Working on quantifying copper-binding polyphenols in native southern Ontario tree leaves.

I am a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Honours) student and Laboratory Assistant working under the supervision of Dr. Vaughn Mangal. I support laboratory research and external collaborations with the University of Ottawa and Queen's University.

My research analyzes water and soil organic matter to assess human impacts, focusing on mercury interactions during algal blooms using advanced mass spectrometry to explore carbon-metal cycling and biogeochemical processes.

I'm currently analyzing metal content in algae and water from Lake Erie and Hamilton Harbour. I'm also investigating how dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total nitrogen (TN) can influence water quality and algal growth. 

I’m going into my final undergrad year and doing my thesis with Dr Mangal. My thesis is focusing on Contaminants in the Niagara region and identifying what they are and the sector they belong to (pharm, agriculture, industrial etc). I’m also looking to see if they have a serious impact on aquatic life. 

I am not taking any project courses at the moment! I have volunteered with the lab for the past 3 - 4 years. Currently, I am a Research Assistant, helping out with existing projects. I also help out with data processing and I carry out analyses for DOC/TN levels in the Niagara and Hamilton Harbour regions.

Lacey is a concurrent education student currently completing her Chemistry undergrad. Her thesis project will analyze how population fluctuations effects the components of water. We are currently in the collection period, gathering samples once a month from April to September in both the Muskoka and Kawartha regions!

My research investigates whether Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), a native plant found at legacy nickel-contaminated sites in Port Colborne, can be used for ecological restoration. We are testing whether it stabilizes nickel in its roots or extracts it into harvestable shoots.

Currently completing an MSc in Biotechnology. My research examines how agricultural land use influences mercury dynamics, contaminant cycling, and metal bioaccumulation in Niagara freshwater ecosystems through the study of water, sediments, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities.

My thesis investigates using algae and nanotechnology to remove copper from polluted environments while producing copper nanoparticles, offering a sustainable approach to remediation and eco-friendly nanomaterial synthesis.