Undergraduate Thesis Student (2026-present)
I am a senior honours undergraduate thesis student examining the remarkable fall migration of monarch butterflies. My thesis research tests whether monarchs are capable of true navigation, the ability to determine both where you are and which direction you need to travel to reach a destination.
To do this, I have attached miniaturized solar-powered tracking tags to monarchs and use Bluetooth detections to follow their movements after release. By comparing the routes of displaced and non-displaced butterflies, I hope to better understand how monarchs find their way to their overwintering grounds thousands of kilometres away in Mexico.
I am passionate about ecological research, animal movement, and conservation, and I plan to pursue a research-based master’s degree after completing my undergraduate degree in spring 2027. Outside of research, I enjoy hiking and birding.