Our Team
The Paleoecology Lab is led by Kathryn Hargan in the Department of Biology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Dr. Kathryn Hargan
Associate Professor
​
Department of Biology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
45 Arctic Ave.
St. John's, NL A1C 5S7
Office: CSF4225; Telephone: 1-709-864-4754
Email: khargan[at]mun[dot]ca
Education and experience:
2017-2019: EnviroLab Asia PDF, Claremont McKenna College, Williams Marine Environmental Change Lab
2015-2017: W. Garfield Weston PDF, University of Ottawa, Blais Environmental Tracers and Contaminants Lab
2010-2015: PhD, Queen's University, Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory
2008-2010: MSc, Trent University with Dr. Peter Dillon, Professor Emeritus
Our research lab is diverse with students from many backgrounds. Paleolimnology professors can be found in geology, geography, environmental science, earth science, and biology departments due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, so please do not hesitate to inquire about an opportunity with me even if your undergraduate degree or MSc is not in Biology. Students have access to state-of-the-art scientific equipment (e.g., GC-MS, ICP-MS) through the CREAIT facilities at MUN, and the opportunity to learn many established and emerging tools and proxies for inferring long-term environmental change. To answer large research questions, many of our projects are indeed collaborative across departments, institutions, and with federal and provincial governments such as Environment and Climate Change Canada and Parks Canada. Our lab is an open environment that recognizes the benefits of building trusting collaborations among students and researchers.
ishraq rahman, phd candidate

I am Ishraq from Bangladesh. I completed my BSc (Biotechnology) in 2018 and MSc (Research) in 2020 from Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus). I have worked as a research assistant at Swinburne and as a lecturer of biology and microbiology courses at IUBAT, Bangladesh.
​
During my MSc (under the supervision of Dr Moritz Müller), I looked at how the diversity and gene expression of microbial communities change when they settle on microplastics in the aquatic environment. After getting some fascinating data, I was sure that for my PhD I also wanted to look at some other aspect of how the microbes in the environment are being affected by anthropogenic activities. That is when I came across Dr Hargan’s research and realized that her lab would be a good fit for me. Here, under the supervision of Dr Hargan and Dr Lang, I will be studying the dynamics of the distribution of the avian influenza virus among wild birds in Atlantic Canada. This will be done by screening wild bird samples for avian influenza virus and subsequent genome sequencing for phylogenetic analyses. I will also be studying the transmission of specific bacteria and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes among bird species at a multi-species breeding colony.
​
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishraq-rahman-04096b15a/
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ishraq_Rahman
Katie hong Kiu lau, phd candidate

I’m Katie from Hong Kong, a PhD student studying seabirds using paleoecology. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Geography at the Baptist University of Hong Kong. Because of my enthusiasm for birds, I pursued a MSc degree in Ecology at the University of Aberdeen, UK. During my master’s degree, I joined the Lightning House Institution to track northern fulmars on Eynhallow, Orkney. I studied the time of arrival, geolocation and activities of fulmars during their pre-laying exodus. After I graduated from Aberdeen, I worked in a climate modelling laboratory at the University of Hong Kong as a research assistant for three years. In the lab, I worked on the development of a novel set of high-resolution global lightning data and reconstruction of past lightning as well as simulation of future lightning. During my time in HKU, I have developed my interest in programming and paleoecology. I wish to combine my experiences in seabird and climate research for my PhD. I will be reconstructing seabird abundances at their breeding colonies and investigating the influence of anthropogenic impacts and environmental changes on their long-term population trends.
GitHub: https://github.com/hkLAU
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katie-Hong-Kiu-Lau
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=XH5mylEAAAAJ
juliana velandia, phd student

Courtney White, MSc student

Growing up in Newfoundland has long fueled my interest in and wonderment of nature. As I got older, this fascination with nature became a drive to pursue studying biology, particularly conservation biology and the effects of climate change. I received my BSc (Hons) in Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, during which I got the opportunity to study the unique ecology of this island, further cementing my love of exploring and learning from the province. Shortly after finishing my first degree, I began to work for MUN as a Research Assistant for the Newfoundland and Labrador Mosquito Project in which we used the help of citizen science to collect mosquitoes from all across NL. The goal of the project was to form a profile of mosquito species in NL and compare the changing species profile to climate data to determine whether there were any correlations. This project resulted in fueling my interests involving conservation concerns of local habitats and the effects of climate change on population dynamics. Within Dr. Hargan’s lab, I will be using paleolimnological techniques to uncover historical patterns of population change in Eastern Spruce Budworm across Newfoundland, a significant defoliating pest known for causing substantial damage to our forests. It is my hope that the research I conduct will shed light on how to move forward with new conservation policies and management plans for ecosystems and sensitive species across the province.
Katie cothran, MSc student (2024 - )

Katie is an avid runner, reader, and former science teacher. With a background in E. coli and COVID research in the midwestern United States, she is excited to expand her background in paleoecology and soil analysis in Newfoundland.
​
​​
kathryn cole, MSc student (2025 - )

​Being a born and raised Newfoundlander, I have always been interested in nature, whether I'm spending time in our expanse of boreal forests or driving 10 minutes to see the ocean. Naturally, this has made me curious and want to understand how the environment works and how the species that call this province home interact. To satiate this curiosity, I attended Memorial University for my undergraduate degree, receiving my BSc. (Hons) in Biology (Co-op) in 2025. During this time, I learned about the captivating ecology of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats here in Newfoundland, while also having the opportunity to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for my work terms and getting to spend time in the field studying these habitats. Ultimately, I found that my heart belongs to the water, and my Honour’s project reflected this, where I researched how a coastal fish community responded to temperature changes. After this, I wanted to keep researching coastal environments, which led me to Dr. Hargan’s lab. I had completed one of her courses during my undergrad, so when I was awarded an NSERC USRA, I reached out and asked about working in her lab, and I haven’t left since! My Master’s project relates back to my personal connection to the ocean, as I will be using paleolimnology methods to study historical capelin populations. I grew up watching the capelin roll, so I am excited to be working with this cool species and helping to ensure future generations get to experience it too!
laura colbourne, MSc student (2025 - )
thomas drover, MSc student (2025 - )
Past Students & Lab Members

Alexandra, Zvezdin, MSc (2023)
Ecological changes on SGang Gwaay over the last millennium: uncovering forest changes and avian activitiy with respect to human settlement and invasive species
Johanna Bosch, MSc (2023)
From seabirds to sediments: the ecological footprint of seabirds at a prominent North Atlantic breeding colony tracked using a multi-proxy paleolimnological approach

Molly Morrissey, MSc (2023)
Seabirds of Newfoundland and Labrador: Using stable isotope techniques to investigate changing diet over ~120 years and their influence on terrestrial coastal ecosystems

Veronica Smith, MSc (2023)
Paleolimnoglical techniques applied to an Indigenous Beothuk archaeological site in Newfoundland, Canada

Amber Walker, MSc (2024)
Coprophilous fungi as paleo indicators for moose presence after introduction to Newfoundland
Maliya Cassels, MSc (2025)
Population trends in an Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) colony determined from a ~500-year sediment core


Elizabeth Mack, MSc (2025)
Unveiling the seabird nesting history of Green Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, NL using paleolimnology
.jpg)
Brady Rudh, MSc (2025)
Identifying Diatom Indicator Species
Across Environmental Gradients in Newfoundland Peatlands
John-Mark Bonneau
Science Technician 2024-2025
Paloma Saez Ochoa
Science Technician 2025
Kathryn MacDonald
NSERC USRA May-Aug 2025
MUCEPs: Rylan Herritt (Jan - Apr 2025); Kathryn Cole (Sept - Dec 2024); Alyssa Forget (Jan - Apr 2024); Lauren Gover (Sept - Dec 2023); April Griffin (Jan - Apr 2023); Arielle Przybysz (Sept 2020 - Apr 2021)

Kathryn Cole
NSERC USRA May-Aug 2024
Paloma Saez Ochoa
SURA May-Aug 2023; SURA May-Aug 2024
Madeline Sceviour
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Ben Taylor
Science Technician Sept - Nov 2021
Jahnavi Kocha (CMC'19)
Thesis title: "A spatial and temporal analysis of Uranium concentrations around the abandoned New Hope Method mine in the Mohave Desert"
Jahnavi and Kathryn also traveled together to Pitzer College's Firestone Field Station in Costa Rica to study environmental changes across a gradient of land use (banana and bamboo plantations, primary and secondary forest).
Alison Hong (CMC'19)
Thesis title: "Tracking the role of trophic position on copper, zinc, manganese and arsenic accumulation in Thai mangrove molluscs"
Alison's thesis is published in the journal Ecological Indicators.
Jahnavi and Kathryn at the Firestone Field Station in March 2019


Alison at the Keck Science thesis poster day, Dec 2018