CURRENT LAB MEMBERS

Dr. Tamara Franz-Odendaal

Principal Investigator
PhD, Full Professor – Biology

Research Interests: ocular skeleton, development and growth of the skeleton, mechanical influencers on the skeleton, Evo-devo, comparative embryology, tracheal cartilage development, scleral ossicles, scleral cartilage, space biology, simulated microgravity effects on the skeleton, vibration effects on the skeleton.

CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS

Paige Drake

PhD. Candidate in Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University

Research Interests: conjunctival papillae, hydrocortisone, placodes, extracellular matrix, epithelial-mesenchymal interactions

Langston Tench

MSc Candidate. Applied Sciences, Saint Mary’s University

Research Interests: developmental biology, placodes, gene expression

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

Juan-David Carvajal Agudelo

Research Assistant (full-time): Mount Saint Vincent University

Tracy Apienti

Research Assistant (full-time): Mount Saint Vincent University

Romman Muntzar

Fish Lab Assistant (part-time): Mount Saint Vincent University

PREVIOUS STUDENTS

Past Undergraduate Students:

  • Langston Tench (MSVU) – BSc Honours 2022 => MSc
  • Nicole Daley (SMU) – BSc Honours 2022
  • Brianna Murphy (MSVU) – Directed Research 2023
  • Nicole Goss (MSVU) – Summer 2022
  • Rebecca MacDonald (MSVU) – Directed Research 2022
  • Alisha McNeil (MSVU) – Directed Research 2022
  • Alejandra Torres (MSVU) – Directed Research 2022
  • Daniel Smith (MSVU) – Directed Research 2022
  • Romman Muntzar (MSVU) – BSc honours 2021 => Physiotherapy
  • Keely McLellan (MSVU)-BSc honours 2020
  • Joseph Al-Haddad (Waterloo, co-op) => Medicine
  • Karley Brooking (MSVU) ⇒ Ophthalmology
  • Daniel Andrews (MSVU) ⇒ PhD
  • Molly Hayes (DAL) ⇒ MSc (DAL)
  • Megan Lawson (MSVU)
  • Walter Gonzales-Cortes (MITACS Globalinks)
  • Sarah Mitchell (MSVU)
  • Justine Sy (DAL) – Honours 2015 => Opthalmology
  • Greg Haller (MSVU) – Honours 2015 => Medicine
  • Alison Verge (SMU) => Medicine
  • Sarah Montgomery (MSVU)
  • Kaitlyn Wilson (MSVU) – Honours 2014 ⇒ Nursing
  • Christine Hammer (MSVU) – Honours 2014 ⇒ Dentistry
  • Brittany Burnie (MSVU)
  • Veronica Waterfield (MSVU)
  • James Jabalee (MSVU) – Honours 2012 ⇒ PhD
  • Zoe Kennedy (DAL) – Honours 2012
  • Jade Atkins (DAL) – Honours 2012 ⇒ PhD => Paleantologist
  • Brittni Milligan (MSVU) – Honours 2011 ⇒ Veterinary Science
  • Nicole Snow (MSVU) ⇒ Genetic Counselling
  • Stephanie Hillier (DAL) – Honours 2011
  • Sally Burke (MSVU) ⇒ WISE Atlantic (Program Coordinator)
  • Karianne Pettinger (MSVU)
  • Karyn Joudeuil (DAL) – Honours 2009 ⇒ NIH Scientist
  • Sara Edsall (MSVU)
  • Jonathon Sproul (MSVU) ⇒ Science Teacher
  • Megan Bauer (DAL) – Honours 2009
  • Kristen Boyle (DAL) ⇒ Nursing
  • Brettney Pilgrim (MSVU) – Honours 2008 ⇒ BioTech
  • Kellie Duench (DAL) – Honours 2008
  • Nirupa Varatharasan (DAL) – Honours 2008 ⇒ MSc
  • Julia Lawson (DAL)
  • Jeff Cameron (MSVU)
  • Jessica Arbour (DAL)
  • Tristan Camus (DAL) – Honours 2005 ⇒ Medicine
  • Kerrianne Ryan (DAL) – Honours 2004 ⇒ PhD
  • Hollie Knoll (DAL)
  • Sophia Arab (SMU)
  • Debbie Smith (MSVU)

Past Post-Docs:

  • Dr. Jennifer Giffin – 2017-2021 => Senior Researcher, UK
  • Dr Shirine Jeradi – 2019-2021 => NSERC Atlantic Manager
  • Dr. Sewvandini Atukorala – 2014 – 2016 ⇒ Assistant Professor (University of Manitoba)
  • Dr. Jochen Wiegele – 2015

Past Graduate Students:

  • Jordan Eaton MSc (SMU) – 2022 =>
  • Nicholas Zinck MSc (DAL)- 2021 ⇒ Medicine
  • Danielle Gaitor MSc (DAL) – 2020
  • Shruti Kumar MSc (SMU) – 2017 ⇒ PhD
  • Christine Hammer Msc (SMU) – 2016 ⇒ Dentistry
  • Karyn Jourdeuil – PhD (DAL) – 2016 ⇒ Post-Doc
  • Matthew Beckett – MSc (DAL) – 2015 ⇒ Medicine
  • James Jabalee – MSc (DAL) – 2014 ⇒ PhD )
  • Jade Atkins – MSc (SMU) – 2014 ⇒ PhD
  • Carolyn Chang – MSc (SMU) – 2013 ⇒ PhD
  • Megan Dufton – PhD (DAL) – 2013 ⇒ Senior Embryologist at Private IVF clinic
  • Sara Edsall – MSc (DAL) – 2011 ⇒ Embryologist
  • Kellie Duench (now Cloney) – MSc (SMU) – 2010 ⇒ Medicine

Past Lab Assistants:

  • Colin Strapps => Lawyer
  • Kellie Duench => Doctor
  • Sally Burke => STEM Outreach co-ordinator
  • Devin Picott => Doctor
  • Natalie Harris
  • Kathryn Dunphry
  • Silka Stewart
  • Don Hart


Click Here for Photos