Education
University of Guelph: PhD Integrative Biology (2022)
- Supervisor: Dr. Georgia Mason (Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare)
- Thesis: “Investigating the effects of highly preferred environmental enrichment on the behaviour and welfare of laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio)”
University of New Brunswick: MSc Biology (2017)
- Supervisor: Dr. Richard Cunjak (Canadian Rivers Institute)
- Thesis: “Mortality and development of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos associated with environmental conditions over winter in the Miramichi River basin”
Queen’s University: BScH Specialization in Biology (2013)
- Supervisor(s): Dr. John Smol, Dr. Joshua Kurek, Dr. Kathleen Ruhland (Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory)
- Honours Thesis: “Investigating the environmental context of recent blooms of Didymosphenia geminata using sediment records from headwater lakes in Gaspésie, Québec”
Work Experience
Current: Open Philanthropy, Science Program Associate – Farmed Animal Welfare (2022-Present)
University of Guelph (Mason Lab), Postdoctoral Fellow (2022)
ReThink Priorities – Moral Weight Project, Literature Review Team Member (2022)
Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, Social Media Coordinator (2020-2022)
National Farm Animal Care Council, Farmed Finfish Scientific Committee Research Writer (2019-2020)
Falls Brook Centre, Media and Promotions Coordinator/Interim Biodiversity Coordinator (2015-2016)
UNB Writing and Study Skills Centre, Tutor (2014-2016)
Canadian Rivers Institute, Research Assistant (2013-2015)
Paleoecological and Environmental Assessment Lab, Research Assistant (2012-2013)
Queen’s University Career Centre, Editor (2011-2013)
ScienceQuest Day Camps, Life Sciences Program Coordinator (2011)
Awards and Grants
2022
Integrative Biology Distinguished Graduate Student Speaker Award
Special Dean’s COVID Recovery Award
2020
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
2019
CCSAW Research Grant (co-written with Dr. Georgia Mason)
Fisheries Society of the British Isles Small Research Grant
Zebrafish Husbandry Workshop Speaker Contest Winner
Animal Behavior Society Student Research Grant
University of Guelph Registrar’s Travel Grant
CCSAW Student Travel Grant
2017
University of Guelph Graduate Excellence Entrance Scholarship
2016
NSERC CGS-D Alexander Graham Bell Doctoral Scholarship
Clemens-Rigler Student Travel Award
2015
American Fisheries Society Student Writing Contest Winner
H.B. Noel Hynes Memorial Scholarship
Peter A. Larkin Award for Excellence in Fisheries (Runner-Up)
Clemens-Rigler Student Travel Award
2014
New Brunswick Innovation Fund Graduate Scholarship
Peter A. Larkin Award for Excellence in Fisheries (Runner-Up)
American Fisheries Society – Early Life History Section Student Travel Award
2013
Graduation with Distinction – Queen’s University
Dean’s Honour List (3 years)
Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship (4 years)
Writing
PUBLICATIONS
Lavery. J.M. and G.J. Mason. In prep. Mirror, mirror, on the wall… How tank material and the presence of “enrichments” affect agonism in laboratory zebrafish. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
Miller, R., Schiestl, M., Trevarthen, A., Gaffney, L., Lavery, J.M., Fischer, B., Schnell, A. In review. From pigs to silkworms: cognition and welfare across 10 farmed taxa. WIREs Cognitive Science.
Lavery, J.M., Bartlett, A.D.*, Nafziger, J., Thoms, P., and R.A. Cunjak. In press. Field observations of deformed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos incubated in the hyporheic zones of seven of cold region rivers. In: Lobon-Cervia, J., Budy, P., and R. Gresswell (eds). Ecology of Stream-Dwelling Salmonids. Springer.
*student under my mentorship
corresponding author
Decker, S., Lavery, J.M., and G.J. Mason. 2023. Don’t use it? Don’t lose it! Why active use is not required for stimuli, resources or “enrichments” to have welfare value. Zoo Biology. DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21756
Bartlett, A.D.*, Lavery, J.M., Nafziger, J., and R.A. Cunjak. 2022. A rapid classification tool for deformities in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos. Journal of Fish Biology, 101(1): 317-322. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15112
*student under my mentorship
corresponding author
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
“Repeat Spawner Series: Winter: The Forgotten Study Season”. The Fisheries Blog, May 20, 2019.
“NB Naturalist Feature: Running the Salmon Gauntlet”. NB Naturalist Magazine Online, October 11, 2018.
“CIHR does an about face on the value of face-to-face peer review”. Borealis Blog, July 25, 2016.
“Studying Atlantic salmon eggs in Canada’s freezing winter – the forgotten study season”. Women Are Boring, May 13, 2016.
“The future of fish farming”. Dive In: The Brunswickan, February 24, 2016.
“A new plan for salmon”. Dive In: The Brunswickan, January 27, 2016.
“The little fish with big potential”. Dive In: The Brunswickan, November 25, 2015.
“The life or death lottery”. Dive In: The Brunswickan, October 28, 2015.
“A Bay of Fundy MPA”. CPAWS NB Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2015.
“Winter: The Forgotten Study Season”. The Fisheries Blog, February 9, 2015.
“Why Is A Riparian Buffer Zone So Important?”. CPAWS NB Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2014.
“Help Needed to Protect Restigouche”. CPAWS NB Newsletter, Fall 2013/Winter 2014.
SCIENCE-RELATED
“Eggs-traordinary Fieldwork”. Dispatches from the Field, March 25, 2016.
“Experimenting with Creativity”. Borealis Blog, February 8, 2016.
“Summary of CCFFR-SCL”. CARS-AFS Blog, January 29, 2016.
“CCFFR #Scicomm Session”. Storify, January 19, 2016.
“2015 GradHacker Holiday Gift Guide”. GradHacker, December 21, 2015.
“Always stay curious”. Dive In: The Brunswickan, September 30, 2015.
“A summer science blog hit list: books, travel, and dinosaurs”. Borealis Blog, July 27, 2015.
“Say Yes to the Reference Manager”. GradHacker, June 2, 2015.
“Best of Both Worlds: Windows on a Mac in Five Variations”. GradHacker, May 17, 2015.
“Don’t Expect Much When You’re Expecting”. GradHacker, March 5, 2015.
“GradHacker Holiday Gift Guide: Personal”. GradHacker, December 18, 2014.
“GradHacker Holiday Gift Guide: Technology”. GradHacker, December 11, 2014.
“GradHacker Holiday Gift Guide: Professional”. GradHacker, December 4, 2014.
“Grab Your Partner: STEM Connections Outside Academia”. GradHacker, November 13, 2014.
“Where Storytelling Meets Science”. GradHacker (with Lesley McCollum), September 23, 2014.
“NSERC: The Canadian Grad Student’s Holy Grail”. GradHacker (with Hanna Peacock), September 22, 2014.
“So You’re Famous – Don’t Panic”. GradHacker, September 18, 2014.
“On Sexual Harassment and Fieldwork: Being an Ally”. GradHacker, August 21, 2014.
Please contact me for PDFs.
Presentations
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Lavery, J.M. and G.J. Mason. November 2022. What zebrafish want: preferred environments produce smarter fish. SGV (Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association) Meeting, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gaffney, L. and J.M. Lavery. November 2022. Hindsight is 20/20: What entomologists can learn from the field of fish welfare. 2022 ESA, ESC, and ESBC Joint Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC.
Lavery, J.M. and G.J. Mason. September 2022. Effects of differentially-preferred environments on laboratory zebrafish welfare and cognition. University of Guelph Integrative Biology Departmental Seminar Series, Virtual. [winner of the Integrative Biology Distinguished Graduate Student Speaker Award]
Mason, G.J and J.M. Lavery. May 2022. Why isn’t there a consensus about which animals are sentient? Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals, Banff and Online.
*co-presenter
Lavery, J.M., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. February 2022. What zebrafish want: Rearing with preferred environmental enrichment increases survival and accelerates learning. Focus on Fish, RPSCA (virtual event).
Lavery, J.M., and Mason, G.J. December 2020. Animal sentience and the debate around fish. Seminar. BC SPCA, Vancouver.
Lavery, J.M., Mason, G.J., and Gaffney, L. December 2020. Fish sentience and welfare: why we fight about it and why it matters? Lunch and Learn seminar. World Animal Protection Canada, Toronto.
Lavery, J.M., and Mason, G.J. September 2020. Which animals are sentient, how can we tell, and what should we do when we don’t know? Informal seminar. Animal Behaviour and Welfare Discussion Group, University of Guelph, Guelph.
Lavery, J.M. September 2020. Fish sentience and welfare: why do we fight about it and how do we study it? Informal seminar. Juanes Lab at the University of Victoria, Victoria.
Lavery, J.M. August 2020. The question of fish sentience and why it matters. Informal seminar. Farmed Finfish Code of Practice Committee Presentation. National Farm Animal Care Council.
Lavery, J.M., and Moccia, R. April 2020. Biodensity effects on the welfare of farmed salmonids. Informal seminar. Farmed Finfish Code of Practice Committee Presentation. National Farm Animal Care Council.
Lavery, J.M., Braithwaite, V., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. April 2020. First steps for taking an “affective states” approach to zebrafish welfare. Seminar. Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
Lavery, J.M. and Mason, G.J. April 2018. Investigating the welfare, cognitive, and neurological effects of rearing zebrafish (Danio rerio) in environments containing their preferred enrichments. Informal seminar. Animal Behaviour and Welfare Discussion Group, University of Guelph, Guelph.
Lavery, J.M., Samways, K., Corey, E. and Cunjak, R.A. November 2014. Environmental impacts of, and on, Atlantic salmon. Seminar. Mount Allison University, Sackville.
Kurek, J., Lavery, J.M., Rühland, K., Gillis, C.-A., Pisaric, M., and J. Smol. January 2014. Benefits of a long-term perspective in understanding the ecological phenomenon of “rock snot” in Eastern Canadian salmon rivers. Seminar. Acadia University, Wolfville.
Kurek, J., Lavery, J.M., Rühland, K., Gillis, C.-A., Pisaric, M., and J. Smol. October 2013. The mystery of “rock snot” in Eastern Canadian salmon rivers. Seminar. Queen’s University, Kingston.
CONFERENCES
Lavery, J.M. and Mason, G.J. June 2022. Zebrafish live longer when housed in highly preferred environments. CALAS/ASCAL Annual Symposium, Toronto, ON.
Mason, G.J., and Lavery, J.M. June 2022. Is a happy animal a smart animal? Improved welfare and learning abilities. APOPO’s Olfactory Research and Welfare Symposium.
Lavery, J.M., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. September 2021. The environmental preferences of laboratory zebrafish (Danio rerio) and their effects on survival. 5th Annual Science of Enrichment Symposium, University of Michigan.
Lavery, J.M., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. August 2021. What zebrafish want: Preferred environments increase survival in a model organism. 58th Annual Conference of the Animal Behavior Society.
Lavery, J.M., Braithwaite, V., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. February 2020. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) show stable, transitive ranked preferences for environmental enrichments. 17th Annual Zebrafish Husbandry Workshop (Aquaculture America 2020), Honolulu, HI.
Lavery, J.M., Braithwaite, V., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. August 2019. Identifying enriched housing conditions for zebrafish (Danio rerio) that vary along a scale of preference. 53rd Congress of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Bergen, Norway.
Lavery, J.M., Braithwaite, V., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. May 2019. Identifying enriched housing conditions for zebrafish (Danio rerio) that vary along a scale of preference. 12th Annual CCSAW Research Symposium, University of Guelph. [1st Place Oral Presentation]
Lavery, J.M., Braithwaite, V., Miller, N., and Mason, G.J. May 2019. Identifying enriched housing conditions for zebrafish (Danio rerio) that vary along a scale of preference. Ontario Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution Colloquium (OE3C), McMaster University. [1st Place Oral Presentation]
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. March 2016. Abiotic factors associated with mortality of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos in the Miramichi River. Miramichi Science Day, Chatham.
Annis, A.D., Lavery, J.M., Nafziger, J., and Cunjak, R.A. March 2016. A developmental metric of early Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) ontogeny based on external morphology. Science Atlantic Aquaculture & Fisheries and Biology Conference, Halifax.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. January 2016. Abiotic factors associated with mortality of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) embryos in the Miramichi River. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research, St. John’s.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. May 2015. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. Miramichi Salmon Association’s Science Day, Boiestown.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. April 2015. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. UNB Graduate Research Conference, University of New Brunswick.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. January 2015. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research, Ottawa.
Sivarajah, B., Lavery, J.M., Kurek, J., Rühland, K.M., and Smol J.P. January 2015.Temporal and spatial assessments of didymo blooms in eastern Canada. Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research, Ottawa.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. November 2014. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. Atlantic Salmon Forum and Workshop, Amherst.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. August 2014. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. 144th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Québec City.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. April 2014. Egg survival and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. UNB Graduate Research Conference, University of New Brunswick.
Lavery, J.M., Gibson, L., de Guzman, L., Ly, C., and MacDougall, K. March 2013. Reintroduction of Atlantic salmon to Lake Ontario. Inquiry@Queen’s Research Symposium, Queen’s University.
Lavery, J.M. January 2013. Investigating blooms of the diatom Didymosphenia geminata using lake sediments from Gaspésie, QC. 3rd Annual Water Research Centre Student Symposium, Queen’s University.
POSTERS
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. October 2014. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system. 11th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Rivers Institute, Charlottetown.
Lavery, J.M and Smol, J.P. February 2013. Lake sediments provide environmental context to recent algal blooms of Didymosphenia geminata. Queen’s University BIOL537 Honours Thesis Research Symposium, Queen’s University.
Please contact me for PDFs.
Teaching
QUALIFICATIONS
University Teaching Foundations Certification (2020)
IBIO 6070 – Biology education, curriculum design, and pedagogy (2020)
PRACTICUMS
University of Guelph Department of Animal Biosciences, Unit Guest Instructor for ANSC 3090 – Animal Behaviour (2020)
- Re-design and delivery of two 1.5-hour lectures: “Sexual Behaviour” and “Parental Care”
- Development of a summative assessment: multiple choice quiz requiring students to apply concepts learned in lectures
University of Guelph Department of Animal Biosciences, Consulting Instructor for ANSC 4010 – Animal Welfare Judging and Evaluation (2019)
- Presentation and facility tour: “Zebrafish Welfare and General Husbandry”
- Development of a summative assessment: hypothetical scenario comparing two zebrafish facilities
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
University of Guelph Department of Animal Biosciences, Teaching Assistant (2020 & 2021)
Animal Behaviour, 3rd year (ANSC 3090)
University of Guelph Department of Integrative Biology, Teaching Assistant (2021)
Biology of Fishes, 4th year (ZOO 4330)
UNB Department of Chemical Engineering, Teaching Assistant for Technical Writing (2015)
Fluid-Particle Interaction Lab, 3rd year (CHE 3434)
UNB Department of Biology, Teaching Assistant (2013-2015)
Vertebrate Zoology, 3rd year (BIOL 3703)
Applications in Biology I & II, 1st year (BIOL 1006 & 1007)
GUEST LECTURES
Lavery, J.M. November 2021. Sexual Behaviour and Parental Care (3 hours). ANSC3090, University of Guelph.
Lavery, J.M. October 2019. Introduction to Zebrafish Husbandry and Welfare (1 hour). Mizzou Animal Welfare Judging Team, University of Missouri.
Lavery, J.M. and Gillis, C.A. November 2014. Impacts of Freshwater “Invasive” Species (1.5 hours). Stream Structure and Function, Brock University.
Lavery, J.M. and Cunjak, R.A. November 2014. Egg mortality and development of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Miramichi River system (1 hour). Fish Biology, University of New Brunswick.
STUDENT MENTORSHIP
University of Guelph (2018-Present): Coursework MSc student, BSc independent study students, full-time summer USRA research assistant, work-study part-time husbandry assistants
University of New Brunswick (2014-2017): BSc Honours thesis student, part-time research assistants
Outreach / Service
Integrative Biology – Physiology Search Committee, Committee Member
Animal Behaviour Society Student Research Grants, Reviewer
CCSAW Graduate Panel, Panelist
University of Guelph Department of Integrative Biology, Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group Co-Chair (2020-2021)
Canadian Council on Animal Care, Expert Reviewer for Guidelines on Fish
University of Guelph Department of Integrative Biology, Engagement and Seminar Committee Member
Ontario Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution Colloquium 2020 & 2021, Social Media and Website Coordinator
National Farm Animal Care Council, Farmed Finfish Scientific Committee Member
Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair (2018-2021), Judge
CCSAW Annual Research Symposium, Abstract Peer Reviewer
NB Naturalist Magazine, Guest Writer
Nature Kids Magazine, Guest Writer
Toronto Cat Rescue: Kitchener-Waterloo, Adoption Centre Volunteer
Neotoma Paleoecology Database, Contributor
Hometown Veterinary Clinic, Volunteer Veterinary Assistant
Cat Rescue Maritimes (Ca-R-Ma), Spay/Neuter Clinic Volunteer
Grade Two – Pythagoras Academy, Special Presenter (Salmon Life Cycle)
Agriculture in the Classroom, Assistant Program Instructor
Ducks Unlimited Project Webfoot, Program Instructor
Women Are Boring, Guest Blogger
Dispatches from the Field, Guest Blogger
GirlAdventure Day, Biology Session Leader
Canadian Aquatic Resources Section-AFS, Guest Blogger
The Brunswickan, Science Columnist
ScienceBorealis.ca, General Science Subject Editor/Blogger
Fisheries Blog, Guest Blogger
GradHacker.org (InsideHigherEd.com), STEM Author and Rotating Editor
River Valley Regional Science Fair, Category Judge
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (NB Chapter), Newsletter Committee Member
Canadian Young Scientist Journal, Feature Scientist – Science from the Source
Kingston Boys and Girls Club, W.I.S.E. Mentor
Peer Reviewer for: Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Acta Ethologica, PLoS ONE, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Animal Behaviour, Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, JAALAS
Media Coverage
“Do Fish Feel Pain? Scientists Still Can’t Agree”. Faunalytics, July 12, 2022.
“Producing Better Fish”. Animal Biosciences Departmental Website, April 28, 2021.
“Falls Brook Centre hosts eighth annual Free School in Glassville”. The Bugle-Observer, July 18, 2016.
“Annual event looks to educate youth on salmon conservation”. Global New Brunswick – News at 6, June 26, 2016.
“Run to raise funds for salmon conservation lessons for NB youth”. The Daily Gleaner, June 26, 2016.
“On The Cusp of Climate Change”. The New York Times, September 22, 2014.
“Reimagining Didymo in Salmon Rivers”. ASF River Notes, June 11, 2014.
“Michelle Lavery on Rock Snot”. The Lunchbox, March 12, 2014.
“Study: Rock snot blooms may result from climate change, not anglers”. Outdoor Canada, March 12, 2014.
“DIDYMO, LA VISCIDA ALGA CHE STA INVADENDO IL CANADA PER COLPA DEI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI”. GreenMe.it, March 12, 2014.
“River Algae Known as Rock Snot Boosted by Climate Change?”. National Geographic, March 11, 2014.
“Rock Snot Gets a Boost from Climate Change”. Scientific American (ClimateWire), March 10, 2014.
““Rock snot” is the grossest climate change effect we’ve ever seen”. Grist, March 6, 2014.
“‘Rock Snot’ Infestation Caused by Climate Change, Study Suggests”. Yahoo News, March 5, 2014.
“What’s causing Canada’s ‘rock snot’ infestation?”. Mother Nature Network, March 5, 2014.
“Michelle Lavery on Rock Snot”. Todd Veinotte Show, March 5, 2014.
“‘Rock Snot’ Infestation Caused by Climate Change, Study Suggests”. Discovery News, March 4, 2014.
“‘Rock Snot’ Infestation Caused by Climate Change, Study Suggests”. Live Science, March 4, 2014.
“NB Newsmaker”. CBC New Brunswick News, February 28, 2014.
“‘Rock snot’ found to be native algae species in N.B.”. CBC News, February 28, 2014.
“Researchers debunk argument of an invasive algal species in rivers and lakes”. Phys.org News, February 27, 2014.
“”Rock Snot” in Rivers & Lakes May be Linked to Global Warming”. Kingston Herald, February 26, 2014.
“L’algue didymo dans les rivières serait due aux changements climatiques”. INRS News, February 26, 2014.
J. Michelle Lavery 