Here are some of the exciting research areas for Honours Thesis Projects. If something catches your interest, the next step is to contact individual faculty members to see what projects are available this year, then fill in the BIOL537 Application Form 2024-25. The application deadline is March 18, 2024.
Maria Aristizabal
Office
2516
Telephone
Transcriptional control is dynamic and involves a large repertoire of proteins that ensure genes are expressed at the right level, in the right place and at the right time. Our laboratory uses genetic, molecular and high-throughput approaches to understand fundamental principles of transcription regulation and their linkages to chromatin biology and genome maintenance. We work in the yeast and fly model systems and leverage the natural transcriptional changes that occur in response to environmental challenge.
Shelley Arnott
Office
4230A
Telephone
Email
Despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems and the services they provide, lakes are experiencing multiple environmental stressors associated with human activities. We study zooplankton communities to understand how environmental change impacts freshwater organisms and aquatic food webs.
Our research is conducted at multiple scales. We use field mesocosm experiments to isolate the effects of individual and combined stressors on community structure and function. Population-level lab experiments are used to understand direct effects of stressors on life-history attributes. Regional lake surveys allow us to identify how species distributions are influenced by changing environments.
Much of our recent research has focused on understanding the impact of road salt on aquatic organisms. We have used laboratory and field experiments to show that current water quality guidelines do not protect organisms in all lakes and are now conducting experiments to understand what factors make some lakes and populations more susceptible to salt that others. Some potential projects include experiments to quantify variation in salt tolerance within and among populations, the impact of water hardness on salt toxicity, comparisons of ‘eco-friendly’ salt alternatives, and the influence of additional environmental stressors on salt toxicity. I welcome ideas for other related projects.
William Bendena
Office
2445
Telephone
Email
How the nervous system functions in higher organisms is very complex! Our lab uses model organisms with less complex nervous systems that are amenable to molecular genetic analysis, namely, the nematode Caernorhabditis elegans and the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Many genes found in these organisms have counterparts in higher animals and have been shown to function in similar ways. Our focus is on understanding how neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptors act to control behaviours such as muscle contraction (movement), metabolism (weight gain or loss), sleep/biological clock, and hormonal systems. The approaches we use include molecular biology (cloning and gene knockouts), genetics (phenotypes of mutants), microscopy (fluorescent gene expression, fluorescent dyes and immunocytochemistry) and biochemical analysis.
Paul J. Blanchfield
We study how animals respond to changing aquatic environments and habitats, with a focus on cold-water adapted organisms, including various freshwater fish species and the Atlantic Walrus. Research in my lab often uses biotelemetry or behavioural observation approaches, paired with limnological and food-web measures, to examine habitat use under natural conditions and understand the potential consequences of environmental change to populations.
Fran Bonier
Office
3523
Telephone
(613) 533-6000 ext. 77024
extension 77024
Email
Our research explores how organisms cope with diverse challenges like changing temperatures, disease, and urbanization. We approach this broad aim from a number of perspectives, often investigating plastic changes in behaviour, physiology, and life history to better understand adaptations to challenges. BIOL537 projects possibly available for the upcoming year include field studies on urban birds, citizen science research on urban birds, in silico studies of brain morphology of urban birds, and/or captive experiments in burying beetles. 537 students work closely with graduate students and have the opportunity to develop field, lab, data analysis (in R), and communication skills.
Ian Chin-Sang
Office
2422A
Telephone
Email
We use the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to study how animals develop. In our lab, we leverage the unique characteristics of C. elegans—its transparency and distinct anatomy—to study animal development at an extraordinary level of detail: the single cell. We use genetic, molecular biology, biochemistry, and state of the art video microscopy techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control cell shape, cell movement, cell division and cell fate. Recent projects include how insulin-like peptides control cell divisions and how a kinesin motor protein controls epidermal shape.
Adam Chippindale
Office
2420
Telephone
Email
We use experiments with the mighty fruit fly Drosophila to address questions about evolution. Our two main lines of research at the present time are related to the impact of sexual conflict on the genome and the evolution of ageing.
Fruit flies are an awesome system for a thesis student because they are easy to rear with short generations, meaning that we can get new personnel up to speed quickly and produce high-quality experiments over a relatively short time line. We are using experimental evolution, genetic manipulations and large scale surveys of survival and reproductive success to unravel the genetic basis of sexual conflict and ageing.
The Chippindale Lab seeks hard-working, enthusiastic and diligent thesis students to join our collegial team.
Robert Colautti
Office
4325A
Telephone
Human activity is rapid changing all of the earth’s major ecosystems, benefitting some species with adverse effects on others. The Colautti lab investigates how human activity is changing genes, genomes and phenotypes of species in nature, and how these changes affect species persistence in a changing world.
We work at the interface of ecology, evolution and genetics; our research combines greenhouse and field work (primarily at QUBS) with cutting-edge methods in genomics (e.g. Next-Generation Sequencing) and computational biology (in R, Python, Unix). We think knowledge from these experiments will lead to innovative solutions for the conservation and management of natural resources and ecosystem services increasingly threatened by global change.
For a list of current research projects and personnel, visit http://ecoevogeno.org
Brian Cumming
Office
3108 (Head's Office), 3134A
Telephone
Email
My research focuses on the development of techniques and approaches to assess environmental change in lakes over decades to millennia from both natural (e.g., climate, fire) and anthropogenic stressors. This research involves understanding the modern-day relationships between freshwater organisms and their environment, and how these relationships can be used to better understand past environmental conditions by examining the assemblages of algae and invertebrates in well-dated sediment cores from lakes. An active area of research in my lab involves studies that are designed to understand the role of climate and anthropogenic activities on lakes in boreal and the Great Lakes-St Lawrence Forest regions of Ontario, and the Adirondack region (NY, USA), and how this information can be used in the conservation and management of lakes. Currently, we are working on lakes from the central interior of British Columbia, Cape Breton Island National Park, the Adirondacks, and local lakes that are adjacent to and within Frontenac Provincial Park (just north of Kingston). I strive to provide student-based projects that are possible within the constraints of a fourth-year thesis and the interests of the student.
George diCenzo
Office
2517
Telephone
(613) 533-6000 ext. 78529
extension 78529
Our research spans fundamental to applied microbiology, with a focus on using diverse methods spanning wet-lab molecular genetics to dry-lab comparative genomics to understand complex bacterial phenotypes and develop new microbial biotechnologies. Our research is largely divided across two main topics: nitrogen fixation and plastic biodegradation.
Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of entering a symbiotic interaction with legume plants, during which they convert atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia that is provided to the plant as a source of nitrogen. This interaction allows legume plants to thrive even in nitrogen-deficient soils, reducing the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers in agricultural settings. We are isolating rhizobia from Ontario soils able to interact with common bean plants, and characterizing them phenotypically and with whole genome sequencing, with the goal of developing new inoculants for use in Canadian agriculture. In parallel, we use diverse tools to develop a comprehensive understanding of the metabolism, genomics, and taxonomy of these rhizobia to support future attempts at engineering these bacteria.
Canadians use over 4.5 million tonnes of plastic per year, or which only 9% is recycled. To tackle this problem, we are interested in identifying enzymes and microbes capable of degrading plastics and converting them either back to their monomers or into other valuable chemicals. To accomplish this, we are using diverse metagenomic and functional genomics approaches, as well as culturing novel environmental bacteria and fungi and screening them for an ability to degrade plastics. By doing so, we hope to contribute to a foundation supporting the development of novel plastic biochemical recycling technologies.
For more information, please refer to dicenzolab.weebly.com and openplastic.com.
Christopher Eckert
Office
4447A
Telephone
Email
We are investigating the process of evolutionary adaptation: What is the role of natural selection in relation to other evolutionary forces? How do interactions between ecology & genetics influence the mode & tempo of evolution? What constrains adaptation thereby limiting species geographical and ecological distributions?
And we do all this with plants. Yes plants. Because plants exhibit unparalleled diversity in life history, reproductive mode & genetic system, and they often exhibit striking evolutionary diversity within individual species and sometimes within individual populations. Plus, they are really strange and wonderful organisms and very co-operative during experiments. In my lab, we embrace our inner botanist and a large part of training in my lab is learning about plant natural history and ecology. **Not accepting students in 2024-2025**
Jannice Friedman
Office
4420A
Telephone
Our research investigates how genetic mechanisms interact with environmental conditions to determine the evolution of traits. We mostly study the evolution of reproductive strategies in plants and aim to understand the influence of ecological factors like climate, abiotic conditions, pollinators and demography. We are interested in how these ecological and evolutionary patterns are shaped by their underlying genetics. Plants are a useful system because they stay still, they can be grown in large numbers, and often have very varied and interesting adaptations. Research in the lab uses an integrative approach, including field work or greenhouse/growth chamber experiments, genomics, and comparative biology.
Vicki Friesen
Office
4443A
Telephone
Email
My lab studies genetic variation in relation to conservation and management, mostly in birds. Genetic variation is critical to both short- and long-term survival of natural populations, especially under rapid anthropogenic change. New genomic methods, especially when combined with studies of behaviour and life history, provide powerful opportunities to determine the potential for populations to adapt to climate change, disease and other stressors. Three projects are available in 2024-2025. All students will obtain training in population genetics, avian ecology, project design and execution, and science communication. The second two projects also involve genomics, and bioinformatics.
1. Demography of common eiders: Common eiders are important sources of protein and feathers in Northern communities. While much is known about eider ecology, gaps remain in the research; for example, little is known about how frequently a pair remains together for multiple breeding seasons, or how often male common eiders return to the same breeding grounds. An extensive dataset exists from a 20+ year mark-recapture program at the largest common eider colony in the Eastern Arctic (Mitivik Island, Nunavut) including information about mate choice, body size, age, etc. We have a project for a summer student to investigate these metrics to explore how they have changed over time and answer questions that fill important gaps related to eider breeding ecology and population demographics.
2. Effective population size of the Mitivik Island common eider colony: A well-studied common eider colony in the Canadian Arctic (Mitivik Island, Nunavut) has faced multiple detrimental population pressures over recent years: an outbreak of avian cholera, predation by polar bears, and a rapidly changing climate. While aspects of each of these pressures have been explored, currently no information exists on how these pressures may differentially impact the effective population size of the colony (number of breeding individuals in a population). We have a project for a summer student to investigate a time-series of low coverage whole genome sequences to calculate effective population size over time in the Mitivik Island common eider colony, and to explore if changes may correlate with significant events. This work will inform the conservation of Arctic species by exploring how growing threats in the Arctic such as emerging infectious diseases and climate change may impact population size.
3. Are thick-billed murres mating assortative according to genetics? Thick-billed murres are Arctic-breeding seabirds that are top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems and also provide fresh protein to Indigenous communities. We have access to blood samples of ~100 breeding pairs and the project will look at immune genes (such as MHC) to test if murres mate with individuals that are similar or dissimilar on a genetic aspect.
Monica Garvie
Email
“I use paleolimnological techniques coupled with Indigenous protocols specific to the communities in which I work to track environmental changes over time. My work in my home region of treaty #9 territory focuses on tracking centennial scale changes in Long Lake in response to mining, logging, settlement, and the Long Lake Diversion of 1939 in ways that are appropriate to Anishinaabe culture. My work with Kionywarihwaen (Crawford Lake) in Treaty #19 (Ajetance Purchase) focuses on millennial scale changes of the region in response to changing climate and settlement activities in ways that are appropriate to Wyandot and Anishinaabe cultures. My research specializes in isotope dating, diatom and chrysophyte identification and interpretation, and geochemical techniques as well as integration of Indigenous cultural practices and protocols around knowledge seeking and sharing.”
Paul Grogan
Office
2508
Telephone
Email
I am interested in carbon and nutrient cycling and how it affects the structure and functioning of arctic tundra as well as temperate forest and grassland ecosystems. One of the contexts for these studies is to understand how such ecosystems are likely to be affected by perturbations such as climate change, land use change, and atmospheric pollution. For further details, including a listing of specific research projects in which we are currently engaged, please see https://www.queensu.ca/terrestrial-ecosystem-ecology/. Thesis students in my lab are strongly encouraged to develop their own research hypotheses within or outside the general areas outlined above.
Daniel Lefebvre
Office
3517
Telephone
Email
Our research investigates i) the ‘green’ synthetic biology of nanoparticles composed of inorganic elements such as industrially valuable quantum dots, and ii) bioremediation of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms that pollute water bodies globally. Synthetic biology is touted to be the science of the future, and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms are a persistent threat to potable water on a global scale. Our studies involve environmental assessment and sampling; microbial culturing techniques; in lab, greenhouse and reservoir experiments; chemical, biochemical, genetic and molecular analyses; microscopy and spectroscopy; among others. **Not accepting students in 2024-2025**
Steve Lougheed
Office
4428
Telephone
We are interested in understanding the origins of biodiversity from the level of local adaptation and limiting gene flow in single landscapes, through the genomics of entire species' ranges, to understanding the processes that produce new, reproductively isolated species. Our research uses the perspectives of landscape genetics, phylogeography and phylogenetics of select vertebrates (frogs, snakes, lizards, fish, bears, and birds) to understand species origins and the impacts that human activities have on species distributions and genetic diversity. We combine molecular tools, radiotelemetry and GIS, habitat characterization, and ecological experiments to study species of conservation concern in Canada and provide direct inputs into conservation planning and habitat stewardship.
Paul Martin
Office
4320A
Telephone
Email
Our current work focuses on interactions among closely related species and the factors that determine their distributions along environmental gradients (community ecology). Possible honours thesis projects available for this coming year are listed here: https://www.paulmartinlab.com/honours-thesis-projects
Our work for the upcoming year will include both field studies of burying beetles (assuming field work is permitted) and comparative work on birds. Field-based projects would require basing out of the Queen's University Biological Station, likely from mid-May to mid-July. Our comparative work relies on existing phylogenetic, genetic, and geographic range data (using GIS), and measures of traits taken from the literature, museums, or other sources (including community science), and can be completed during the summer and/or fall.
**Not accepting students in 2024-2025**
Jacqueline Monaghan
Office
3420
Telephone
We are interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin host-microbe interactions. Just like understanding our own immune system is necessary for the development of effective drugs and vaccines, understanding the plant immune system is necessary for the development of sustainable and environmentally-friendly strategies to fight diseases that affect our crops. Our lab focuses on understanding the regulatory mechanisms that allow plants to defend against a vast array of potential pathogens while maintaining normal growth and development. We use a variety of approaches, but rely heavily on genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, proteomics, and cell biology in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. For more information on what we do please see our lab website http://monaghanlab.ca and get in touch to discuss your interest. **Not accepting students in 2024-25**
Christopher Moyes
Office
3121
Telephone
Email
Animals use metabolic pathways to capture dietary energy and transform it into ATP, which is used to support all biological processes, including movement. My lab studies how animals regulate their genes and enzymes to ensure that metabolic pathways provide enough energy to meet biological demands, particularly when the animals face environmental challenges. The research spans cell biology, molecular and evolutionary genetics, metabolic biochemistry and animal physiology. My emphasis is on the underlying mechanisms and common themes, creating a framework to understand how physiological differences arise in cells, tissues and animals. I am not available to supervise BIOL537 students this year, though I expect to co-supervise with other faculty members, contributing a physiological perspective to projects of mutual interest in the realm of evolution, ecology and energetics. **Not accepting students in 2024-2025**
William Nelson
Office
3506
Telephone
Email
The Nelson lab is interested in understanding how the lifecycle of an organism impacts its population dynamics. We work in three experimental systems: Freshwater zooplankton, tortrix moths, and bean weevils. The systems are great for studying ecological and evolutionary processes because they have short generation times and are easy to work with the lab. I typically take on two or three motivated students each year and am happy to supervise projects that involve either mathematical modeling or laboratory experimentation in any of these systems. I encourage students to propose their own research questions, but I also have several projects that could be used a starting point.
Diane Orihel
Office
3127
Telephone
(613) 533-6000 ext. 79052
extension 79052
Email
In the Queen’s Experimental Ecology and Ecotoxicology (QE3) lab, directed by Dr. Diane Orihel, we study the fate and effects of chemical contaminants in freshwater ecosystems. In 2024, our lab is conducting a field experiment at the Queen’s University Biological Station to better understand how microplastic pollution affects wetland food webs, which will form the basis of several student theses. Honours projects could focus on the effects of microplastics on invertebrates (project 1) or amphibians (project 2), or on the fate/movement of microplastics in model wetland ecosystems (project 3). There are opportunities for students to participate in fieldwork this summer (optional), otherwise students can analyze archived samples during the fall/winter terms. Because Dr. Orihel is presently on sabbatical, interested students may wish to speak with the PhD student leading this microplastic study, Sam Gene (s.gene@queensu.ca). To apply for an Honours position, please contact Dr. Orihel (diane.orihel@queensu.ca) with a cover letter, resume, transcript, using the subject line “BIOL537 Microplastics”. In the cover letter, please indicate which Honours project (1, 2, 3) interests you and why.
William Plaxton
Office
3513
Telephone
Email
Our long-term research goal is to characterize the?molecular, regulatory, and functional properties of key enzymes of plant phosphate and carbohydrate metabolism. The current focus is on understanding the functions, regulation, post-translational modifications (especially reversible phosphorylation), protein:protein interactions, and subcellular targeting of key enzyme proteins that help the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana acclimate to nutritional phosphorus starvation. BIOL537 projects may involve growing Arabidopsis suspension cell cultures and/or plants, enzyme purification and characterization, advanced (phospho)proteomic studies using LC-MS/MS, immunological tools (western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation using specific antibodies), and/or molecular/genomic approaches such as mRNA profiling, recombinant enzyme expression and characterization, or analyses of transgenic plants in which enzymes we are studying in have either been knocked out or overexpressed. All of these techniques are relevant to a wide variety of careers in the biological and life sciences, and biotech industry. Our overall research has significant long-term applications to problems in Canadian and worldwide agriculture, particularly the development of phosphorus-efficient crops, urgently needed to reduce mankind’s rampant overuse of non-renewable, unsustainable, and polluting phosphate fertilizers. Preference is usually given to ‘cell and molecular’ oriented students who have completed and/or are planning to take advanced lab courses in physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology (e.g.,?BIOL401-404).?Previous lab volunteer or summer research experience in the biological/life sciences would be an asset, but is not essential. For more info please visit: https://www.queensu.ca/plaxtonlab/.
Sharon Regan
Office
3422
Telephone
Email
Our research is focused on understanding the molecular regulation of plant growth and development, especially trees such as poplars (Populus) and hazelnut (Corylus) but we also work in the model system Arabidopsis, and sometimes potato, Senna, and other crop plants. We take a functional genomics approach, and we typically screen a population of mutant plants (Arabidopsis and Poplar) or screen breeding populations (Hazelnut) to identify genes controlling important traits. Projects that we are currently working on impact flower development and disease resistance in hazelnut, wood development and disease resistance in poplar and bioremediation strategies in Senna and poplar. To the best of our abilities we try to match the project to the students interests, while still providing the opportunity for you to contribute to a larger project ongoing in the lab.
Laurent Seroude
Office
2512
Telephone
Email
The research in our group uses genetics to dissect the molecular changes associated with aging and identify genes influencing how we age. The general strategy is to use Drosophila as a model system in which to identify and isolate genes homologous to humans, using the fly for experimental analysis of their basic functions. The laboratory is the sole in Canada entirely dedicated to understand how and why we age using a model organism whose genes can easily be manipulated. Understanding aging is the only hope to develop interventions to prevent the impairments (such as locomotion or mental impairments) and diseases (such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease) associated with aging.
John Smol OC. FRSC. FRS
Office
4307A
Telephone
Email
Our lab’s research focuses on using long-term environmental and ecological approaches to study how lake and river ecosystems have been affected by both human and natural stressors. We work on projects from around the world (e.g. environmental change in the South American Andes, a large program on lakes from polar regions, the ecological effects of oil sands operations, studying the effects of mining activities, to name just a few). Many projects are also based on Ontario and other Canadian lakes. Much of our work deals with using biology to track environmental changes using records preserved in lake sediments. For example, we attempt to resolve questions such as: How are lakes changing and why? How has recent climatic change affected lakes in different ecozones? Can we decipher the relative roles of human impacts versus natural processes? Once lakes have been altered by human activities, can they recover? And if so, how fast? Such information provides critical data for other scientists, policy makers, politicians, and the public-at-large to make evidence-based management decisions.
Wayne Snedden
Office
3509
Telephone
Email
Research projects can be suited to individual student interests but will encompass the theme of calcium-mediated signal transduction in plants. Plant cells respond to stimuli such as pathogen attack, drought, salinity, and cold stress through signal transduction pathways regulated at some level by the secondary messenger calcium. Cells interpret the information encoded in calcium signals through calcium-binding proteins such as calmodulin. Using the tools of molecular biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, and cell biology, students will address questions formulated to help unravel some of the signaling events between stimulus perception and cellular response. Depending upon the project selected, students will develop familiarity with methodologies involved in cDNA cloning, PCR, gene expression studies, recombinant protein expression, enzyme assays, protein-protein interaction (yeast two-hybrid screening, interactive cloning), cell and tissue culturing. These projects provide marketable skills in biotechnology and a solid foundation for future lab research. A background in plant biology is an asset, but by no means essential.
Bruce Tufts
Office
3115
Telephone
Email
The vast majority of the research carried out in my laboratory falls under the general heading of Fisheries Biology. More specifically, this research can be grouped into studies in either i) conservation of wild fisheries or ii) aquaculture. Students in my lab have often used physiological techniques to understand what is happening in fish under different conditions, but this is not always the case. In recent years, we have incorporated a broad range of approaches to different fisheries issues. Studies may be carried out in the lab, or in the field, or both. I do not have a list of projects ahead of time. The specific details of the 537 projects will normally be decided after students have been accepted.
Dr. Virginia Walker
Office
2522
Telephone
Email
Virginia Walker’s Lab
Molecular genetics/ environmental microbiology/ stress tolerance/ low temperature resistance/ astrobiology / with model systems from microbes to fish to insects to plants to mammals and beyond!
Note: As Professor Emerita, I am no longer accepting new students or staff.
Our research interests concern stress genes and the molecular basis of resistance. This is a central question for scientific goals as diverse as predicting the impact of nanoparticle-containing food on our gut microbiota, the consequence of climate change on Arctic organisms, the impact of microgravity, or the production of ice-binding proteins in environmentally-stressed overwintering plants, insects, fish or microbes.
Recent Journal Articles (only current NSERC granting period listed)
(*of course, students and other trainees are marked by stars because they are!)
1.*Martin TA, *Juurakko CL, Harrison T, Arnott SE, Walker VK. (2024) Differential impacts of road de-icers on freshwater bacterial communities. Water. 2024 Jan 28;16(3):426.
2.Tomalty HE, Graham LA, Walker VK, Davies PL (2023) Chilling injury in human kidney tubule cells after subzero storage is not mitigated by antifreeze protein addition.
Cryobiology. Jun 1;111:113-20.
3.*Hamilton, EF. *Juurakko CL, Engel K, Neufeld JD, Casselman JM, Greer CW, Walker VK (2023) Environmental impacts on skin microbiomes of sympatric high Arctic salmonids. Fishes, 8, 214. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8040214
4.*Hamilton, EF. *Juurakko CL, Engel K, van C. de Groot P, Casselman JM, Greer CW, Neufeld JD, Walker VK (2023) Characterization of skin- and intestine microbial communities in migrating High Arctic lake whitefish and cisco. Arctic Science. 10(1): 125-139. https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2023-0022.
2022:
5.Forbes, J., Bissoyi, A., Eickhoff, L...Walker VK.. Davies P.L et al. (2022) Water-organizing motif continuity is critical for potent ice nucleation protein activity. Nature Commun 13, 5019. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32469-9
6.*Juurakko, CL, diCenzo, GC and Walker, VK (2022) Brachypodium antifreeze protein gene products inhibit ice recrystallisation, attenuate ice nucleation, and reduce immune response. Plants 11: 1475. doi.org/10.3390/plants11111475
7.Houde, M, Krümmel, EM, Mustonen, T….Walker, VK and Whiting, A. (2022) Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic, Science of The Total Environment, 841:156566 doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156566.
8.Duan Y, Grogan P, Walker VK, diCenzo GC (2022) Whole genome sequencing of mesorhizobia isolated from northern Canada. Canadian J. Microbiology Nov 1;68(11):661-673. doi: 10.1139/cjm-2022-0102
9.*Juurakko CL, *Bredow M, diCenzo GC and Walker VK (2022) Cold-inducible promoter-driven knockdown of Brachypodium antifreeze proteins confers freezing and phytopathogen susceptibility. Plant Direct Sep 12;6(9):e449. doi: 10.1002/pld3.449.
10.Lennert AE, Houde M, Krümmel EM, Brammer J, Brown TM, Chételat J, Dahl PE, Dietz R, Evans M, Gamberg M, Gauthier MJ...Walker VK (2022). Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic. UiT Munin https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156566.
2021:
11.*Juurakko, C, DiCenzo, GC and Walker VK (2021) Cold acclimation and prospects for cold-resistant crops. Plant Stress 2, 100028 doi:10.1016/j.stress.2021.100028
12.*Rosenstein, AH and Walker, VK (2021) Fidelity of a bacterial DNA polymerase in microgravity, a model for human DNA health in space. Frontiers Cell and Developmental Biology. Nov 29;9:702849. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.702849
13.*Moniz K, Walker VK, Shah V (2021) Antibiotic resistance in mucosal bacteria from high Arctic migratory salmonids. Environ Microbiol Rep. doi: 10.1111/1758-2229.12975.
14.*Juurakko CL, *Bredow M, Nakayama T, Imai H., Kawamura Y, diCenzo GC, Uemura M and Walker VK (2021) The Brachypodium distachyon cold-acclimated plasma membrane proteome is primed for stress resistance. Genes, Genomes and Genetics (G3) 11(9):kab198 doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkab198.
15.Koch I, *Das P, *McPhedran BE, Casselman JM, *Moniz KL, van Coeverden de Groot P, Qitsualik J, Muir D, Schott S, Walker VK (2021) Correlation of mercury occurrence with age, elemental composition, and life history in sea-run food fish from the Canadian arctic archipelago’s lower Northwest Passage. Foods 10(11):2621. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112621
16.Houde, M. et al. multiple authors including Walker VK (2021) What are Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to the study of mercury in the Arctic, and what are their perspectives on contaminant research and monitoring? Chapter 9, Indigenous Perspectives - AMAP Mercury Assessment (available at https://policycommons.net/artifacts/2331863/9/3092488/)
17.*McKnight MM, Grogan P and Walker VK (2021) Impact of long-term fertilizer and summer warming treatments on bulk soil and birch rhizosphere microbial communities in mesic Arctic tundra. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 53:1,196-211, doi: 10.1080/15230430.2021.1951949
2020:
18.Walker VK, *Das P, Li P, Lougheed SC, *Moniz K, Schott S, Qitsualik J, Koch I. (2020) Identification of Arctic food fish species for anthropogenic contaminant testing using geography and genetics. Foods 9. doi: 10.3390/foods9121824
19.*Bredow M, *Tomalty HE, Graham LA, Gruneberg AK, *Middleton AJ, *Vanderbeld B, Davies PL and Walker VK. (2020) Isolation and characterization of ice-binding proteins from higher plants. Methods in Molecular Biology 2156: 303-332.
20.*McKnight MM, Qu Z, Copeland JK, Guttman DS and Walker, VK (2020) A practical assessment of nano-phosphate on soybean (Glycine max) growth and microbiome establishment. Scientific Reports 10 (1), 1-17
21.Schott S. Qitsualik J, van Coeverden de Groot P, Okpakok S, Chapman JM, Lougheed S and Walker VK (2020) Operationalizing knowledge coevolution: towards a sustainable fishery for Nunavummiut. Arctic Science 6:208-288 dx.doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0011
22.*Element G, Engel K, Neufeld JD, Casselman JM, van Coeverden de Groot P and Walker VK (2020) Differences in intestinal microbial communities of two sympatric anadromous Arctic salmonids and the effects of migration and feeding. Arctic Science 7(3) https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2020-0011
23.*Element G, Engel K, Neufeld JD, Casselman JM, van Coeverden de Groot P, Greer CW and Walker VK. (2020) Seasonal habitat drives intestinal microbiome composition in anadromous Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus. Environmental Microbiology. doi: 10.1111/1462-2920.15049
24.Wu Y, Lougheed DR, Lougheed SC, *Moniz K, Walker VK and Colautti RI (2020) baRcodeR: An open‐source R package for sample labelling. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 11 (8), 980-985
2019:
25.*Affleck JG and Walker VK. (2019) Drosophila as a model for developmental toxicology: using and extending the Drosophotoxicology model. Methods in Molecular Biology 1965: 139-153. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9182-2_10
26.*Hamilton EF, *Element G, van Coeverden de Groot P, Engel K, Neufeld JD, Shah V and Walker VK. (2019) Anadromous Arctic char microbiomes: Bioprospecting in the high Arctic. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 7: 32. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00032
2018:
27.Tomalty, HE, Eves R, Graham, LA, Walker VK and Davies PL (2018) Supercooled renal graft preservation using hyperactive ice-binding proteins. Cryobiology 81, 233-234
28.*Bredow M, *Tomalty HE, *Smith L and Walker VK (2018) Ice and anti-nucleating activities of an ice-binding protein from the annual grass, Brachypodium distachyon. Plant Cell Environ. 41(5):983-992. doi: 10.1111/pce.12889.
29.Udegbunam LU, *DuQuesnay JR, Osorio L, Walker VK, and Beltran JG. (2018) Phase equilibria, kinetics and morphology of methane hydrate inhibited by antifreeze proteins: application of a novel 3-in-1 method. J. Chemical Thermodynamics17:155-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jct..2017.08.015
2017:
30.Pontefract A, Zhu TF, Walker VK, Hepburn H, Lui C, Zuber MT, Ruvkun G, and Carr CE. (2017) Microbial diversity in a hypersaline sulfate lake: a terrestrial analog of ancient Mars. Frontiers in Microbiology 8:1819.
31.*Bredow M, Walker VK (2017). Ice-binding proteins in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8: 2153. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02153
32.*Qadeer S, Khan MA, Ansari MS, Rakha BA, Ejaz R, Husna AU, Azam A, Ullah N, Walker VK, and Akhter S. (2017) Cryopreservation of Nili-Ravi buffalo bull sperm in cryodilutant supplemented with Lolium perenne protein preparations. CryoLetters 38:43-50.
33.*Dudefoi W, *Moniz K, Allen-Vercoe E, Ropers, M-H, and Walker VK. (2017) Impact of food grade and nanoTiO2 particles on a human intestinal community. Food and Chemical Toxicology 106:242-249.
34.*Bredow M, *Tomalty H, and Walker VK. (2017) Identification of plant ice-binding proteins through the assessment of ice-recrystallization inhibition activity and isolation using ice-affinity purification. Journal of Visual Experiments (123):e55302.
35.*Tomalty, H, *Hamilton EF, Hamilton A, Kukal O, Allen T, and Walker VK. (2017) Kidney preservation at subzero temperatures using a novel storage solution and insect ice-binding proteins. CryoLetters 38:100-107.
36.*Inglese C, Christiansen CT, Lamhonwah D, *Moniz K, *Montross S, Lamoureux S, Lafrenière M, Grogan P, and Walker VK. (2017) Examination of soil microbial communities after permafrost thaw subsequent to an active layer detachment in the High Arctic. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 49:455-472.
2016:
37.*Bredow M, *Vanderbeld B, and Walker VK. (2016) Ice-binding proteins confer freezing tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Biotechnology Journal 15:68-81. doi:10.1111/pbi.12592.
38.Shah V, Luxton T, Walker VK, Brumfield T, Yost, J, Shah S, Wilkinson JE, and Kambhampati M. (2016) Fate and impact of zero-valent copper nanoparticles on geographically distinct soils. Science of the Total Environment 573:661-670.
39.*Das P, *Saulnier E, Carlucci C, Allen-Vercoe E, Shah V, and Walker VK. (2016) Interactions between a broad-spectrum antibiotic and silver nanoparticles in a human gut ecosystem. Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology 7:408. doi: 10.4172/2157- 7439.1000408
40.*Bredow M, *Vanderbeld B, and Walker VK. (2016) Knockdown of ice-binding proteins in Brachypodium distachyon demonstrates their role in freeze protection. PLoS ONE e-access: PONE-D-16-38249
Yuxiang Wang
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My current research focuses on the physiological and biochemical adaptation of aquatic vertebrates under various environmental conditions and physiological states. Using fish as a comparative model, my lab studies the regulatory mechanisms of various metabolic processes, especially the transmembrane movement of metabolites, the functional links among metabolite distribution, acid-base balance, ionic and osmotic equilibrium, metabolic fuel shift, and energy partition under normal and extreme environmental conditions. We are currently developing a suite of cellular and molecular tools, which allows us to better understand the evolution of the fine-tuned metabolic control system in fish. Several potential undergraduate thesis projects can be derived from this research theme involving a wide range of research techniques in analytical biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology.
