Current people in the lab
Ian Dworkin: Is a professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University . Ian was previously a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University before moving back to Canada. When not doing the science thing, I do the dad thing. In the few spare moments, I also do nerdy things (movies, video games, cooking, hiking). Favourite cheese is a really good Oka. Also old cheddar. And Jarslberg. Ok, I just really like cheese. Please contact me at dworkin “AT” mcmaster “DOT” ca.
Current Graduate students
Tyler Audet: Is a Ph.D student interested in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism and sexual conflict, using genomic approaches to address several fundamental questions. Tyler is using a variety of systems (artificial selection, experimental evolution and comparative approaches) within and among Drosophila species.
Brett Van Bakel: Is a MSc student examining the influence of natural genetic variaton in cell size on mutational sensitivity.
Mariam Abass: Is a MSc student. Mariam is interested in the relationship between the extent of sexual size dimorphism and sex-biased gene expression. She is also finishing some of her work Phylogenetic comparative analysis of sexual shape dimorphism among species of Drosophila.
Dania Daanish Is an MSc student (co-supervised with Dr. Reuven Dukas) interested in the genetic basis of sociability in Drosophila melongaster. She used the GAL4/UAS System and RNA interference (RNAi) constructs to knockdown the expression of candidate sociability genes and observe subsequent changes to sociability. Besides research, Dania’s interests include eating food (particularly shawarma), hanging out with her cats, and reading books.
Current Undergraduate students (independent projects)
Victoria Lyn The contribution of stability in morphogen gradients on variation in wing shape.
Sanhavy Vadivel Quantitative genetic analysis of condition dependent sexual size dimorphism in Drosophila prolongata.
Johnson Ku Does strong selection for extreme body size changes influence developmental stability? A test in artificially selected populations of Drosophila melanogaster.
Marija Nenadovic Genetic analysis of the blunt wing mutation in Drosophila prolongata
Binjal Pradhan: Mutational analysis in Drosophila prolongata. Binjal is planning on being a kick-ass evolutionary biologist!
Lab alumni
Graduate students and Post-Doctoral Associates
Arteen Torabi-Marashi: Arteen completed his MSc in 2023, and used genomic approaches (RNAseq and population genomics) to investigate how natural variation in gene expression and genetic variants under selection influencing Social Behaviour in Drosophila.
Dr. Katie Pelletier: Was a Ph.D student in the lab interested in evolutionary genetics of complex phenotypes. Katie identifying genetic variants influencing Drosophila wing size and shape within and between adaptively diverged populations. After graduating in 2023, Katie has moved to the lab of Dr. Marie-Anne Felix to study evolvability.
Brandon McIntyre: Completed his MSc. in December 2022, testing models to explain and predict genetic background dependence. Brandon uses the development of the Drosophila wing and its adult morphology as a model to test these models.
Amanda Neves: completed their M.Sc. in December 2022. They used computational genomic approaches to investigate how variation in gene expression during development does (and does not) mediate phenotypic differences. Amanda also used RNAseq from developing wing tissues from Drosophila, investigating both natural variation among strains, and mutational effects.
Dr. Andrew Scott: was a Ph. D student (jointly supervised by Reuven Dukas and Ian Dworkin) studying the evolution of complex social behaviours including aggregation behaviour. Andrew used a combination of genetics, artificial selection and genomics to identify genes that contribute to variation for these social behaviours.
Audrey Wilson: Audrey completed her M.Scc, studying a potential mechanism that may contribute to the early evolution of sexually selected weapons, using experimental evolution in Drosophila melanogaster. By manipulating the spatial environment in specific ways, Audrey is determining the degree to which this can contribute to increased one-on-one contests for access to mates, and whether this in turn will increase sexual dimorphism of key traits. Because of the experiments that she did, Audrey’s work space looked a lot like a craft store, and spent a considerable amount of time in the dollar store to find just the right materials to be converted to usable scientific “equipment”.
Darcy Henderson: Darcy completed her M.Sc. studying the extent to which genetic interactions (epistasis) between pairs of mutations depends upon both how much the individual mutations perturb the phenotype (their magnitude) and the wild type genetic background in which the mutations are examined. When not setting up crosses, or hitting a puck, she likes watching controversial films and shows on netflix.
Dr. Sarah Marzec: Completed her Ph.D Student using Waddington’s classic system studying genetic assimilation in Drosophila melanogaster to address questions about canalization, cryptic genetic variation and trait evolution by genetic assimilation. Sarah is secretly hoping for a small lab accident that will result in her getting superpowers.
Dr. Maria Pesevski: As a Ph.D student studied the evolution of condition dependence and sexual dimorphism for size and shape using Drosophila wing morphology. When not thinking deeply about size, shape and sexual differences in flies, Maria spends her time salsa dancing.
Caitlyn Daley: Caitlyn finished her M.Sc. in December 2019. Caitlyn studied the extent to which genetic background dependence of mutations were similar for mutations within and between genes throughout a gene regulatory network that influences Drosophila wing development. She really loves her cat.
Paul Knoops: Paul did his M.Sc. research studying how Drosophila interacted with potential predators, and how this influenced Drosophila mating behaviour and activity. Paul also made sure we never had any leftovers for lab parties.
Dr. Nick Testa: Nick did his Ph.D studying the genetics of sexual size and shape dimorphism in Drosophila. Data-wiz at Highmark.
Dr. Annat Haber: Data-wiz. Researcher, Jackson Labs.
Dr. William Pitchers: Data-wiz.: Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory. The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne.
Dr.Amanda Charbanneau:
Dr. Anne Sonnenschein: Data-wiz.
Dr. Abhijna Parigi: Post-Doctoral researcher, University of California Davis.
Dr. Sudarshan Chari: Data-wiz.
Dr. Michael DeNieu: Post-Doctoral researcher, George Washington University.
Dr. Chris Chandler: Associate Professor, SUNY Oswego.
Dr. Megan Fritz: Assistant Professor, University of Maryland.
undergraduate researcher alumni
Mariam Abass: Phylogenetic comparative analysis of sexual shape dimorphism among species of Drosophila.
Irem Eksioglu: The influences of splicing factors on sex specific patterns of size and shape in Drosophila melanogaster.
Aaron Taylor: Quantitative genetic analysis of condition dependent sexual size dimorphism in Drosophila prolongata.
Noa Agid: Quantitative genetic analysis of condition dependent sexual size dimorphism in Drosophila prolongata.
Veronica Du: How do populations with divergent evolutionary histories respond to developmental temperature changes?
Ofure Itua: is examining whether perturbing growth signaling and sex determination in the fat body of Drosophila can influence tissue and sex specific patterns of size and shape.
Richard Saint-Laurent: co-op placements for Honours BSc.
Francesco Ruso: Graduate student, University of Toronto.
Irene Grace Pender: Graduate Student, McGill University.
Yun Bo Xi: Dentistry school, University of Western Ontario.
Nirupama Tamvada: Graduate student, University of British Columbia.
Candaice Newell: Graduate student, University of Toronto.
Meera Chopra: Medical school
Archana Thurairajah:
Manthi Jayamaha:
Isabella Delano: Isabella is an undergraduate thesis student studying the genetic basis of adaptive differentiation in wing size and shape between altitudinally varying populations of Drosophila.
Dan Siemon: Dan is an undergraduate thesis student studying the genetic basis of adaptive differentiation in wing size and shape between altitudinally varying populations of Drosophila. (Working in parallel with Isabella. it is a big project!)
Megan Simoes: Megan is an undergraduate thesis student studying the evolution of sex specific condition dependence among species of Drosophila.
Dr. David Tack: Data-wiz, Spectrum Health Office of Research.
Dr. Anna Mammel: Post-Doctoral researcher at the Hutch.
Dr. Alycia Kowalski: Veterinarian, Research fellow at Penn Vet New Bolton Center.
Dr. Lin Choi: Dentist
Dr. Heather McGovern: MD
Dr. Emma Northrup: Finished her Ph. D at South Dakota State University. Works at the Mayo Clinic
Willam Bell: M.Sc.
Genevieve Dietrich: Medical School.
Amy Chang: M.S. student at the University of Toronto.
Folasade Ologundudu:
Jeremy Cooney: Law school.
Cristina Abbataangelo: PhD student, University of Toronto.
Daniel Sutanto:
Amy Calovini:
Abood Abubakr:
Ana Vera Cruz: M.Sc. student, University of Ottawa.
Julie Holms:
Denise Rebello: Ph.D student, University of Toronto.
Dr.Ieta Shams: Medical Student
Ravina Dhami:
Mamun Patwary:
Dr. Lianna Wat: Post-Doctoral Researcher. Stanford University.
Samiksha Kaul: Ph.D Student, Georgia Tech.
Braedan Huras:
Dr. Gayatri Sivaratnam: Medical Student.
Christian Marier :Research Technician, NYU
Megan Cermak: Genetic Counselor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Dr. Kristen Hummel: Veterinarian
Dr. Zachary Masters: MD
Dr. Cody Porter: Assistant Professor
Leslie (Bell) Marvin: (M.Education)
Dr. Andrew Victory: ER Doctor, Pittsburgh.
Dr. Justyne Matheny: Biocurator at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Amelia Anderson: Veterinarian
Dr. Kayla (WonYoung) Shim: Veterinarian
Lindy Shelley Johnson: Physiotherapist, Zuckerberg San Francisco General.