I am a fourth year biology student minoring in economics. I am doing a directed study course focused on mussel antifouling. I am really looking forward to getting some research experience and applying my degree in a practical way. This project fits really well with my degree because bio fouling is a very costly issue for the commercial shipping and marine industry. After I am done my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue a career in the healthcare field.
A few action shots of Wyeth Lab students from this past summer… three projects, three pairs of students in Antigonish, plus one more in Bamfield.
This one was more than 5 years in the making before publication in the Journal of Comparative Neurology. Jimmy Thomson got us started, labelling neurotransmitters in the central nervous system of Hermissenda, and then Marissa Webber followed up with tons more labelling and then an amazing effort in cataloging all the labelled neurons. Highlights were establishing that some neurotransmitters are considerably more variable between animals than others, and that one specific neurotransmitter (GABA) was not where it was supposed to be (it was missing from the statocysts – the balance organs). You can read the (free) reprint to get our full explanation of that crazy result. Thanks also to Roger Croll and Johnny Buckland-Nicks for help along the way.
DOI: 10.1002/cne.24286
Interested in aquatic animal behaviour or applied research in toxicology or estuarine restoration? Interested in building expertise in a range of techniques, including field work with SCUBA, semi-automated video analysis of behavioural experiments, and contaminant tissue analyses?
Dr. Russell Wyeth and Dr. Jim Williams in Biology at St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) are accepting applications for an MSc student position to start Jan 1, 2018. This position is fully funded ($18,000 x 2 years), and tuition support is also possible.
My interests encompass much of the diversity of animals, but my research has focused primarily on aquatic invertebrates, particularly their behaviours and nervous systems. I’m especially intrigued by how nervous systems control adaptive behaviours – responses appropriate to the cues animals encounter in their natural habitat. That makes me a neuroethologist, but my students and I follow new questions into many other areas of invertebrate zoology. I’m also keenly interested in helping students think like biologists, applying sound analytical skills to understanding organisms, and this pervades both my teaching and approach to mentoring student in research.
My professional info (CV, etc.) is here and contact details are here.
A new Wyeth Lab group photo, celebrating our new t-shirt and new website!
I graduated in 2010 from the Faculty of Applied Science at Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia, where I earned a bachelor`s degree in biology. Throughout my studies, I consistently earned honours. I received a scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia, which fully sponsored me to pursue my studies in the field of biology. Getting such a scholarship is difficult, as they are highly competitive. All these accomplishments have encouraged me and motivated me to continue my studies at St. Francis Xavier University. Now, I am studying animal behavior and how Lymnaea Stagnalis finds food. After my masters degree, I hope to have a job in Saudi Arabia or continue on to a PhD.
Great to see so many Wyeth Lab students, current and past, helping put on the truly impressive World Ocean Day program organized by Reg Cozzi and Leah Rogers of the StFX Biology Dept.
Upon completing my BSc in Biology at StFX, I went through the typical post-graduate crisis where I didn’t know what to do with my life. Thankfully, Russ took pity on me and I joined the Wyeth lab, primarily researching the effect of UV light exposure on biofouling organisms. I have also been involved with other projects including sea slug behaviour, crow behaviour, antifouling abilities of trout netting, and environmental sequencing of biofilm. I was accepted into the biology MSc program at StFX and will be looking at the effects of contaminants on lobster. I’m excited to be working with my co-supervisors, Russell Wyeth and Jim Williams, over the next 2 years.
Ella has been supported by the Province of Nova Scotia boat harbour remediation project and Nova Scotia Fisheries & Aquaculture
I am originally from Sherbrooke, NS. After two years at Dalhousie, I transferred to StFX and completed my BSc in Biology with a minor in Development Studies in 2017. I joined the Wyeth Lab after graduation and worked primarily researching antifouling options, both commercially available products for aquaculture and UV technology with AML Oceanographic. I am currently a student in the accelerated nursing program here at X, but my love of biology and biofouling has kept me working part-time in the lab during my studies.
Amelia is supported by the StFX University Council for Research and Nova Scotia Fisheries & Aquaculture
Wyeth Lab 