I’m the newest addition to the Leonard Lab, having just completed my BScH in May of 2010. My research interests are broad, but I am primarily interested in animal behavior, and my interest extends to most animal species. My honours research, completed at Acadia University under the supervision of Dr. Todd Smith and Dr. Kirk Hillier, was an investigation of the cues used by mosquitoes (Culex spp.) to locate ectothermic hosts. This project was my first introduction to the world of research, and it didn’t take long before I fell in love with it! From collecting frogs in waist-deep ponds to literally contributing my own blood, sweat, and tears to maintain mosquito colonies, I enjoyed every aspect of working on my project. You know you’re in the right field when you’re excited to work with mosquitoes on a daily basis!

Even though I enjoyed my work with mosquitoes, I wanted to broaden my understanding of behavior and learn a little something about other animal species (though I still have an interest in insects, and collect a few on the side). It was a natural decision for me to pursue research, and I’m very excited to be starting my master’s degree! For my MSc, I will be investigating the behavior of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). Specifically, my project will focus on the communication of predation risk between parents and chicks, and how increased ambient noise can affect that communication system.

My interest in learning persists well outside of the realm of academia. Because of this, I have inadvertently become a collector of hobbies, as I love to try my hand at anything new. My list of hobbies is ever-growing, but my current favorites are painting, cooking over-the-top meals, and experiencing all of the live music that Halifax has to offer (if that really counts as a hobby). I’m also a big fan of Jeopardy, and I have a hard time turning down a Jeopardy challenge.