Management Team
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tara.jpg)
Tara Macdonald, PhD, RPBio
Tara became president of Biologica in 2012. Tara has been identifying and thinking about marine invertebrates her whole life, having performed her first microscope work…
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Sarah Steinerstauch, BSc
Sarah joined Biologica in 2009 after completing a BSc in Biology at the University of Victoria. She uses her amazing organizational skills to oversee all…
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Agnes Zoldowski, BSc
Agnes joined Biologica in 2022. She earned her BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto and spent over 15 years developing…
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Natalia Filip, MSc, RPBio
Certifications: Kindrogan Field Centre Freshwater Algae Certificate, North American Chironomidae (SFS), Biology and Taxonomy of Tunicates (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute), Riparian Area Regulation. Natalia completed…
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Maddie Beange, BSc
Maddie completed her BSc in Biology, with a concentration in neurobiology, at McGill University in 2010. After working as a research assistant in a couple neuro…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/tara.jpg)
Tara Macdonald, PhD, RPBio
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica091-600x600.jpg)
Sarah Steinerstauch, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Agnes-1-600x600.jpg)
Agnes Zoldowski, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica097-600x600.jpg)
Natalia Filip, MSc, RPBio
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Maddie Beange, BSc
Laboratory Staff
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Philip Hoover, BSc
Phil joined Biologica in 1994. Although he specializes in crustacean taxonomy, he happily tackles whatever phylum crosses his path. He grew up on Vancouver Island,…
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Anne Fearon-Wood, BSc
Anne joined Biologica in 1999 as a lab technician. She graduated from Lakehead University, Ontario in 1990 with a degree in Bachelor of Science and…
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Hiroki Tomoe, AScT
Certifications: North American Oligochaeta (SFS) Hiroki is originally from Osaka, Japan. As a child, he enjoyed collecting stag beetles, praying mantises, and other insects. He…
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Robynn Holma, BSc
Society of Freshwater Science Certifications: North American Chironomidae, Western Chironomidae, Western EPT, Eastern EPT, Western General Arthropoda, and Eastern General Arthropoda. Robynn joined the Biologica…
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Paige Hayhurst, AScT
Paige joined Biologica in 2011 as a co-op student. Since then, she graduated from Camosun College in 2012 with a Diploma in Environmental Technology and…
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Karen Cram, BSc
Karen graduated in 2012 with a BSc in Biology and Oceanography from the University of Victoria. She has worked at Biologica since 2012 as a…
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Karen Hoban, BSc
Society of Freshwater Science Certifications: Western EPT, Eastern EPT, Western General Arthropoda, and Eastern General Arthropoda. Karen joined Biologica in 2013 after spending over 10…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/biologica126.jpg)
Breanna Bomback, BSc
Society of Freshwater Science Certifications: North American Chironomidae. Breanna received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria where she majored in biology –…
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Alice Pearson, BASc
Alice joined Biologica in the fall of 2020 shortly after graduating from Quest University Canada with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. She enjoys learning…
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Cassandra Palfrey, BSc
Cassandra joined Biologica in the summer of 2020 after studying at both the University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University with a degree in Geography…
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Christina Nonis, BSc
Christina graduated from the University of Victoria in 2018 with a BSc in Biology (Marine Biology concentration). During her degree, Christina attended the Wildlands Studies…
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Jesslynn Shaw, BSc
Jesslynn graduated from the University of Victoria in 2019 with a BSc in Biology and has completed courses from the UVIC Restoration of Natural Systems…
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Suzy Christoffel, BSc
Suzy graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Biology after obtaining a Diploma in Environmental Technology in 2012. She also had the…
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Vanessa Mundy, BSc
Vanessa Mundy graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) with a BSc in Geology (2017) and Advanced Diploma in Water Quality (2019). Her hobbies include…
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Sabine Rankin, BSc
Sabine Rankin completed her BSc at Simon Fraser University in 2021, with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Resource and Environmental Management….
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Halle Dykeman, BSc
Halle Dykeman joined Biologica in 2022, shortly after graduating from the University of Victoria a BSc in Biology with a Marine Concentration. In her free…
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Sam Coe, BSc
Sam Coe graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Physical Geography and a minor in Psychology in 2022. While at university she…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Gilbert-e1717788524805.jpeg)
Gilbert Martin-Damman, BSc
Gilbert Martin-Damman joined Biologica in 2023 after graduating from the University of Victoria in 2022 with a BSc in Biology. Throughout his studies, he completed…
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Micayla Drew
Micayla Drew graduated from Camosun College with an Environmental Technology Diploma in 2021 and joined Biologica in 2023. She is currently working on achieving her…
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Alexa Desautels, BSc
Alexa graduated from the University of Victoria in 2019 with a BSc in Biology with a Concentration in Marine Biology. She’s expanded her skills by…
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Maddison Monnington, BSc
Maddison graduated from the University of Victoria in 2020. She achieved a BSc in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology. At work, she enjoys…
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Lindsay Gage, BSc
Lindsay joined Biologica after graduating from the University of Victoria in 2023 with a BSc in Biology. Her passion for invertebrates developed in her later…
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Chanel Vandenhoudt, BSc
Chanel Vandenhoudt graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Biochemistry. She also obtained two diplomas from Camosun College; Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology…
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Hannah Nygren, BSc
Hannah Nygren joined Biologica in 2023 after her graduation from the University of Victoria with a BSc in Biology and Environmental Studies. Her studies included…
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Jenny Kirkpatrick, BSc
Jenny Kirkpatrick joined Biologica in 2023 after completing her BSc in Biology with a Marine Concentration from the University of Victoria. She spent time at…
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Valerie Macdonald
Valerie founded Biologica in 1994. She has been a tireless advocate for improving the quality of taxonomic work since 1971. Valerie is well-known for both…
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Philip Hoover, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica135-600x600.jpg)
Anne Fearon-Wood, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica114-600x600.jpg)
Hiroki Tomoe, AScT
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica122-600x600.jpg)
Robynn Holma, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica099-600x600.jpg)
Paige Hayhurst, AScT
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica103-600x600.jpg)
Karen Cram, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/biologica130-600x600.jpg)
Karen Hoban, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/biologica126-600x600.jpg)
Breanna Bomback, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PXL_20220616_225615899_2-600x600.jpg)
Alice Pearson, BASc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/biologica111-600x600.jpg)
Cassandra Palfrey, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Christina-edit-600x600.jpg)
Christina Nonis, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/biologica107-600x600.jpg)
Jesslynn Shaw, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/PXL_20220616_180407499_2-600x600.jpg)
Suzy Christoffel, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Vanessa-L-edit-600x600.jpg)
Vanessa Mundy, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sabine-R-edit-600x600.jpg)
Sabine Rankin, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Halle-D-3-600x600.jpg)
Halle Dykeman, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sam-C-edit-600x600.jpg)
Sam Coe, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Gilbert-e1717788524805-600x600.jpeg)
Gilbert Martin-Damman, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Micayla-e1717791936871-600x600.jpg)
Micayla Drew
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Alexa-e1718650508642-600x600.jpg)
Alexa Desautels, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Maddison-e1718401188154-600x600.jpg)
Maddison Monnington, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lindsay-e1718398810782-600x600.jpg)
Lindsay Gage, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Chanel-e1718119857119-600x600.jpg)
Chanel Vandenhoudt, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hannah-e1717789692357-600x600.jpg)
Hannah Nygren, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Jenny-e1717789968936-600x600.jpg)
Jenny Kirkpatrick, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/valerie.jpg)
Valerie Macdonald
Consulting Staff
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Louise Benckhuysen, BSc
Louise joined Biologica in the fall of 2018 as a Sorting Technician, but has shown a big interest in Algae, and has been training in Algae Taxonomy…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/lu.jpg)
Lu Guan, MSc, PhD
Lu is originally from Chengdu, China, and has been living in Canada since 2004. She did her Master’s degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland on…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20220523_1201073.jpg)
Melissa Hennekes, AScT
Melissa has worked with Biologica as an algal taxonomist since 2013, and has been an algal taxonomist with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans…
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Louise_resized-600x600.jpg)
Louise Benckhuysen, BSc
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/lu.jpg)
Lu Guan, MSc, PhD
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/20220523_1201073-600x600.jpg)
Melissa Hennekes, AScT
Head of Security
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Juno Wildman
Juno is our youngest staff member at only a year old! Although shy at first, she has excelled in receiving pats from staff members, chauffeuring…
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Jasper Wildman
Jasper is a fluffy white dog (Canis floofiensis) and excels at disciplines including SuperDog exercises, barking at strangers, barking at familiars, and charming the masses….
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Juno-e1715799655828-600x600.jpg)
Juno Wildman
![](https://biologica.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/jasper.jpg)