Ashley Canete is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre, supervised by Dr. Markus Hecker and Dr. Natacha Hogan. She completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Science at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, and began her graduate studies in the spring of 2025. Her research investigates the tissue-specific transcriptomic effects of the antimicrobial agent benzalkonium chloride in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), integrating a controlled laboratory experiment with whole-ecosystem research at the International Institute for Sustainable Development Experimental Lakes Area. Outside of academia, she enjoys engaging in environmental advocacy and sustainability initiatives.

Parker Jones is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. Raised in the prairies in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Parker’s upbringing brought about a lifelong interest in soil and its effects on the aquatic environment. He began his graduate journey at the U of S in 2025, where his research now centers on aquatic ecotoxicology. Specifically, Parker investigates the effects of soil chemicals from a legacy contaminated site on early life stage fish as well as rainbow trout liver and gill cells. Overall, his research can be used to develop novel approach methods to assess toxicological hazards at contaminated sites, and aid in the development of soil remediation technologies. 

William Muzyka is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. He grew up in Edmonton, AB, and obtained his BSc in Ecology from the University of Alberta. He then moved to Saskatoon in September of 2022 to begin his MSc under the co-supervision of Dr. Markus Hecker and Dr. Som Niyogi. His research focuses on the uptake kinetics of selenium by periphyton communities in the Elk Valley watershed near Sparwood, BC. Additionally, he is investigating the periphyton community composition in his samples using eDNA metabarcoding. He has been given the opportunity to present at several conferences across Canada, including SETAC PNC and CEW.

Dr. Francisco da Silva is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. Originally from Brazil, he earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, specializing in the toxicity of Amazon wildfire-derived contaminants. Since joining the Centre in 2021, Dr. da Silva has focused his research on the mechanistic toxicity of emerging contaminants using next-generation in vitro models and multi-omics. He currently leads a research program in collaboration with Dow Chemical, developing bioanalytical tools to assess soil and groundwater toxicity at the Fort Saskatchewan site. Additionally, his work has expanded into grant-funded epigenomic research on multi-generational aquatic effects. Beyond his research, Francisco coordinates the Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cell Culture laboratories, where he mentors graduate students and supports the Centre’s broader research excellence.

Chantel De Lange is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. Chantel began her graduate studies in 2023 with a strong desire to understand how environmental, animal, and human health are interconnected, particularly through the impact of pollutants. Her research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of 6PPD-quinone, a toxic byproduct of tire wear. Using gill cell lines from both sensitive and tolerant species like rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon, Chantel investigates how this chemical impacts aquatic species at the cellular level. She is also studying the effects of 6PPD-quinone on human lung cells, aiming to understand its broader impacts on human health.

Junyi Lin is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Junyi has always been driven by a desire to uncover the hidden mechanisms behind chemical toxicity. After completing an undergraduate honours project under Dr. Markus Hecker, Junyi continued into graduate studies at the U of S in 2022, where his research centers on aquatic ecotoxicology. His work investigates the mechanistic basis of species-specific sensitivity to 6PPD-quinone, a tire-derived contaminant of emerging concern. Using transcriptomic approaches in different early-life stage fish, he explores why closely related fish species show dramatically different susceptibility to this compound.

Juleanne Flores is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. Raised in the Philippines, she developed an early appreciation for aquatic environments and a deep awareness of how pollution can impact freshwater and coastal ecosystems. She began her graduate studies in 2023, where her research focuses on aquatic ecotoxicology. Specifically, Juleanne investigates the neurobehavioural and sublethal effects of aquatic contaminants in early life stage fish. By integrating behavioural assays and molecular work, her research aims to advance the use of behavioural techniques in environmental risk assessment strategies using the rainbow trout, a key freshwater species in Canada. 

Maycie McWillie, born and raised in Saskatoon, is a master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan’s Toxicology Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and has extensive experience in field-based ecological research, with longstanding interests in wildlife and ecosystem health. She began her graduate studies in 2024, focusing on the dynamics of contaminants within whole-ecosystem contexts. Her research contributes to a large-scale collaborative project conducted at the IISD Experimental Lakes Area, where a whole-lake experiment examines the system-wide ecological impacts of Benzalkonium Chloride exposure through controlled, ecosystem-scale additions. Specifically, her work investigates the sublethal effects of Benzalkonium Chloride on wild-caught lake trout, employing non-lethal transcriptomic approaches to characterize baseline ecological transcriptomic profiles and to assess molecular responses following exposure.