Dr. Bobiwash's lab focuses on understanding the ecology of beneficial insects in agro-ecosystems and the greater landscape. Their goal is to better characterize the landscape and resources utilized by insects to understand how land management might affect insect community composition and ecosystem service delivery. The focus of the lab is primarily on pollinating insects but students interested in other taxa (insect predators and parasitoids) are encouraged to apply. (from Dr. Bobiwash's UManitoba page)

Originally from Nova Scotia, I began as a teacher and researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba in 2016. Prior to my start here I completed my BSc and MSc at Saint Mary's University, my PhD at Trent University, and a postdoc at the University of Oxford in the Edward Grey Institute. In research I aim to link population genetic patterns to ecological processes to better understand evolutionary change. I supervise research across diverse areas ranging from intense field ecology to computer based population genomics. I teach a 4th year/graduate level Evolutionary Genetics and contribute to teaching 3rd year Evolutionary Biology. (from Dr. Garroway's lab website)

Dr. Melanie Lalonde is the Wawatay Program Development Specialist in the Faculty of Science Dean’s Office at the University of Manitoba (UM), and a recent Indigenous PhD graduate from the UM. Dr. Lalonde is a proud Red River Métis woman, an active member of the Métis community, and holds the volunteer elected position as the Treasurer of Seven Oaks Métis Council. As an active member of her Métis community, she regularly attends meetings, consultations, and workshops and is also member of the Infinity Women Secretariate. Dr. Lalonde embodies resilience, leadership, and a profound commitment to empowering Indigenous voices both in the community and in the sciences.

Dr. Lalonde began her academic journey at the University of Manitoba in 2007, where her passion for science was ignited. In 2014, she successfully completed dual bachelor’s degrees with a four-year major in Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, alongside a general science degree that focused on physiology and microbiology. Despite facing the challenges of single parenthood, she continued her educational journey at the University of Manitoba where she completed a Master’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2017 and attained her PhD in 2022. Dr. Lalonde began working with Wawatay in January 2022 where she has continued to actively pursue opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills by participating in workshops, courses, and certificate programs such as the UM LEAD Program in University Leadership, the UM Management Fundamentals Program, and the 2023 Summer Institute on Literacy in Indigenous Content. Dr. Lalonde’s proactive approach reflects her dedication to fostering inclusive and culturally relevant practices in her professional development.

Dr. Lalonde has emerged as a prolific research scientist, contributing significantly to the fields of Ecology and Evolution by having authored 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications to date. Her work focused on a genus of butterflies called the buckeye butterflies (Junonia); most notably, her research resolved a longstanding (over 100 years) debate regarding species nomenclature and led to the discovery of a new butterfly species: the Grey Buckeye (Junonia grisea). Dr. Lalonde was also instrumental in validating a novel method for extracting DNA from insects that had been preserved in natural history museum collections for decades. This breakthrough enabled scientists to delve deeper into these museum collections, unlocking new avenues for scientific exploration and discovery.

Although Dr. Lalonde has temporarily taken a step back from the lab bench to help nurture the next generation of Indigenous scientists in Wawatay, she is focused on guiding Indigenous students on their academic journey by facilitating their exploration of science using Indigenous Perspectives and Western Science. By embracing a two-eyed seeing approach, she helps foster respect and understanding of cultural relationships to further enrich the impact of scientific knowledge, while at the same time fostering a sense of community. Wawatay is more than just a project; it is a student-centric initiative designed to empower future Indigenous scientists. It offers invaluable research experience, experiential learning, and a supportive community where cultural understanding and personal growth thrive alongside academic achievement.

Dr. Lalonde’s contributions have garnered widespread recognition, earning her numerous awards and scholarships including the Entomological Society of Manitoba Graduate Student Scholarship and the Doctoral Award for Indigenous Students. In 2022, she was honored as one of CBC Manitoba’s Future 40 Award recipients, further acknowledging her role as an emerging leader in both academia and her community. 

Danielle has a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from the University of Alberta. While doing her PhD at Boston University, she studied how structures in the solar wind (made up of protons, electrons, and magnetic fields) evolve between the Sun, the Earth, and drive space weather. 

Along the way, she discovered how much she loved outreach and mentoring students. This prepared her for her role at the University of Manitoba, where she teaches courses and labs at all levels, is Director of the Lockhart Planetarium on campus, and runs the Astronomical Observatories. With these facilities, she reacquaints Manitobans with the night sky. 

Having a special affection for the intersection of science and art, she has co-hosted special events like Poetry in the Planetarium and Ancient Skies—a retelling of Greek myths paired with a constellations tour—and helped create an art installation atWinnipeg’s Nuit Blanche.

Read more Dr. Pahud's work in the UM Today article, "Learning from the stars, and our backyards".

Lawrence Ryner is a medical physicist at CancerCare Manitoba with a research focus on the use of MRI in cancer care. He has been at CancerCare for 12 years. Prior to that he led the Magnetic Resonance Research and Development group at the National Research Council Institute for Biodiagnostics. He obtained his PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994, and his M.Sc. and B.Sc. from McGill University.

Dr. Carrie Selin, a Red River Métis woman, is a dedicated leader committed to prioritizing Indigenous student success in science. She currently holds the esteemed position of Wawatay Academic Programming Lead in the Faculty of Science at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Selin’s journey in academia began in 1999 at the University of Manitoba, culminating in her B.Sc. honours in 2005 and the completion of her PhD in Microbiology in 2012. Her thesis aimed to elucidate the regulatory mechanism governing secondary metabolite gene expression in Pseudomonas chlororaphis, investigating their role in safeguarding canola against the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Driven by her passion for scientific research and her desire to advance scientific knowledge, Dr. Selin pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Microbiology before transferring to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences’ Plant Science department as a Research Associate.   

In 2018, Dr. Selin’s unwavering commitment to teaching and mentorship secured her the position of Sessional Instructor in the Department of Microbiology. Her first course, ‘Essentials of Microbiology’, explored the intricacies of viral and bacterial disease mechanisms. Acknowledging the subject's complexity, she skillfully incorporated personal anecdotes of family illnesses, which deeply resonated with her students, as indicated by their evaluations praising how these narratives enhanced understanding and engagement with the material. Embracing this effective teaching strategy, Dr. Selin continued to employ storytelling throughout her instruction, spanning courses such as ‘Molecular Biology’ at the third-year level and ‘Industrial Bioprocesses’ at the fourth-year level. Her innate ability to engage students authentically and to elucidate complex concepts in relatable terms proved invaluable, particularly in teaching diverse cohorts—from the Pathways to Indigenous Nursing Education (PINE) program to international students at the International College of Manitoba.

Presently, as the Wawatay Academic Lead, Dr. Selin spearheads the program, meticulously developing and teaching courses to embody a "two-eyed seeing" approach. By re-centering the truth around science, she recognizes and celebrates the invaluable scientific contributions of Indigenous peoples. Her innovative approach integrates Indigenous knowledge with Western Science, fostering connection and understanding in a more holistic manner.

Dr. Selin’s commitment to Indigenous student success extends beyond the classroom. She continuously engages with students in Manitoba schools and collaborates with various programs, including the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation, Indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow, and Let's Talk Science. Currently, she is actively involved in an initiative aimed at developing resources that weave Indigenous knowledge into educational materials, making them accessible online to educators and students alike.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Selin is a devoted mother of two remarkable boys. She derives immense joy from imparting knowledge about their Métis culture, offering them a unique and enriching experience that she as an adult has had to reclaim. Through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication, she continues to make profound contributions to Indigenous student success in science and beyond the classroom.

The Basin, Environment, and straTigraphY — BETY — research group focuses on the physical, chemical, and biological controls on the production and preservation of organic matter and the role of organic productivity in modulating Earth system processes at geological time scales. 

As the group leader, Dr. Silva is particularly interested in understanding the complex chain of events, processes, and feedback mechanisms leading to the so-called oceanic anoxic events (OAEs), i.e. brief intervals in the geological history when significant portions of the oceans were deoxygenated. OAEs are associated with enhanced geological sequestration of organic matter and large perturbations of several element cycles, climatic and environmental extremes, biotic disruptions, and mass extinctions. 

Before joining the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Manitoba as an Assistant Professor in Sedimentology in January of 2022, Dr. Silva held postdoctoral appointments at the Camborne School of Mines (The University of Exeter), Trinity College Dublin, and Dalhousie University. He graduated in 2013 with a PhD in Geology (summa cum laude) from the University of Coimbra (Portugal), where he also completed my BSc in 2008.

Jenna is an instructor in the Statistics Department at the University of Manitoba. Her research interests involve experimental design, data visualization, and computational statistics. In her teaching, she talks frequently about equity and access in Science and teaching concepts through the use of simulation in the classroom. When not teaching, she is very involved in the faculty union on campus.

Read an interview with Dr. Tichon in UM Today.