Lab Members
Principle Investigator
Dr. Dennis M. Higgs
(dhiggs@uwindsor.ca)
Dr. Higgs is currently a professor at the University of Windsor in the department of "Integrative Biology". He received his PhD in Marine Science from the University of Texas, Marine Science Institute for his Ph.D. in Marine Science with Dr. Lee A. Fuiman. His research interests are in sensory neuroethology, especially of fish but is open to any interesting projects regardless of organism. Since moving to Canada in 2003 he has focused on freshwater species but continues with marine work through collaborations in Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas. His teaching is in the realms of fish biology and neuroscience.
Adjunct Investigator
Dr. Kirsten Poling
(kpoling@uwindsor.ca)
Dr. Poling is a Science Teaching and Learning Specialist at the University with a PhD in Marine Science from the University of Texas at Austin where she specialized in sensory neuroethology of baby fish. Since arriving at the University of Windsor she has also gotten very involved in student mentoring and launched a major focus on Science Communication.
Graduate Students
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Megan Mickle
Megan's passion for aquatic life drew her to the Higgs lab, where she has studied noise pollution effects on Great Lakes fish since 2011. She has completed both an undergraduate and Masters degree at the University of Windsor under the supervision of Dr. Higgs. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the lab working with noise influences on the southern stingray in the Bahamas Rachel Pieniazek
Rachel completed her undergraduate degree in biology with a thesis at the University of Windsor and defended her MS.c thesis in the our lab in August 2020, entitled: Field assessments of anthropogenic noise effects on free-swimming fishes. Rachel is currently pursuing her PhD where she will be working with companies and fisherman in Nova Scotia to enhance commercial fishing feat and improve sustainability of the redfish fishery. |
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Riley Beach Riley is a second year Masters student in the Higgs lab who has a passion for marine and freshwater biology. After completing her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Windsor she has decided to pursue a Masters in the Higgs lab in the field of freshwater bioacoustics. Taylor Bendig Taylor is a second year Master's student in our lab and is currently studying how anthropogenic boat noise can affect fish in their natural populations as well as determining the hearing range of three freshwater fishes: bluegill sunfish, rock bass, and pumpkinseed sunfish. With Taylor's research, we may be able to modify boat noise to prevent the negative impact it can have on fish, ensuring the survival of these (as well as other) fish species. Sarah Al-Zaher Sarah is studying the habituation of brook trout to acoustic noise stressors after continuous sound exposure and compare possible differences between generational and recent captive strains of brook trout in the brain using a multidisciplinary approach. Sarah’s project aims to provide both behavioural insight and molecular evidence of habituation to noise stressors by identifying changes in behavior and expression of certain genetic markers. Understanding the consequences sound and acoustic stressors may pose on fish behaviour and adaptation can be a direct indicator of their physiological and health status in the wild, and can give a good representation of its effects on fish held in captive environments |
Undergraduate Students
Current Thesis Students
Elise Bull
Mohamed Farjalla
Madeline Garlatti
Grace Dycha
Elise Bull
Mohamed Farjalla
Madeline Garlatti
Grace Dycha
Undergraduate Volunteers
Emma Gregoire
Harjot Jauhal
Previous Graduate Students
Roselia Ayala-Osorio - M.Sc. Student
Nathan Tuck - M.Sc. Student with Dr. Jan Ciborowski
Victoria Heath - M.Sc. Student
Melissa Macksoud - M.Sc. Student
Mallory Wiper - PhD student
Eugene Cheung - M.Sc. Student
Meghan Donovan - M.S.c Student
Brennen Corristine -- M.Sc. Student
Britney Fallica – M.Sc. Student
Lisa Isabella-Valenzi – M.Sc. Student
Jeff Zeyl – M.Sc. Student
Sarah Humphrey – M.Sc. Student
Jennifer Bronnehuber – M.Sc. student with Dr. Daniel Heath
Ashley Kasurak – M.Sc. student
Bianca Mancini – M.Sc. student
Jennifer Low – M.Sc. student
Patricia Speares – M.Sc. student
Andrea Belanger – PhD student
Audrey Rollo – M.Sc. student
Nathan Tuck - M.Sc. Student with Dr. Jan Ciborowski
Victoria Heath - M.Sc. Student
Melissa Macksoud - M.Sc. Student
Mallory Wiper - PhD student
Eugene Cheung - M.Sc. Student
Meghan Donovan - M.S.c Student
Brennen Corristine -- M.Sc. Student
Britney Fallica – M.Sc. Student
Lisa Isabella-Valenzi – M.Sc. Student
Jeff Zeyl – M.Sc. Student
Sarah Humphrey – M.Sc. Student
Jennifer Bronnehuber – M.Sc. student with Dr. Daniel Heath
Ashley Kasurak – M.Sc. student
Bianca Mancini – M.Sc. student
Jennifer Low – M.Sc. student
Patricia Speares – M.Sc. student
Andrea Belanger – PhD student
Audrey Rollo – M.Sc. student
