Personnel

Current Personnel & Lab Alumni

Contact MAPEL: microalgaeprocessevaluationlab@gmail.com

Current Lab

Dr. Hugh MacIntyre

Principal Investigator and Professor

Hugh is a biological oceanographer who studies the physiology and ecology of phytoplankton. His research is centred on measuring and modelling their growth and resource allocation, and on the use of bio-optical techniques for assessing their abundance, physiological status, and taxonomic diversity. Hugh is the Academic Director of the Work-Integrated Learning and Co-operative Education program in Dalhousie's Faculty of Science.

Marie Egert

Research Assistant

Marie completed her MSc. at MAPEL on the effect of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) on phytoplankton's sensitivity to bright light. She is now working in the lab as a research assistant.

Chris Latimer (she/her)

MSc Candidate

Chris joined the lab as a Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (DISP) first-year student (’22) evaluating the effect of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) on phytoplankton sinking rates. For her BSc Honours in Marine Biology (‘25), Chris’ project at MAPEL aimed to enhance phytoplankton’s production of omega-3s. Now, as an MSc student, her research focuses on optimizing sustainable omega-3 production using both phytoplankton and thraustochytrids fed on high-nutrient wastes.

Nicole Torrie (she/her)

MSc Candidate

Nicole joined MAPEL as an MSc student in 2025. In partnership with the Centre for Marine Applied Research (CMAR), Nicole's MSc research with MAPEL involves modelling primary productivity to support the sustainable growth and management of the shellfish aquaculture industry in coastal Nova Scotia. This work is supported by a Mitacs Accelerate award.

Cora Johnson

BSc, Honours

Through the Dalhousie Integrated Science Program (January ’23), Cora joined MAPEL to support research on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), specifically investigating the effects of OAE on photoinhibition and phytoplankton’s ability to photorepair. Currently, Cora is pursuing a BSc Honours in Ocean Science and Marine Biology, with research centred on spectral signaturing of Phycoerythrin (PE) rich phytoplankton, with a goal of ground truthing PE sensor. This work is supported by a Sarah Lawson Summer Research Award (Summer ’25).

Jayda Kruger (she/her)

BSc, Honours

Jayda began experimenting with phytoplankton-enriched concrete – “Phycocrete” – at MAPEL by measuring the compressive strength of concrete containing different phytoplankton admixtures. Supported by a Joy M. Cunningham Research Award (Summer ‘24), and a Sarah Lawson Summer Research Award (Symmer '25) she isolated extremophilic phytoplankton strains and optimizing growth in various waste streams for use in Phycocrete, and tested the material's suitability for reef restoration and mariculture.

Phoebe Killam

BSc

Pheobe joined MAPEL in 2025 through the DISP program.

Kaela Welsh Schut

BSc

Kaela joined MAPEL in 2025 through the DISP program.

2026 DISP Cohort

Dalhousie Integrated Science Program

Aileigh Coolen & Miles Millar (directed by Chris Latimer),

Uno Orlik & Samantha Werger (directed by Jayda Kruger),

Jasper Jordan & Maea Knights (directed by Hugh MacIntyre)

Lab Alumni

Staff

Marie Egert (Research Assistant, current)
Nicole Torrie (Research Assistant, 2025), now MS student in MAPEL
Cat London (Lab Manager, 2020-2025), now Lab Coordinator at DeNova
Rose Latimer (Research Technician, 2022-2024; position split with OFI) now Compliance Inspector at Halifax Water
Julia Cantelo (Research Associate, 2022-2023), now MS student in Bertrand Lab, Dalhousie
Brenan Duhamel (Research Associate, 2022-2023), last seen Ocean Technician at Planetary Technologies

Graduate Students

Marie Egert (MS, 2025), now Research Associate in MAPEL
Tatyana Bouffard-Martel (MS 2024), now Assistant Manager, Northern Divine Aquafarm
Jess Oberlander (MS, 2023), now Sales Scientist at Pro-Oceanus
Connor Yamamoto (MS, 2023), now Research Operations Support Specialist at University of Vancouver Island

Honours Students

Cora Johnson (current), Research Assistant (2025, 2024, 2023), DISP (2023)
Jayda Kruger (current), Research Assistant (2025, 2024, 2023), DISP (2023)
Chris Latimer (2024), Research Assistant (2024), DISP (2022), now MS student in MAPEL
Mack Burke (2024), Research Assistant (2023, 2022), Co-op (2022, 2021), now Ocean Technician at Planetary Technologies
Mikaela Ermanovics (2023), Co-op (2022, 2021), now Field School Coordinator Raincoast Education Society
Sofya Pesternikova (2022), Research Assistant (2021), Co-op (2020, 2019), now Multimedia Technician at Schmidt Ocean Institute
Mab Speelman (2022), Research Assistant (2021), Co-op (2020, 2019), now Program Coordinator at SuperNOVA, Dalhousie
Nan Chen (2021), Co-op (2019), now MS student in LaRoche Lab, Dalhousie
Deklan Mengering (2021), Research Assistant (2020), now Research Associate, Biometeorology Group, UC Davis
Adam Stoer (2021), now PhD student in Fennel Lab, Dalhousie
Connor Yamamoto (2020), MS in MAPEL

Interns & Co-Op Students

Cora Johnson, Research Assistant (2025, 2024, 2023), Honours in MAPEL
Jayda Kruger, Research Assistant (2025, 2024, 2023), Honours in MAPEL
Chris Latimer, Research Assistant (2024), Honours and MS in MAPEL
Léa Kirchoff, Co-op (2024), BS in progress, Université Laval
Melina Gobel, Co-op (2023), BS in progress, Dalhousie
Sara Hudda, Co-op (2023), BS in progress, Dalhousie
Mack Burke, Research Assistant (2023, 2022), Co-op (2022, 2021), Honours in MAPEL
Ainhoa Fournier, Research Assistant (2023), Co-op (2022), graduated BS Hons
Olivia Melville, Research Technician (2023), Co-op (2022), MS student in Varela Lab, UVic
Ryan Molin, Co-op (2023, 2021), now MS student in Algar Lab, Dalhousie
Rori Mulholland, Co-op (2023), graduated BS Hons
Brendan Rose, Co-op (2023), Marina Attendant, Oak Island Marina and Conference Centre
Danielle Baribeau, Co-op (2022), graduated BS Hons
Hannah Charness, Co-op (2022), unknown
Tara Everding, Co-op (2022), unknown
Mik Ermanoviks, Co-op (2022, 2021), Honours in MAPEL
Viviane Kirby, Research Assistant (2022), Chapel Music Administrator, University of Kings College
Kassiani Manolikakis, Co-op (2022), Software Development Student, Herzing College
Nicole Neriuoka, Research Assistant (2022), now Operations and Support Technician, Jasco Applied Sciences
Meghan Oliver, Co-op (2022), now Research Associate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Madeleine Platt, Co-op (2022), now Data Scientist, eOceans
Taylor Davis (2021, co-supervised with Ruth Musgrave), unknown
Griffin Finkbeiner, Co-op (2021), now MS student in York
Caitlin Huard, Research Assistant (2021), now MS student Fortune Lab, Dalhousie
Jensen Keltie, Co-op (2021), unknown
Sofya Pesternikova, Research Assistant (2021), Co-op (2020, 2019), Honours in MAPEL
Mab Speelmana, Research Assistant (2021), Co-op (2020, 2019), Honours in MAPEL
Kylie Santella, Co-op (2021), now Supervisor, Sustainable Blue (Aquaculture)
Emma Taniguchi, Co-op (2021), now PhD student, Brown Lab, Dalhousie
Cayle Cross, Co-op (2020), now Wildlife Biologist, Western EcoSystems Technology
Sarah Kromberg, Co-op (2020), now Researcher, The Firelight Group
Jacqueline Lossing, Co-op (2020), unknown
Deklan Mengering, Research Assistant (2020), Honours in MAPEL
Annika Tibbutt, Co-op (2020), now Educational Assistant, Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
Jensen Keltie, Co-op (2021), unknown
Taylor Watts, Research Assistant (2020), Co-op (2019), completed MS in Marine Management, Dalhousie
Nan Chen, Co-op (2019), now MS in LaRoche Lab, Dalhousie
Rory Macklin, Co-op (2019), now MS in Jankowski Lab, UBC
Amélie Paulin, Co-op (2019), unknown
Rhyl Frith, Co-op (2018), now MS in Fortune Lab, Dalhousie
Reid Steele, Co-op (2018), now MS in Tittensor Lab, Dalhousie
Kim Franklin, Co-op (2017), completed MS in Fortune Lab, Dalhousie