Our Team
Dr. Julia Riley
Julia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Mount Allison University where she is active in both teaching and research. She is an ecologist captivated with the wonders of nature. This passion for the natural world drives her research on the natural history, behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. By integrating theories and techniques across these fields to design and carry-out quantitative research her lab tackles both novel and long-held questions in animal ecology. You can contact her anytime at:
Email: jriley@mta.ca | Phone: +1 (506) 364-2506
Address: Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, 63B York Street,
Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G7, Canada
Office: Flemington Rm. 11 | Lab: Flemington Rm. 13
Adjunct at Dalhousie, Laurentian Trent & Queens Universities
Current Lab Members
Georgia Christie
Undergraduate Student (Hons) - Mount Allison University - 2023/24
Georgia is studying whether demographics of Eastern Red-backed Salamanders are impacted by urbanization. By studying this bioindicator species and the environmental conditions where they are found, she is assessing the status of salamander populations and health of forests across New Brunswick’s urban gradient. Georgia grew up enjoying time outside in New Brunswick forests, and has since continued exploring local natural spaces by working as a summer camp counselor and with a non-profit in Fundy. She is currently majoring in Biology with minors in Environmental Science and Visual and Material Culture Studies.
Josh Christiansen
Graduate Student (MSc) - Mount Allison University - 2023/25
Josh told his parents in Grade 3 that he was going to flip logs to look for salamanders when he grew up… fast forward to today and Josh is studying the variation in Eastern Red-backed Salamander behaviour across a gradient of anthropogenic (human) change! Josh earned his BSc Honours in Ecology and Environmental Biology studying bats at the University of Regina. Deciding to follow a career in conservation, ecology, and research was an easy choice for Josh. His passion for the natural world is long-standing and extends beyond his studies. When Josh isn’t trudging around in his waders studying salamanders, you can find him exploring natural spaces, capturing the beauty of our world with his camera!
Clare Yang
Graduate Student (MSc) - Mount Allison University - 2024/26
While Clare always wanted to be a "scientist", but she didn't figure out her discipline of choice until she took a zoology class in high school and fell in love with it. Throughout her BSc program, she researched Oregon Slender Salamanders found in suburban areas outside their native range, and was fascinated by how humans are impacting the habitats where animals live globally. For her MSc at MTA, she is studying introduced Eastern Red-backed Salamanders in Newfoundland. When not catching herps or R coding, Clare may be drawing, painting, playing the ukulele or guitar, or browsing at a board game cafe or a bookstore.
Andrea Gigeroff
Graduate Student (PhD) - Laurentian University co-supervised with Dr. Jackie Litzgus - 2023 to 2027
Andrea took her time getting to biology, spending her younger years pursuing an interest in science and art. When she finally decided that research combined gathering information with creative problem-solving, she knew it's what she wanted to do. Now she's pursuing a PhD investigating the world's only invasive population of garter snakes in Newfoundland! Andrea has a BSc Honours from Dalhousie University and an MSc from the University of Ottawa. She also still has a healthy interest in the arts, and in her spare time you can often find her at an art gallery, theatre, metal show, or just reading a book.
Victoria Tawa
Graduate Student (PhD) - Queens University co-supervised with Dr. Stephen Lougheed - 2024 to 2028
Identifying a moment that sparked Victoria's passion for ecology is not easy. For as long as she can remember, she has had a soft spot for under-appreciated taxa and loved catching frogs and snakes. Upon completing her BSc at Concordia University, she developed her appreciation for the conservation and management for at-risk herps further during a MSc at McGill University. Currently, Victoria is researching the spatial ecology and sociality of Grey Ratsnakes. Whenever she is not out "hiking' (aka. herping), you will find Victoria coaching competitive dance, walking her dog or cat, or daydreaming about her next cup of fresh, home-brewed coffee.
Dundee Riley-Baxter-Gilbert
Postdog - International Dog of Mystery - 2014 to current
Dundee's journey with the Riley Lab started in Australia, took him to South Africa, and continues in Canada at Mount Allison University. Throughout, his research interest in sleep ethology has never wavered. He has also expanded his behavioural observation skills in the field from echidnas to tortoises, and he hopes to continue to develop his technique with Canadian fauna.
Lab Alumni
Issac Acker | 2022 to 2023 | Snake fungal disease in Atlantic Canada
BSc Honours Student, Mount Allison University
Sara Leslie | 2022 to 2023 | Effects of forestry practices on salamander health
BSc Honours Student, Mount Allison University co-supervised with Dr. Chris Edge
Alexia McCormick | 2022 to 2023 | Colouration and Social Behaviour of Salamanders
BSc Honours Student, Mount Allison University
Cameron Bell (@camtylerbell)| 2020 to 2023 | Effect of Substrate Moisture on Oviparous Reptile Development
Independent Study, Dalhousie University & Environmental Research Assistant, Mount Allison University
Carter Rouleau| 2018 to 2020 | Socioecology of Midland Painted Turtles
MSc Student, Laurentian University co-supervised with Dr. Jackie Litzgus
Georgina Binns (@georgtweet) | 2017 to 2018 | Colour variation in Amata Moths
MRes Student, Macquarie University, Australia co-supervised with Dr. Mariella Herberstein & Dr. Kate Umbers
Rebecca Raynal (@bec_raynal) | 2017 | Heritability of colouration in Jacky Dragons
BSc Honours Student, University of NSW, Australia co-supervised with Dr. Lisa Schwanz & Dr. Kate Umbers
Anna Küchler | 2016 | Tree Skink social learning
DAAD Rise Program Internship, Macquarie University, Australia
Caroline Fryns (@caroline_fryns) | 2016| Impacts of developmental environment on social plasticity of a reptile
MSc student, Université de Strasbourg, France
Côme Guidou | 2015 | Tree Skink social behaviour
Internship, Macquarie University, Australia
Marie Favre | 2014 | Tree Skink sociality
Internship, Macquarie University, Australia
Chris Neufeld | 2013 to 2014 | Road ecology of pollinators
BSc Honours student, Laurentian University co-supervised with Dr. James Baxter-Gilbert & Dr. Jackie Litzgus
Jennifer Baxter-Gilbert | 2012 to 2013| Conservation of at-risk reptiles
Field Technician, Magnetawan First Nation
Live Monck-Whipp (@field_daze) | 2011 & 2013 | Reptile road and hatchling turtle overwintering ecology
Field Technician, Laurentian University and the artist behind the Riley Lab logo
Sean Boyle (@pqpturtles) | 2012 | Road ecology and conservation
Field Technician, Laurentian University
Beth McClaren | 2011 | Hatchling turtle overwintering ecology
Field Technician, Laurentian University
Patrick Moldowan (@algonquinwrs) | 2010 to 2011 | Turtle ecology and conservation
Field Technician, Laurentian University
Kassandra Hall | 2010 | Freshwater turtle ecology and behaviour
Field Technician, Laurentian University