My name is Payton Plesh, and I’m from Barrie, Ontario. I’m heading into my fourth year at St. Francis Xavier University, where I’m working toward an Honours degree in Biology. I’ve always had a strong love for nature and wildlife, and that passion has guided me throughout my studies. Being part of the biofouling project is an exciting opportunity for me to gain hands-on experience and build research skills that will help me in the future as I work toward a career as an animal biologist.

My name is Liam Kirkham. I am from Ottawa, Ontario, and I am entering my third year at StFX, working towards an honours degree in Biology. I love being outside and especially being out on the water, fishing, and kayaking. This is my first year doing research and I am very excited to be working in the Wyeth lab researching juvenile lobsters. I look forward to getting in the water, exploring juvenile lobster habitats, and seeing some of the fascinating marine life that Nova Scotia has to offer.

My name is Lauren Pictou, and I am going into my fourth-year at StFX. I am from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and at StFX I am pursuing an honours degree in biology. Last year I began my research journey in the Wyeth lab, using Immunohistochemistry and in situ Hybridization Chain Reaction I mapped several types of neurons in the brain of Lymnaea stagnalis. After acquiring some unexpected results, I decided to focus my honours research on exploring the neurons which express choline acetyltransferase, the enzyme that synthesizes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. I am very excited to continue to develop my hands-on skills and learn more biology!

My name is Tia Landry, and I’m from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I’m going into my fourth year at StFX taking an Advanced Major in Biology and am also a co-president of the biology society on campus. This summer I’ll be returning for my second year in the Wyeth Biofouling Lab, where previously I contributed to research on marine biofouling settlement patterns and sustainable antifouling solutions. Our lab looked at environmentally friendly preventative measures including UVC exposure, graphene-based foul-release coatings, and non-toxic antifouling treatments, conducting fieldwork at various marine sites to document settlement behaviors. I am very excited to return to the lab this summer and soak in all that this experience has to offer.

My name is James Hanlon, originally from Cambridge, Ontario, I now live in Linwood, Nova Scotia. I am enrolled in the Co-op program and pursuing an Honours in Biology. My passion for discovery has led me to the depths of research, quite literally, as I currently engage in freediving for scientific study. I’m thrilled to be contributing to the field of marine biology through the juvenile lobster behaviour project with the Wyeth Lab. This opportunity allows me to expand my skills and collaborating with Dr. Wyeth’s team is an honor, and I look forward to future endeavors.