I received my BScH degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph in 2022. My current research focuses on using environmental DNA (eDNA) Barcoding tools (i.e. qPCR, metabarcoding) to monitor habitat occupancy of the Species at Risk Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) in native freshwater ecosystems throughout the Midwestern United States. I will try to understand the parameters that are impacting the declining distribution of this species and assess the reintroduction of captive-reared Topeka shiners to their natural habitat. This research will aid in the conservation of the species by providing insight into recovery plans, management, and habitat protection, and is supported by the Morwick Scholarship in Aquatic Biology and iTrackDNA.
