PI: Prof. Elizabeth L. Clare
My research considers biodiversity at all levels from individuals to ecosystems. I employ novel genetic techniques to measure the connections between species and trophic levels among frugivores, insectivores, parasites and pollinators. In my lab we are particularly interested in the effect of landscape on ecological interactions and we are always looking for novel ways to use genetic technologies to answer these questions. From sequencing DNA in the middle of a jungle, to tracing eDNA in the gut of a leech or a dung beetle to identify local mammals to discovering we can suck eDNA out of the air we are always creative in our approaches. I love field work and have taught field courses in the Nagev desert, the South African Savannah and a Costa Rican Rain Forest. I have worked in many countries but have spent most of my field trips in Costa Rica, Belize, Texas and Ontario. My lab members work around the world. I completed my PhD at the University of Guelph, a post doctoral fellowship at Bristol University and Cardiff University in the UK and was a faculty member at Queen Mary University of London for 8 years before moving my lab back to York University in 2021.
Lab Manager Melissa Mac Leod-Bigley
I am an expert in eDNA laboratory methods and have been working in the eDNA industry. In the Clare Lab I'll be working on projects related to the BeeDNA project and general lab management. In particular I will be eager to use the MinIon platform for eDNA work.
Postdoc Dr. Orianne Tournayre
I am a molecular ecologist with an expertise in the use of eDNA for biodiversity. I completed my PhD in Montpellier France on the population genetics of the greater horseshoe crab and a post doc at Queen University in Canada on a aquatic eDNA using a "tree of life" approach. At Queens I also organized and helped teach field courses and a workshop in Environmental DNA for end users. In the Clare lab I will be working partly at York and partly in Montreal in the Cristescu lab on large scale biodiversity surveys on land using airborne eDNA.
Field Technician Patrick Arteaga
I am an expert in all things bee related. This summer i am training students in the Lab in how to catch and identify wild pollinators. I'm also testing some of the beeDNA devices for the capture of eDNA from hives.
PhD Candidate: Alejandro Maeda Obregon
For my PhD studies, I will focus on applying environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to analyse fish and amphibian biodiversity in Mexican ecosystems. The project will produce new knowledge about current biodiversity which is crucial due to the overuse of natural resources and introduction of exotic species threatening environments are exerting intense pressures on native and endemic species.
PhD Candidate: Kat Lunn
I completed my MSc as member of the Clare Lab investigating the diet of migratory birds and the diversity of fungi associated with solitary bees. I then went on to manage health and safety in a COVID testing lab at Queen Mary University of London. In the fall of 2022 I will be rejoining the Clare lab to conduct a PhD.
PhD Candidate Alejandro Biganzoli
Alejandro completed his BSc at the Universidad de Los Andes, Merida Venezuela supervised by Dr. Jesus Molinari. He completed his MSc at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil supervised by Dr. Andressa Paladini. He's particularly interested in the biogeography of bats.
PhD Student: Nina Garrett
For my PhD research I will be exploring the use of the airborne eDNA as a mechanisms for large scale biodiversity surveys with a particular focus on the spatial temporal dynamics of eDNA in air and the use of occupancy models to reduce estimate errors.
PhD Student: Gliselle Marin
For my PhD research I will be quantifying how traditional "fruit bats" use insect resources in the neotropics. I am a Belizian scientist. I complete my undergraduate at Purdue in the US and an MSc in New Zealand. I have been working for many years on conservation biology on Belize.
Previous Lab Members - Academic progeny!
Post Doctoral Fellows
- Dr. Joanne Littlefair
- Dr. Jens Nielson
- Dr. Daniel Marquina-Hernandez
- Dr. Mateus Pepinelli
Technicians
- Benny Krongold
- Joseph Trafford
- Dr. Rosie Drinkwater
- Frances Bennett
- Cat Dyer
- Andrew Vermy
- Patrick Artega
- Ghazal Hooshyar
- Mehdi Movahed
- Amandeep Gill
- Jayson Zayad
- Sanjayan Somasunderam
- Mehdi Movahed
PhD Students
- Dr. Jane Hallum
- Dr. Omarr Khalilur Rahman
- Dr. Hernani Oliveira
- Dr. Rosie Drinkwater
- Dr. Tiago Teixeira
- Dr. David Hemprich-Bennett
- Dr. Aitor Arrizabalaga (visiting student)
- Dr. Valaria Salinas (visiting student)
MSc Students
- Nicole Borsato
- Nina Garrett
- Frances Bennett
- Katherine Lunn
- Sally Ivens
- Rowena Gordon
- Jake Cush
- Omar Khalilur Rahman
- Jashan Abraham
- Maddy Rhodes
- Leon Tucker
- Leah Taylor
- Alice Goodwin
BSc Students
- Ghazal Hooshyar
- Sargon Yousefian Dezag Tekkie
- Shai Lis
- Sebnem O'Hara
- Rachel Shaw
- Ceren Deniz Feliz Ozel Turkoglu
- Olly Gaskin
- Fatima Ahmad
- Arsenijs Jermakovs
- Clara DeSena Costa
- Bruno DeAraujo
- Alfie Gleeson
- Rebecca Mann
- Olivia Murrin
- Swastina Nathvarma
- Olivia Niblock
- Lucy Vialls
- Diviya Uthayakumar
- Rebecca Girton