structure of the transcontential ant, Tapinoma sessile. (Supervisor)
  • Heather Coatsworth: Undergraduate Research project (IBIO*4501).  Heather tested whether host tissue could be amplified and identified from the guts of Eucharitidae parasitoids. (Supervisor)
  • Devin Fischer: Undergraduate Research project (IBIO*4501). Devin tested how the ant fauna changed within a full year between the Dairy Bush field and forest habitats.
  • Heather Coatsworth : work study
  • Sean Espinola: work study
  • Megan McPhee: work study
  • Morgan Roblin: work study
  • Sara Kuiper: work study
  • Jon Spero: work study
  • Thanushi Eagalle (volunteer)
  • Alex Sutton (volunteer)
  • Tyler Schmitt (volunteer)
  • Megan McPhee:  Summer 2012. Megan received one of the CBS Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarships and is working on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project funded by NSERC.
  • Tyler Schmitt: worked on the Algonquin terrestrial arthropod diversity project.
  • Thanushi Eagalle: worked on the Algonquin terrestrial arthropod diversity project.
  • Amanda Boyd: worked on the Algonquin terrestrial arthropod diversity project.
  • Morgan Roblin : worked on the Algonquin terrestrial arthropod diversity project.
  • Sean Espinola worked on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project.
  • Kate Pare volunteered on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project


2010/2011
  • Kayleb Smith: (IBIO4521/4522). Kayleb documented the effects of Wolbachia on the cryptic diversity of parasitoid wasps in Costa Rica and Canada.
  • Vincent Belluz: ( IBIO4521/4522). Vincent tested whether host insects can be determined by amplifying the gut-contents of the adult parasitoid wasps.
  • Rebecca Morton: (MCB4510). Rebecca tested the efficacy of a COI-only phylogeny when compared to other multi-gene phylogenies from the literature.
  • Fiona Tsoi (work study student). Imaging and measuring ants of Area de Conservacion de Guanacaste - Costa Rica.  Fiona is now one of my graduate students.
  • Jennifer Rouselle (undergraduate work study student). Imaging ants of Area de Conservacion de Guanacaste - Costa Rica
  • Lauren van Patter: Undergraduate Research assistant.  Summer 2009, Fall/Winter 2009/10, Summer 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011.  Lauren works on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project.
  • Heather Coatsworth: NSERC USRA, Summer 2011.  Heather works on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project.
  • Lauren Van Patter: Lauren works on the Costa Rican ant community and climate change project.
  • Caitlin van der Meer: Summer 2011. Caitlin is working on the Algonquin Park and Dairy Bush biodiversity projects funded by GEL2.
  • Sandra McCubbin:  Summer 2011. Sandra received one of the CBS Summer Undergraduate Research Scholarships and is working on the Algonquin Park and Dairy Bush biodiversity projects funded by GEL2.
  • Chris Fruetel: Summer 2011.  Chris worked on the Dairy Bush and Algonquin Park arthropod biodiversity projects (Neil Rooney SES co-supervisor)
  • James Hall: Summer 2011.  James worked on the Dairy Bush and Algonquin Park arthropod biodiversity projects.(Neil Rooney SES co-supervisor