Emily O
Emily grew up in the suburbs of the Greater Toronto Area, where her curiosity about how human activities impact ecosystems first began. This interest led her to complete a BSc at McMaster University in the Biology Research Specialization program. During her BSc she joined an aquatic ecotoxicology lab and carried out an honours thesis investigating how Liquid Crystal Monomers (a chemical of emerging concern found in electronic screens) impact zebrafish reproduction. Her thesis deepened her curiosity for understanding pollution in aquatic ecosystems, and coupled with her fascination for marine mammals, inspired her to pursue an MSc in the Brown Lab at SFU.
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Her research in the Brown Lab aims to characterize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution in the freshwater-marine continuum in support of a risk-based evaluation for Chinook salmon and at-risk Resident killer whales (RKWs, Endangered Southern Resident killer whales and Threatened Northern Resident killer whales). Through analyzing PAH concentrations in water, sediment, and biota across British Columbia’s waters, her work will help identify PAH source sectors and evaluate their biological risks. Ultimately, her findings will support more effective oil spill response and conservation strategies for RKWs and Pacific salmon.