Migicovsky Lab

Kylie DeViller (she/her) is a fourth year Bachelor of Computer Science student at Acadia University with interests in data analysis. During the summer, she worked on image analysis to examine the variation in shape and size of apples. She is currently working a co-op work term during the fall continuing this project, but also working on strawberry aroma and the various data and computational needs of the lab. Kylie comes from the Yarmouth area of Nova Scotia and is an avid curler.
 

Clay Elzinga (he/him) is in his first year of study for a Master of Biology at Acadia University after completing a BSc at Brock University. His research is focused on genome-assisted breeding of the Rosaceae fruit including apples and strawberries, and a GWAS of their aroma compounds. He has previous research experience with apples at the Vineland plant development lab. Clay is from the Niagara region of Ontario and enjoys outdoor activities like biking, hiking and camping.
 

Riley Lemieux (he/him) is a MSc student in Biology co-supervised with Dr. Ian Willick (AAFC Kentville). His research focuses on how undervine amendments influence ice nucleation and freezing injury in grapevine. Previously, he graduated with a degree in Biology from Acadia, where he spent two semesters working in the lab as Research Topics student. His Research Topics focused on image analysis to understand the effects of grafting on wood anatomy in apple. Outside the lab, Riley enjoys running, hiking and playing sports.
 

Kyleigh MacDonald (she/her) is a summer research assistant in botany in the lab. She recently completed her BSc (double major in biology and chemistry) with Honors in biology. This summer, she is working on greenhouse and tissue culture projects in collaboration with graduate student Alison Purcell. Kyleigh is running a grape research project to examine leaf hairs and helping with Alison’s work to remediate virus-infected strawberries using meristem tip culture. When she is not working, she spends most of her free time with her sister and her dog in Halifax, or with friends in Wolfville.
 

Alison (she/her) has previously worked in the lab (2023-2024) as a Tissue Culture Technician in partnership with Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia (CTCNS) focused on somatic embryogenesis and cryopreservation of Balsam fir genetic lines.  She is an Acadia University biology alumni and has been working in government, industry, and academic research roles focused on agronomy, plant breeding, and extension before joining the Migicovsky lab. Alison is in the first year of her Master of Science degree in Biology to remediate virus in unique strawberry germplasm using tissue culture, evaluating morphological trait differences and plant performance among infected, remediated and nuclear plant stocks. Alison’s interests outside of the lab include gardening, growing houseplants and collecting vintage.
 

Terrell (he/him) is a research associate and community ecologist, working on Malus and Vaccinum crop wild relative research. Using GBIF records he aims to investigate how climate change will affect the distribution of suitable habitat for these important CWR. He comes from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC where during his Masters he researched the effects of honey bees (Apis mellifera) on the functioning of plant-pollinator networks. An Annapolis Valley native, in his spare time you can find him on his bike or uploading to iNat.
 

Lachlann Simms (he/him) graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Science, Honours in Biology with a Double Major in Chemistry. He completed both his honours and a Research Topics in the lab and has rejoined as a Research Assistant focused on morphometrics in perennial fruit crop wild relatives, primarily apples (Malus) species. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in the healthcare field. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time outdoors regardless of the season, as well as playing various sports.