Dr. Carly Ziter (she/her)
Associate Professor, Concordia Biology Dept; University Research Chair in Urban Ecology and Sustainability; Core Faculty Member, CERC Cluster for Smart, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities and Cities

PhD (2014-2018) - University of Wisconsin-Madison
MSc (2011-2013) McGill University
BSc (2007-2011) University of Guelph

Carly grew up in southern Ontario, in a house surrounded by fields (usually corn, sometimes soy) punctuated by small woodlots. In her mind, this mix of farmland, housing, and forest wasn’t an “ecosystem”; it was just where she walked the dog. Now, she realizes that these human-dominated landscapes are hard at work providing a multitude of ecosystem services we rely on, and she's fascinated by how we can manage these areas better. When she's not busy researching the intersection of landscape structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, Carly can be found enjoying the great outdoors, knitting, or supervising shifts at her community pottery studio.

Email: [email protected];
Download Carly's CV here: ziter_cv_Jan2025

Current Lab Members

We have a vibrant, diverse lab group of undergraduates through postdoctoral researchers. Carly advises grad students through Concordia's Biology Department, and co-advises interdisciplinary students in collaboration with Concordia's Next Generation Cities Institute. Undergraduates may join the lab via Biology, the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability, or Science College. To learn more, visit our join the lab page.
Siena Blier
MSc Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2025 - present; NSERC CGS-M; FRQNT; UFOR NSERC Create)
BSc, McGill University, 2025

Siena is an M.Sc. student co-supervised by Dr. Barbara Frei at Environment and Climate Change Canada. After working with fish and cows in her undergrad, Siena is eager to explore the world of bird watching! She is exploring the impacts of tree planting initiatives on bird populations, with a focus on the ecosystem services provided by birds. She hopes this project will inform management practices that can better support Montreal's rich and diverse bird community, while improving the lives of city dwellers. 
Projects involved in:
  • Bird nesting success​
Mackenzie Guest (she/her)
MSc Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2024 - present; UFOR NSERC Create; FRQNT)
BSc, Concordia University, 2024
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Mackenzie is working on her MSc, focusing on how public and private green spaces compare in their support for migratory and resident bird species. She is co-supervised by Dr. Barbara Frei at Environment and Climate Change Canada. Fascinated by the life and diversity present in urban areas, she is interested in understanding how urban green spaces can be beneficial for humans and birds alike. She hopes her work will shed light on the threats birds face in urban environments. 
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Johanna Arnet
MSc Student, UQAM Biology (Summer 2024 - present; UFOR NSERC Create)
BSc, McGill University (2023)

​Johanna is particularly interested in urban forest ecology and the intersection with human physical and mental well-being. She is completing her master’s at UQÀM under the supervision of Dr. Alain Paquette at Université du Québec à Montréal, and is co-supervised in our lab. Johanna's project is looking at spatial and temporal variations in urban temperature, and how the urban forest can be optimized to help mitigate the urban heat island effect.  
Projects involved in:​
  • Montreal Tree Inventory
Emma Bacon
MSc Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2023 - present; NSERC CGS-M, Concordia Merit Scholarship, UFOR NSERC Create)
BSc, Queen's University (2023)

Emma is interested in the distribution of urban trees in cities. Her love for ecology was fostered by countless backcountry trips as a child. Her MSc will focus on how the urban forest changes across Montreal neighbourhoods, specifically across different sociodemographic factors and urban form. Emma hopes her project can help inform managers and residents on how to create more resilient urban forests. She is co-advised by Dr. Alain Paquette at Université du Québec à Montréal.
Projects involved in:​
Sarah Chamberland
PhD student, Concordia University, Biology (January 2024 - present; SSHRC and FRQSC Doctoral Awards)
MSc, McGill University (2021)
BA & Sc, McGill University (2019)

Sarah is interested in socio-ecological systems, particularly where they overlap with biodiversity conservation. Her PhD research will focus on community preferences and management of urban nature using an interdisciplinary approach, combining urban ecology and human geography.​

Projects involved in:
Nicole Yu (she/her)
PhD Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2022 - present; British Council IELTS Prize, Concordia University Graduate Fellowship and Merit Scholarship)
BSc, The University of Hong Kong (2022)
 
Like many others in Hong Kong, Nicole grew up amidst the hustle and bustle oblivious to the rich biodiversity sharing her city. That all changed after attending her first bioblitz. She is now dedicated to studying biodiversity patterns in urban areas,  with an interest in green infrastructure as solutions towards for building ecologically sustainable cities. Nicole works with the DesignLIFES NSERC CREATE.
Projects involved in:
Bella Richmond (she/they)
PhD student, Concordia University, Biology (Winter 2021 - present; NSERC CGS-D; Concordia University Graduate Fellowship; Merit Scholarship)
MSc, Memorial University (2020)

Bella is interested in the generation and distribution of ecosystem services provided by urban trees. She grew up in Southwestern Ontario, where climbing trees provided her countless hours of childhood entertainment and sparked a passion for urban nature. Her Ph.D. research will focus on determining where and why urban tree ecosystem services exist and are accessed using multi-city and Montréal-specific approaches.
Projects involved in:​
Fatemeh Izadi
PhD, Concordia Individualized (INDI) program (Summer 2020 - present; Maternity leave 2022)
MA in Urban Design, The University of YAZD (2012)

A trained architect and urban designer, Fatemeh integrates knowledge from design, engineering, and urban ecology to understand how built and green elements of cities can better promote urban "walkability", with a focus on thermal comfort. Her research falls within the Next Generation Cities Institute (co-advised by Concordia colleagues and collaborators Ursula Eicker, Carmela Cucuzzella, with the ideasbe project).

Fatemeh's LinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/in/fatemeh-izadi-30b1194a
Contact Fatemeh: [email protected]
Projects involved in:​
Lingshan Li
PhD, Concordia University, Geography, Planning, and Environment (Fall 2020 - present)
MSc, Beijing Normal University (2019)

Lingshan is studying the effects of vegetation and the built environment on urban microclimate in Montreal, using a combination of remote sensing and field-based approaches. Her research falls within the Next Generation Cities Institute (co-advised by Concordia colleagues and collaborators Ursula Eicker, Angela Kross), as well as the DesignLIFES NSERC CREATE.
Projects involved in:​
Noa Davidai
PhD student and part-time faculty, Concordia University, Biology (Winter 2022 - present; Concordia University Graduate Fellowship; Merit Scholarship)
MSc, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2009)

Noa is interested in forest entomology, resilience, and management spanning urban and rural areas. For her PhD, she is focusing on Lymantria dispar, and is co-advised with colleague and collaborator Emma Despland. She is a student with the LEADS NSERC CREATE program.

Projects involved in:
  • Sud-Ouest Corridor Monitoring
  • Cross Cities Ecosystem Services
Niraj Dayanandan (he/him)
BA Student, Concordia University, Urban Planning (Fall 2020 - present)
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Niraj is interested in the intersection of urban ecology and city planning. He is working on meta-analysis of the cooling effects of green roofs with the DesignLIFES NSERC CREATE program. He aims to address the gap in current literature by analyzing data from rooftops around the world. He hopes that this study will guide future planning tools when implementing and assessing ecological infrastructure such as green roofs.
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Lab Alumni

PDF and Research Associate Alumni
Riikka Kinnunen (2022-2024), Horizon Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postdoctoral work focused on cross-city comparisons of synergies and tradeoffs between avian diversity and carbon storage, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada
Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor (2022-2024), Research Associate
  • Project Coordinator for Urban Nature-based climate solutions program with Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Currently: Research and Engagement Coordinator,  Tree Canada
Dr. Gail MacInnis (2020-2022), Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Fellow
  • Postdoctoral work focused on complementary and competitive interactions between wild and managed bees in both urban and agroecosystems.
  • Currently: Executive Director, Pollinature (Former: Research Scientist at GPRC - CRI National Bee Diagnostic Centre)

Graduate Alumni
Chloe Cull (2022-2024), MSc, NSERC CGS-M, Concordia Merit Scholarship, UFOR NSERC Create
  • Currently: Environmental Scientist, CBCL Environmental Consulting
Michael Paulauskas (2021-2023), MSc, Concordia Merit Scholarship
  • Currently: Biologist, Quebec EcoMuseum
​Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor (2019-2021), MSc, Concordia Merit Scholarship Serena Sinno (2019-2021), MSc, Hydro QC Scholar (Co-advised, JP Lessard)
  • Currently: Program coordinator, Canadian Wildlife Federation; Biology Lecturer Dawson College 
Emily Kroft (2019-2021), MSc, NSERC CGS-M
Technicians
Samuel Evan Gonzales-Fleurant (Eco Canada science horizon intern, 2023-2024)

​Undergraduate Alumni (*USRA = undergraduate student research award)
Meagan Tobin-Devereaux (Undergraduate Research Assistant, Spring 2025)
Ryan Nguyen (LOYC420: Directed Study in Sustainability Winter 2025)
Thomas Allitt (LOYC420: Directed Study in Sustainability Winter 2025)
Jess Liddell (UFOR NSERC CREATE USRA, Summer/Fall 2024)
Ella Noyes (NSERC USRA, Summer 2024)
Lauren Bianco (Research Assistant 2023-2025, UFOR NSERC CREATE USRA Summer 2024)
Camille Loignon-Gagnon (Research assistant, Summer 2024)
Mackenzie Guest (UFOR NSERC CREATE USRA Summer 2023, Research Assistant Summer 2024)
Kayleigh Tooke (BIOL490 undergraduate thesis 2023)
Aliaksei Fiodarau (SCOL398 Independent Research Project 2023)
Caytee Lush (NSERC USRA 2023)
Adéla Bartova (Mitacs Globalink Intern 2023)
Erik Hristev (SCOL298 Independent Research Project 2023)
Erica Padvaiskas (UFOR NSERC CREATE USRA Summer 2022; BIOL490 undergraduate thesis, 2022)
Emily Campbell (Research assistant, Fall 2022)
Isaac Finkelstein (Research assistant, 2022)
Laura Gonzalez (Mitacs Globalink Intern 2022)
Angelina Teichrib (Mitacs Globalink Intern 2022)
Gabrielle Gingras (Field Technician, 2022)
Mathieu Johnson (SCOL398 Independent Research Project 2021)
Lauren Tran (Research Technician, 2021)
Nicole Yu (Mitacs Globalink Intern 2021)
Maya Catterall (Concordia USRA 2020; NSERC USRA 2021, LOYC398 Directed Studies project 2021)
Sarah O’Driscoll (Artist in Residence, Concordia USRA 2021)
Megan Tremblay (Concordia USRA 2021)
Taylor Yeung (LOYC398 Directed Studies project 2021)
Katie Philp (field technician summer 2019; BIOL490 undergraduate thesis 2021)
Kieu-Nhi Vu (Concordia USRA 2019; BIOL490 undergraduate thesis 2020)
Majed Al Hanout (NSERC USRA, summer 2020)
Maya Catterall (Concordia USRA, summer 2020)
​Élie Comtois (ECO Canada summer student, research assistant, summer 2020)
Daniel Cretu (ECO Canada summer student, research assistant, summer 2020)
Emma McLaughlin (ECO Canada summer student, research assistant, summer 2020)
Serena Sinno (field technician, summer 2019)