Dr. Carly Ziter (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Concordia Biology Dept (Dec 2018 -); 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_jan2023.pdf

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.

Dr Riikka Kinnunen (she/her)
Horizon PDF, Concordia Biology
PhD, University of Winnipeg

Riikka is interested in investigating how biodiversity responds to human-caused environmental change, using synthetic analyses and field work to answer her questions. Her research to date has seen her work with many different taxa from bats to ants to squirrels and birds. Her postdoctoral research at Concordia focuses on nature-based solutions. She will use integrated approaches to investigate the role of urban forests in carbon storage and supporting biodiversity. Results from her work will support the development of future research priorities under the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program. She is co-advised by Dr. Barbara Frei at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Twitter: @RiikkaPK
Contact Riikka: [email protected].

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.

Nicole Yu (she/her)
MSc Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2022 - present; Concordia Merit Scholarship, British Council IELTS Prize)
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.

Chloe Cull (she/her)
MSc Student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2022 - present; NSERC CGS-M, Concordia Merit Scholarship, UFOR NSERC Create)
BSc, University of New Brunswick (2022)

Chloe spent most of her childhood outside, so nobody was surprised when she decided she wanted to pursue a master’s in Biology! Chloe is in the second and final year of her Master’s degree in the ZULE lab. Through her time in the lab, she has been investigating the impact of human recreational activity on bird nesting success and diversity, while considering the differences between parks that are formally and informally managed. Chloe hopes that her work can help inform managers and conservationists on how to best plan parks with both birds and city residents in mind. She is co-advised by Dr. Barbara Frei at Environment and Climate Change Canada, and works closely with Mackenzie Guest.

Michael Paulauskas (he/him)
MSc student, Concordia Biology (Fall 2021- present; Concordia Merit Scholarship)
BSc, McGill University (2019)

Michael’s interests might have begun in field biology but, through his work and undergrad experiences, he has developed a keen interest for soil sciences and urban ecology. The marriage of the two, urban soil ecology, manifests itself prominently in his research as he seeks to understand how legacy effects of past land-uses determines present-day soil properties and biodiversity on the Island of Montreal. Michael is a student with the UFOR NSERC CREATE.

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.

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]

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.

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.

Sarah Chamberland
PhD student, Concordia University, Biology (January 2024 - present)
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.​

Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor (she/her)
Project Coordinator: Urban Nature-based climate solutions program
MSc, Concordia University (2021)

After completing her MSc in urban forestry, Kayleigh has stayed on in the lab to coordinate a national review of best practices in urban forestry to support nature-based climate solutions as well as migratory birds and species at risk, in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Frei at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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Mackenzie Guest (she/her)
BIOL490 Student, 2024
BSc Student, Concordia University, Biology (2021 - present)
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Mackenzie is working on her undergraduate honours thesis, focusing on what factors are affecting the failure of bird nests in Montreal’s urban forests, working with Chloe Cull. 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 nesting birds face in urban forests. 
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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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Samuel Evan Gonzales-Fleurant (he/him)
BSc Biology, Concordia University (2023)

Evan is a research assistant who helps on multiple projects. He is passionate about ecology, conservation, aquatic ecosystems, and learning! During the 2023 summer, he conducted an experiment investigating the temperature regulation services that Montreal’s informal green spaces (IGSs) have. He also helped run an exhibit linked to this experiment titled “ Worth Defending” which, amongst other things, demonstrated the value IGSs have.
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Lab Alumni

PDF Alumni
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. Current position: Research Scientist at GPRC - CRI National Bee Diagnostic Centre

Graduate Alumni
Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor (2019-2021), MSc, Concordia Merit Scholarship
  • Thesis: Assessing urban tree taxonomic diversity, composition and structure at fine-scales in public and private green spaces: a community-based tree inventory. Currently: Project Coordinator for Urban Nature-based climate solutions program within Ziter Lab, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada
Serena Sinno (2019-2021), MSc, Hydro QC Scholar (Co-advised, JP Lessard)
  • Thesis: Variation in flower morphology enhances wild bee diversity in urban ecosystems. Currently: Canadian Wildlife Federation; Lecturer Dawson College
Emily Kroft (2019-2021), MSc, NSERC CGS-M
Undergraduate Alumni (*USRA = undergraduate student research award)
Mackenzie Guest (Research assistant, Summer 2023)
Kayleigh Tooke (BIOL490 undergraduate thesis 2023)
Lauren Bianco (Research assistant, Summer 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 summer award 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)