Elliot Evans
Elliott is a 3rd year Marine Biology student at UBC. He first fell in love with the ocean while exploring tide pools and snorkelling off the Southern Gulf Islands right here in BC. He’s most curious about marine mammals but loves all kinds of marine life, and his diverse interests in biology have led him down all sorts of rabbit holes (he has become the go-to mushroom and insect guy in his friend circles). When he isn’t studying, you can find Elliott running, cycling, at the gym, or in the kitchen tending to his sourdough starter, yogurt starter, or some other suspicious-looking, questionably-smelling concoction that grows in the back of his fridge.
Cassidy Mark
Cassidy is an undergraduate student at The University of British Columbia, majoring in Biology. She has a love for the ocean and all things marine biology, especially marine invertebrates. When she was 17 she completed her PADI certification and has loved scuba diving ever since. Cassidy also loves to travel and has been to 29 countries so far! In her spare time she can be found reading, baking, thrifting or visiting local cafes.
Amy de Boer
Amy is a fifth year UBC Biology student (minoring in archaeology) who loves learning about all the unique lifeforms that call the Pacific Northwest home. A love for the outdoors was sparked from a young age thanks to yearly family vacations to beautiful Tofino, BC. She loves spending her summers at the beach paddle boarding or hiking in the mountains. In the colder months you can find her spending time with her dog, bunny, and hamster amidst her growing collection of indoor plants!
Clay Meng
Hello Everyone! My name is Clay, and I’m a 4th year biology student at UBC. I’ve always loved looking for critters in the nooks and crannies of the rocky intertidal, and I’ve become very fond of decorator crabs over the summer. Studying how animals adapt to their environment from a physiological/behavioural perspective would be cool! In my free time, I like to make music, play video games, and spend time with my friends 🙂
Zeenath Aleaf
Wendy Tso is a 4th-year undergraduate studying Biology at UBC. She was drawn to the study of animals and environmentalism and later encountered the amazing wonders of genetics and neurobiology. She has previously performed genome editing techniques on the synaptic genes of C. elegans to study neurodegenerative diseases and hopes to continue down this route in understanding the cognitive mechanisms of life on Earth. In her leisure time, she is often found playing Ultimate frisbee, editing videos, or playing the piano.
Vanessa Rizzo
Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa and I’m a fifth year undergraduate student in the Biology program at the University of British Columbia. My interest in marine invertebrates began in high school when I visited the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. In my spare time I love horseback riding, playing piano, watching Netflix, and spending time with my dogs.
Suragan Upadhyay
Suragan is a third-year undergraduate student in Biology. Interested in the anatomy and physiology of the human body, he seeks a future career related to health care. After completing undergrad, he hopes to go to optometry school and one day become an optometrist. When not studying for classes, Suragan loves to be perpetually disappointed as he is an avid Canucks fan, and he hopes the team will embrace the tank for Bedard. Suragan is looking forward to learning more about the fascinating world of invertebrates this semester.
Abby Birch
Hi! I’m Abby, a third year biology student at UBC. I am originally from Edmonton, Alberta but moved to Vancouver 2 years ago to attend school. Getting to live near the ocean has shown me how complex and remarkable marine ecosystems are, and I now love all things marine animal related! In my free time I love going for walks on the beach, cooking and skiing.
Alexandra Reinhardt
My name is Alexandra, and I prefer my marine animals to be spineless. I love molluscs especially, but nudibranchs and cephalopods have my heart. I went to BMSC this summer and had the time of my life (see attached a picture of me in my very practical but not exactly stylish field outfit at BMSC), so I decided I just had to go back. I start an MSc program, including research at BMSC, this fall on nudibranch neuroethology! In terms of hobbies, I never met something I did not like. I sew, read, knit, game, SCUBA dive, bake (badly), do photography and collect antique scientific illustrations.
Joelle Fernandes
Joelle is a fifth-year student studying Biology. She is currently researching collective cell behaviour in human pluripotent stem cells at the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering and her ultimate goal is to merge her engineering experience with the fields of Botany or Zoology. She is especially passionate about fungi, plants, the ocean, and all the critters that live within it. In her spare time, you can find her indulging in crocheting, cooking, mushroom hunting, or craft beer.
Fritzi Chandrakumar
Heya! I’m Fritzi, your local cockroach fanatic! Don’t ask me why (unless you want a full presentation with pictures and videos included), but I really love cockroaches! I’m also a huge fan of all arthropods in general. One day, I want to go to Australia and meet some extremely freaky spiders and then regret all my life decisions. Until then, I’ll spend my days reading, playing DnD, writing music, and learning more about cockroaches.
Naomi Lubkin
Hello! I’m Naomi, a fourth-year marine biology student at UBC. I grew up on the east coast and have loved spending the last few years exploring the Pacific Northwest. I find marine invertebrates extremely cool and while I’m still debating favourites, candidates include chitons, nudibranchs, octopuses, and snails (what can I say, my heart lies with the molluscs!) In my spare time you can find me making earrings for loved ones, reading a good book, or wandering around the nearest body of water.
Paige Barnes
Paige is currently a 3rd year Biology student at UBC. She loves to travel and became interested in Marine Biology while snorkeling on vacations and exploring BC’s coast. Her favourite things she has snorkeling include whale sharks, nurse sharks, squid, and brightly coloured coral reefs. In her free time, you’ll find her playing rugby, snowboarding or at the beach.
Cherry Dhawan
Hi! My name is Cherry, and I’m a 4th year Biology major with a minor in Creative Writing. I’ve recently taken another course here at UBC about invertebrates which encouraged me to take BIOL 326 this term. In my free time, I love to read, write, and try new foods.
Mackenzie Bedard
Mackenzie is a fourth-year student in the Honours Biology program at UBC with a strong interest in marine biology and the deep sea. Growing up landlocked in Ontario, her fascination with the ocean and its biodiversity lead her to the West Coast where she could get hands-on experience with her passion. Outside of science, she is an international competitive cosplayer, showcasing her skills in needlework, armour and prop building, SFX, and wig making.
Halle Golding
Hi everyone! My name is Halle, and I am a fifth year Biology student. I love spending time by the ocean, reading books, and playing my guitar. When I was younger, I aspired to become a veterinarian and to open my own animal shelter. As the years progressed, my career goals changed, but my love for animals persisted. I enrolled in comparative invertebrate zoology out of curiosity in my second year of studies, and loved the course so dearly, leading me to BIOL 326 in my final semester at UBC. I would love to teach English in Thailand after graduation in the spring, following which I will hopefully return to Canada to continue my education in Marine Biology.
Hannah Pruner
Hannah is a third year biology student at UBC and is thrilled to be in BIOL 326 this term. While she loves many aspects of biology from immunology to genetics, her true passion lies in invertebrate zoology and ecology. Hannah is particularly interested in sessile marine animals such as sponges and anemones, and their role in the marine ecosystem. She loves to share her love for these animals with others, and so is considering a career in education. Outside of class you can find her studying at the library or having a dance party by herself in her bedroom.
Tobin Sparling
Tobin is a 5th year biology major (almost done!!) having extended his degree through co-op. His favourite co-op experience was as a whale watching tour guide so he is constantly holding back from contributing a whale fact or two to any conversation. He is very passionate about communicating science while avoiding big jargon words (is it because he wants to appeal to a broader audience? Or is it because he forgets them? Who knows…) His COVID activity was creating videos of microscopic organisms and sharing fun facts about them (@microbin_ on TikTok). While around campus he loves to play on many intramural teams for his favourite sports: soccer, spike ball, and ultimate.
Avijot Grewal
Avijot is a 4th-year student in Biology. Growing up in Abbotsford as a blueberry farmer his passion for biology grew. Recently, he has done courses at UBC that have greatly sparked his interest in the biodiversity of the marine environment. Outside of class, Avijot volunteers at the Pelagic Ecosystem Lab at UBC and is looking forward to learning more about invertebrates and marine ecosystems. In his free time, he loves to watch basketball and play video games.
Helga
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Arnold
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Gerald
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Phoebe
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BIOL 326: Experimental biology of invertebrates 