Quinn Webber (he/him)
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I am a behavioural ecologist interested in the intersection between animals, parasites, and the environment. Originally from Winnipeg, I completed my BSc Honours at the University of Winnipeg in 2013 and my MSc at the University of Winnipeg in 2016 where I focused on how animal personality and social behaviour affect parasite dynamics in bats. In 2016, I moved to St. John's Newfoundland and attended Memorial University of Newfoundland, where I finished my PhD on caribou social behaviour and space use in 2020. I was then a (remote) Post-Doc at the University of Colorado Boulder focusing on territoriality in red squirrels. In 2022 I started as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph.
My lab at the University of Guelph has taken an integrative and field-based approach to tackling complex fundamental and applied questions in a range of systems. We use advanced statistical and modelling techniques to better understand how animals interact with their environment, with members of the same species, and with members of other species. At present, we are primarily working on bats, caribou, and canids in Ontario and Newfoundland. Email: qwebber[at]uoguelph[dot]ca Twitter: @webber_quinn |
MSc students
Emily Cornthwaite (she/her)
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I am an MSc student interested in wildlife health and behaviour. Specifically, how parasites are impacting the behaviour of caribou on Fogo Island. I completed my BSc in biology at Carleton University where I looked at hummingbird behaviour
and how different resource dynamics drive competition. My previous research experience also includes working on a long-term monitoring and recovery project for turtles and snakes in Ontario as well as tagging and tracking endangered bats. More recently, I worked for ECCC looking at microplastic presence in marine water samples. In my free time I enjoy spending time outside, hiking, looking after my newest plants, and baking. Email: ecornthw[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Amaan Leacock (he/him)
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I am an MSc student studying the behavioural differences between caribou ecotypes in Ontario's far north. My academic background includes a BA in Biology from Wilfrid Laurier University, with a specialization in ecology, evolution, and biodiversity where I was awarded two NSERC USRA awards. My undergraduate thesis explored the factors driving the presence of red foxes and American martens in Ontario's Ring of Fire region. My previous experiences include a research project on fish assemblages on patch reefs in Discovery Bay, Jamaica. I also worked as a conservation lab technician at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory where I was part of the endangered mottled duskywing recovery project. Outside of my studies and work, I enjoy camping, video games, soccer (Mia san Mia), and hanging out with my cat.
Email: leacocka[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Sofia Elizarraras (she/her/hers)
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I am an MSc student investigating the roosting ecology of eastern small‑footed myotis. Since graduating with my BA from Kenyon College, I’ve been fortunate to work as a Biological Science Technician with the U.S. National Park Service, contributing to diverse research from analyzing wolf diets to studying sea turtle nesting behaviors. I’m passionate about movement ecology, scientific communication, and reducing negative human‑wildlife interactions, and I especially hope my research will inform future wildlife management strategies! In my free time, I enjoy hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Email: selizarr[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Jordan Heppell (he/him)
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I am an MSc student interested in the fascinating world of wildlife behavior and habitat dynamics. My academic journey began with a BSc in Biology from Vancouver Island University, where I completed my undergraduate thesis on best practices for using camera traps to study species responses to persistent drought near Nanaimo, BC. My MSc research will be at the intersection of ecological data integration and predictive modelling. Specifically, my focus will be on investigating the feasibility of using camera trap and LiDAR data to develop predictive models for species occurrence and movement speed along linear features in northeastern Ontario. This work is co-supervised by Dr. John Fryxell. In my free time, you'll often find me enjoying the company of my fiancé and our very opinionated dog. I also enjoy researching and hyperfocusing on new hobbies, diving into them headfirst only to abandon them for new and exciting interests just a few weeks later.
Email: jheppell[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Rose Myatt (she/her)
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I am a MSc student studying the quality and quantity trade-offs in Caribou foraging in Northern Ontario, co-supervised by John Fryxell. I am fascinated with wildlife behaviour, specifically species at risk, and how we can apply behavioural ecology research to conservation. Originally from New Brunswick, I graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a double major in Interdisciplinary leadership and Wildlife conservation, through which I had the opportunity to study marine mammals and seabird behaviour in Greece. More recently I was working for a land conservation organization, developing conservation measures and relating to the public to increase awareness and protected land in the province. In my free time you can find me hiking, exploring this vast province, practising guitar and Muy Thai.
Email: rmyatt[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Genevieve Kleefisch (she/her)
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I am an MSc student interested in how community assemblage of Ontario bat species changes over space and time based on food availability and habitat complexity. I completed my BSc at the University of Toronto. My research background includes studying the effects of forest fires on habitat suitability for birds in Ontario and investigating escape behaviors in Anolis lizards in Puerto Rico. More recently, I worked at the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, conducting faunal surveys across the Greater Toronto Area. In my free time, I enjoy painting, hiking with my dog on scenic trails, and spending time with friends and family!
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PhD students
Alex Cosby (she/her) - Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar
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Being from Manitoulin Island, growing up I was surrounded by Indigenous values related to environmental stewardship, shaping my career goal of studying equitable wildlife management. I graduated from my BSc at the University of Guelph in 2021, then moving on to complete a Masters in Public Issues Anthropology with a specialization in One Health in the LEMR lab, where I studied the parasitic consequences of humans and lemurs sharing and environment in Madagascar. For my PhD research I am returning to Manitoulin to study foraging behaviours in little brown bats, with community engagement being an integral component. Being passionate about my community and animal welfare, in my free time I volunteer with ISP classes and animal rescue groups, as well as play hockey, hike, and cook.
Email: acosby[at]uoguelph.ca |
Allegra Love (she/her) - NSERC PGS-D Scholar
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I am a PhD student interested in disease and spatial ecology. I completed my MSc in the Hendry and Fussmann labs at McGill University in 2021, my research projects have focussed on how parasites impact different aspects of ecology including colour patterns. I have also worked in open science, developing tools to monitor academic author sharing behaviours. This has given me hands-on experience with open science practices, software development, and project management. Currently my PhD project investigates the applications of the Landscape of Disgust and Fear using the Fogo Island caribou system. I like to read or be outdoors as much as possible in my free time!
Email: allegra[at]uoguelph.ca Website: https://allegraelove.wixsite.com/loveresearch |
Shayla Jackson (she/her) - Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar
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I am a current PhD student in the Web lab interested in behavioural ecology. I completed my BSc at the University of Western Ontario and remained there for my first MSc, supervised by William Roberts, in which I investigated canine cognition, and specifically the ability of dogs to discriminate quantity via olfactory cues. Realizing I wanted to spend more time outside, I travelled to Winnipeg, MB, where I completed a second MSc, supervised by Susan Lingle, investigating the diet and behaviour of coyotes living in proximity to cattle. Presently, I will be comparing wolf and coyote movement and reproductive behaviour across Ontario for my PhD. In my free time, I can usually be found deep in the forest with my own little wolves.
Email: sjacks28[at]uoguelph.ca |
Post-doctoral Fellows
Dr. Rachael Derbyshire (she/her)
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My name is Rachael Derbyshire and I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Webber Lab. For the past ~15 years, I have studied or worked within the field of wildlife biology and ecology. In addition to completing a BSc in Wildlife Biology (University of Guelph), MSc in Ecology (University of Guelph), Post-Graduate Diploma in Endangered Species Recovery (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology; University of Kent), and PhD in Environmental and Life Sciences (Trent University), I have held several employment positions in my field, including as a Research Manager at the University of Guelph. Currently, I am investigating the behavioural ecology of boreal caribou populations in Northern Ontario as part of the Caribou Conservation Stewardship Program, in partnership with the Ontario government. In my free time, I enjoy knitting, gardening, and spending time in the many beautiful natural areas that can be found across Ontario.
Email: rderbysh[at]uoguelph[dot]ca |
Dr. Julia Kilgour (she/her) - NSERC PDF Scholar (lab alumni, 2023-2025)
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My research centers around the impacts of free-roaming cats on urban wildlife behaviour and population health. I am interested in examining how using a One Health approach can improve our ability to mitigate conflicts with cats by incorporating the values and behaviours of stakeholders, the physical and political structures of the urban landscape, and the ecologies of the wildlife species. My previous research has examined the role of resource availability and group composition on the evolution of aggression (PhD, University of Guelph), and social group dynamics in bats (MSc, University of Regina). I have also been a part of the DC Cat Count, a highly collaborative project that examined the dynamics of different populations of owned and unowned cats in Washington DC. I worked as a wildlife biologist at the Lincoln Park Zoo (Chicago, IL), where I examined the efficacy of sterilization as a population management tool for free-roaming cats in New York City. I have a strong passion for social justice and spend some of my personal time working to dismantle the barriers to success for historically-excluded and marginalized people. I also enjoy good wine, strong coffee, running, and hiking with my partner and pup.
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Undergraduate students
Sascha Hendrie
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I am a fourth year undergraduate thesis student exploring how environmental conditions affect the timing of parturition in little brown bats. I am broadly interested in how energetic demand is influenced by an organism’s environment and its life history from an eco-physiology lens, particularly in biologically unique animals like bats. I am passionate about scientific research, and aspire to continue in academia through a Master’s degree after I graduate. In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors and looking for insects to add to my collection.
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Lindsey Walmboldt (she/her)
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I am a fourth-year Wildlife Biology and Conservation student completing an undergraduate thesis on winter site fidelity in Northern Ontario caribou. I am passionate about species at risk conservation and want to investigate the interactions between wildlife and their environment, as well as how humans impact these interactions. I want to conduct research that can be used for the management of species at risk. I plan to pursue these interests through a master's degree next fall. I have previously worked on species at risk conservation in Nova Scotia with Kejimkujik National Park and the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute, studying species like Blanding's turtles, piping plovers, and bats. Outside of school, I enjoy camping, reading and crafting.
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Graduate student alumni
Arya Horon (MSc, 2022-2024) - NSERC CGS-M Scholar
Thesis title: Do caribou surf? An empirical test of the green wave hypothesis for woodland caribou in Ontario, Canada.
Arya is now a moose and caribou biologist at fRI research in Alberta.
Thesis title: Do caribou surf? An empirical test of the green wave hypothesis for woodland caribou in Ontario, Canada.
Arya is now a moose and caribou biologist at fRI research in Alberta.
Teya Mathews (MSc, 2023-2024) - NSERC CGS-M Scholar
Thesis title: The effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on ectoparasitism in big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) maternity colonies.
Teya is now a projects and research assistant with the Canadian Association for Zoos & Aquariums (CAZA)
Thesis title: The effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on ectoparasitism in big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) maternity colonies.
Teya is now a projects and research assistant with the Canadian Association for Zoos & Aquariums (CAZA)
Undergraduate student alumni
Emma Kelly (BSc honours student, 2024-25)
Thesis title: Influence of freeze-thaw severity on caribou reproductive patterns and offspring survival in Newfoundland.
Emma is coming back to the U of Guelph for a final year to wrap up her undergraduate degree, so we're sure to see her around the lab for another year.
Marie Cera (BSc honours student, 2024-25)
Thesis title: The social predictors of dominance hierarchy steepness in mammals.
Marie is now a MSc student at the University of Saskatchewan.
Owen Tapia-Daly (BSc honours student, 2024)
Thesis title: The sound of life: monitoring bat biodiversity on Manitoulin Island.
Isaac Bustraen (BSc honours student, 2023-24)
Thesis title: The health related consequences of ectoparasitism and sociality in big brown bats.
Trennon Wint (BSc honours student, 2023)
Thesis title: Agricultural land cover and space-use ecology in southern Ontario raccoons
Trennon is now a MSc student in the Department of Geography at the University of Guelph.
Brennan Stanfield (BSc honours student, 2022-23)
Thesis title: Insect harassment influences woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) habitat selection
Brennan is now a MSc student at the University of Alberta.
Mary Atkinson (BSc honours student, 2022-23)
Thesis title: Diel variation in sociality: a role for nighttime ecology. Mary's thesis was published in CJZ in 2025 (see publications for the link).
Mary is now a researcher at African Lion Safari.
Thesis title: Influence of freeze-thaw severity on caribou reproductive patterns and offspring survival in Newfoundland.
Emma is coming back to the U of Guelph for a final year to wrap up her undergraduate degree, so we're sure to see her around the lab for another year.
Marie Cera (BSc honours student, 2024-25)
Thesis title: The social predictors of dominance hierarchy steepness in mammals.
Marie is now a MSc student at the University of Saskatchewan.
Owen Tapia-Daly (BSc honours student, 2024)
Thesis title: The sound of life: monitoring bat biodiversity on Manitoulin Island.
Isaac Bustraen (BSc honours student, 2023-24)
Thesis title: The health related consequences of ectoparasitism and sociality in big brown bats.
Trennon Wint (BSc honours student, 2023)
Thesis title: Agricultural land cover and space-use ecology in southern Ontario raccoons
Trennon is now a MSc student in the Department of Geography at the University of Guelph.
Brennan Stanfield (BSc honours student, 2022-23)
Thesis title: Insect harassment influences woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) habitat selection
Brennan is now a MSc student at the University of Alberta.
Mary Atkinson (BSc honours student, 2022-23)
Thesis title: Diel variation in sociality: a role for nighttime ecology. Mary's thesis was published in CJZ in 2025 (see publications for the link).
Mary is now a researcher at African Lion Safari.
