
School of Life Sciences and the Environment
The School of Life Sciences and the Environment at Algoma University delivers a high calibre programming with a focus on research and experience.
Most of our students have the opportunity to work in a research lab or for a local company as volunteers, student workers, through our internship courses and the capstone thesis. Several of our students publish their research in scientific journals.
The School of Life Sciences and the Environment (SLSE) delivers top-quality academic programming in Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science. SLSE programs are built to help students develop critical thinking skills allowing them to contribute solutions to current challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century. The SLSE prides itself on exceptional faculty/student relationships. Our small class-sizes allow students to get to know their professors,
and meet with them regularly to ensure that they are reaching their goals. Our professors are there to help students if they are struggling, and to help them grow throughout their academic careers. The School of Life Sciences and the Environment provides relevant high-quality education with a particular focus on getting students involved in the research process.
Consequently, our graduates leave Algoma University feel like they have truly become scientists. Many graduates report that this experience greatly prepared them for their careers.
Work with World-Class Researchers
Algoma University has world-class researchers. Our researchers bring in millions of dollars in research grants, and students in our programs have the opportunity to interact with these researchers, learn from them both formally and informally, and even conduct research in their labs. Over the last eight years, our undergraduate students have published 28 research papers in the peer reviewed scientific literature. In the SLSE, we understand that to become a great researcher, you need to learn from and train with great researchers.

Become a Scientist
Our goal is for every graduate to leave our program feeling like they have become a scientist. To accomplish this, we have structured our programs to focus on teaching students the scientific method, how to use data and statistics to address scientific hypotheses, as well as basic and advanced laboratory techniques. Students can hone their research skills in weekly lab sessions, during internship courses, or while working on an Honours Thesis project. We get students doing science, so when they graduate, they feel like scientists.

Find your Passion
We know that our incoming students have only scratched the surface in their scientific education. Our programs give students exposure to the breadth of topics that span Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Sciences. Students have the chance to explore many topics within their field of study, and then choose electives that match their interests later in their degree program. This approach ensures that students are given the chance to discover what they enjoy in their program, and pursue it. This approach differs from more specialized undergraduate programs where if a student wishes to pursue a new direction, they must start over. Science is about discovery – discover your passion in Algoma’s School of Life Sciences and the Environment.

Programming | Campus | Admission |
---|---|---|
Bachelor of Science - Biology | SSM | Gr. 12 English & Math, Two Gr. 12 Sciences from Biology, Chemistry or Physics |
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science | SSM | Gr. 12 English & Math Two Gr. 12 Sciences from Biology, Chemistry or Physics |
Bachelor of Science - Psychology | SSM | Gr. 12 English & Math, Two Gr. 12 Sciences from Biology, Chemistry or Physics |
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology | SSM/BRAM | Gr. 12 English |
Staff & Faculty
Our staff and faculty are experts in their field. Get to know them!

Dr. Jennifer Foote
Department Chair, Biology & Environmental Science, Associate Professor
View Full Bio
Dr. Brandon Schamp
Head of the School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Full Professor
View Full BioDr. Jennifer Foote
Department Chair, Biology & Environmental Science, Associate Professor

jennifer.foote@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4368
Office: ECC 404
Credentials: BSc Hons (Saint Mary’s University), MSc (Dalhousie University), PhD (Queen’s University)
Dr. István Imre
Acting Academic Dean, Full Professor

istvan.imre@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4341
Office: ECC 402
Dr. István Imre is a Professor in the Department of Biology. He holds a B.Sc. (Fisheries Biology, 1997) and a M.Sc. (Zoology, 1999) degree from University of Guelph and a Ph.D. from Concordia University (Biology, 2003). Dr. Imre completed postdoctoral fellowships at Université de Montréal and McGill University before accepting a tenure-track position at Algoma University in 2006. His research interests include population ecology of salmonid fishes and behavioural and chemical ecology of invasive species, such as sea lamprey. Dr. Imre was instrumental in developing the University’s esteemed four-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology program and the highly successful Department of Biology. In 2013, Dr. Imre received the Distinguished Faculty Award. Over the years, he served in a broad variety of roles, including many university and Senate committees, Chair of the Biology department and Assistant Dean of Student Success and Wellbeing. Most recently, he has been overseeing the Quality Assurance processes and program management as Associate Academic Dean, Academic Programs and Curriculum.
Dr. Pedro Antunes
Canada Research Chair for Invasive Species Biology, Full Professor

pedro.antunes@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4379
Office: ECC 405
Credentials: BSc (University of Evora), PhD (University of Guelph)
Dr. Brandon Schamp
Head of the School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Full Professor

brandon.schamp@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4358
Office: ECC 413
Credentials: BSc Hons (Wilfrid Laurier University), MSc (Queen’s University), PhD(Queen’s University)
Dr. Isabel Molina
Associate Professor

isabel.molina@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 1078
Office: ECC 403
Credentials: BSc (National University of La Plata, Argentina), MSc (National University of La Plata, Argentina), PhD (Michigan State University)
Shannon Rowell-Garvon
Biology Lab Coordinator, Part Time Contract Faculty

shannon.rowell-garvon@algomau.ca
(705)949-2301 x4311
Office: ECC306
Credentials: BSc (Northern Michigan University), MSc (Texas A&M –Corpus Christi)
My main focus at the university is supporting full and part-time faculty who teach in our various labs associated with the chemistry, biology and environmental science courses. The students are my top priority, so ensuring that faculty have everything they need to run successful labs at the university is my main goal. Besides coordinating for all of the labs I maintain the Algoma Herbarium and the Algoma Insect collection. These two collections provide opportunities for students to volunteer or do an internship.
Teaching Interests:
Intro Biology (1506, 1507) Labs
Introduction to the Invertebrate (2716) Lecture & Lab
Research Interests:
Prior to life at Algoma I worked as a consultant on various projects involving shorebirds and one involving a management plan for an endangered plant species, South Texas Ambrosia (Ambrosia cheiranthifolia). For the past 13 years during my summers off I have worked with my husband, Dr. Jason Garvon, a biology professor at Lake Superior State University on the Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery effort.
Piping Plover Collaboration
Great Lakes Piping Plover Recovery
Dr. Nirosha Murugan
Assistant Professor

Email: nirosha.murugan@algomau.ca
Phone: 705-949-2301
Office: ECC 401, Lab: ECC 407
Credentials:
B.Sc. (Hons.) – Behavioural Neuroscience (Laurentian University)
M.Sc. – Biology (Laurentian University)
Ph.D. – Biomolecular Science (Laurentian University)
Post-Doctoral Fellow – Regeneration Biology & Primitive Cognition (Allen Discovery Center at
Tufts University)
Teaching Fellow – (Harvard University)
Area of Expertise: Cancer Biology, Regenerative & Electromagnetic Medicine, Neuroscience
Research Interests: Cancers develop when cells fail to communicate and cooperate with their neighbors. Conventional anti-cancer therapies target and eliminate these faulty cells; however, their mechanisms are toxic to the rest of the human body, contributing to significant negative side effects in patients. Instead of eliminating cancer by causing cell death, it is now possible to harness the potential of cellular communication to instruct cancer cells to become normalized and re-integrate with the body. Using novel biomedical engineering strategies, my lab will be investigating how tissue microenvironments can direct cell fate to re-program cancer cells into healthy cells – eliminating cancer without harming normal tissues.
Teaching Interests: My interdisciplinary background informs my broad teaching interests which include topics in neuroscience, human physiology, regenerative medicine, biochemistry, and biostatistics. I have taught these courses at various colleges in Northern Ontario, Laurentian University, University of Toronto and Harvard University. In my lectures I often synthesize up-to-date science and active learning strategies in an engaging format, that allows students to understand the bigger picture so they can apply the concepts to modern day problems. I encourage all my students to ask questions (the more far-fetched the better!), be curious, and open their minds to the stunning complexities of the biological world!
Dr. William Dew
Assistant Professor

william.dew@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4761
Office: ECC 3036
Credentials: B.Sc. Hons (Laurentian University), M.Sc. (Laurentian University), Ph.D. (Lakehead University)
Area of Expertise: Aquatic ecotoxicology, Fish physiology, Olfactory physiology
Short bio: In my lab we study how the ability of aquatic animals to sense environmental cues is affected by contamination. Specifically, we look at the long-term effects of olfactory dysfunction in an ecosystem as well as answer questions about basic olfactory function in fish. Research in the lab includes how a neonicotinoid pesticide affects olfaction and agonistic behaviours in crayfish, the perception of novel cues by fish, and how fish recover from copper-induced olfactory dysfunction.
To learn more, visit my website!
Dr. David Brodbeck
Professor

dave.brodbeck@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4336
Office: SH 505
Educational Background:
- PhD (University of Toronto)
- MA (University of Toronto)
- BA Hons (University of Western Ontario)
My research focus is on spatial cognition in various species, especially birds, but I have done work on human cognition as well. Generally, my area of specialization is evolutionary psychology. I am interested in how evolution has shaped cognitive systems. I teach courses on statistics, animal behaviour, neuroscience and neuropharmacology. I podcast all of my lectures, which are available on my class website, or search for ‘Dave Brodbeck’ on iTunes.
In my spare time I like to play video games (xbox live and PSN username dbrodbeck) and I enjoy cooking and spending time with my family.
I wear the badge ‘geek’ proudly. My interests include science fiction, technology and history. I have a number of personal podcasts covering topics such as retro television, technology, sci-fi and history, pop culture and a show with my wife, Isabelle Michaud, which is one of the longest running podcasts in Canada. Isabelle is a French Prof here at Algoma U. I have appeared on a number of podcasts including Futures in Biotech on the TWiT network and Fourcast with Tom Merrit and Scott Johnson. Follow me on twitter @dbrodbeck.
For more information, check out my website.
Klaus Peltsch
Adjunct Professor

Sault Ste. Marie Campus
klaus.peltsch@algomau.ca
Telephone: 705-949-2301, ext. 4255
Office: WW 105
Credentials: BMath(hons) Waterloo, Msc Waterloo, MBA Lake Superior State
Areas of Expertise: Information Technology, Systems Analysis and Design, Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Architecture, Physics and Astronomy
Years Teaching: 1983 – present
Dr. Laurie Bloomfield
Faculty Chair, Sciences, Associate Professor

laurie.bloomfield@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4314
Office: SH 502
Educational Background:
- PhD (University of Alberta)
- MA (Queen’s University)
- BA Hons (Laurentian-Algoma University)
My area of specialization may be broadly listed as Cognitive Psychology; I am interested in how songbirds, which are vocal learners like humans, pay attention to, and utilize, their vocalizations in their social world. Therefore my research areas encompass the following aspects of psychology: attention, perception, language/communication, and comparative psychology. I teach courses on cognition, perception, and neurobiology, and act as coordinator for the fourth year thesis course where I assist in research design and data analysis.
In collaboration with fellow faculty members and student research assistants, I am also investigating whether birds use particular vocalizations to communicate the discovery of profitable food sources. This is being conducted both in the field and in my laboratory, which has an operant conditioning testing room, a spatial cognition testing room, and a sound-attenuating chamber for recording individual birds. Check out my website for more information and pictures.
On a more personal level, I enjoy reading horror/suspense/sci-fi novels, and baking and decorating cakes. When I have the opportunity to get out of the house, I spend time with my husband and our young daughter at our camp north of the city, riding our four-wheeler or snowmobile. I also enjoy visiting with extended family in southern Ontario during the summer.
For more information, check out my website.
Dr. Arthur Perlini
Full Professor

arthur.perlini@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4116
Office: NW 300B
Credentials: BA Hons (University of Western Ontario), MA (Carleton University), PhD (Carleton University)
Dr. Paul Dupuis
Department Chair, Psychology, Associate Professor

paul.dupuis@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4332
Office: SH 501
Educational Background:
- PhD, (Queen’s University)
- MA, (Queen’s University)
- BSc Hons (St. Mary’s University)
My main teaching and research interests are in forensic psychology and criminal behaviour with a focus on social cognitive/perceptive processes. Much of my research regards witness memory for crimes and perpetrators but I am moving towards examining interrogation techniques as well as how people perceive, and make judgments about, violent altercations.
Outside of academics I love to spend time with my family and friends, having barbeques, cooking, and playing games. I am a huge Montreal Canadiens fan, both figuratively and literally, and love to take my daughter skating and to Soo Greyhounds games.
Dr. Dwayne Keough
Associate Professor

dwayne.keough@algomau.ca
705-949-2301
Office: SH 414
Teaching Interests:
Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to teach a variety of undergraduate courses. I particularly enjoy teaching introductory to psychology, sensation and perception, cognition, human neuropsychology, and statistics. No, that was not a typo…I really do like teaching statistics!
Research Interests:
In general, I am interested in motor control. More specifically, I want to understand how sensorimotor feedback is used during motor planning and execution. My research has largely focused on the importance of auditory feedback during singing. To this extent, I have examined how individuals with differing levels of expertise rely on what they hear to control their voice fundamental frequency (pitch). I am also interested in other areas of perception and comparative cognition
Recent Publications:
- Keough, D., Hawco, C., & Jones, J. A. (2013). Auditory-motor adaptation to frequency-altered feedback occurs even when participants ‘ignore’ feedback. BMC Neuroscience, 14, doi:10.1186/1471-2202-14-25.
- Keough, D., & Jones, J. A. (2011). Contextual cuing contributes to the independent modification of multiple internal models for vocal control. Journal of Neurophysiology, DOI: 10.1152/jn.00291.2010.
- Keough, D., & Jones, J. A. (2009). The sensitivity of auditory-motor representations to subtle changes in auditory feedback while singing. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 126, 837-46.
- Hawco, C., Jones, J. A., Ferretti, T., & Keough, D. (2009). ERP correlates of online monitoring of auditory feedback during vocalization. Psychophysiology, 46, 1-10.
- Jones, J. A., & Keough, D. (2008). Acoustic-vocal mapping for pitch control in singers and nonsingers. Experimental Brain Research, 190, 279-287.
Michelle Dayboll
Administrative Assistant, Head of Life Sciences and the Environment

michelle.dayboll@algomau.ca
705-949-2301, ext. 4310
Office: SH 515A
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“My experiences in the Biology program at Algoma U’s School of Life Sciences & the Environment, specifically my time as a research assistant, ignited a passion for research that I continue to pursue today at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy. I was able to develop a deeper understanding of the methods that underly scientific experiments, and even learned basic coding skills using statistical software. I also secured an Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) allowing for the opportunity to conduct a unique research project with Dr. Schamp’s team during a summer work term. These experiences opened many doors for me in Pharmacy school.”
Ryan Pelletier
Graduate, Bachelor of Science, Biology (2016), PharmD Candidate