Postdoctoral Fellow (she/her)

Dr. Sarah Robinson is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University. She holds both a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a PhD in Pathobiology with a Collaborative Specialization in One Health from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. Her research uses a One Health approach to understand and manage zoonotic and infectious diseases at the human-wildlife interface.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Wenhuan is a postdoctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University (SFU), where he conducts research on wildlife genomics. He obtained his PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC). His current work centers on the genomic study of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, with the goal of providing scientific insights for conservation efforts.

PhD Student

Cassandra Andrew is from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Her motivation to contribute to animal health and the conservation of northern species led her to complete her BSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from the University of Guelph in 2015, as well as her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2019. She is now specializing by pursuing her PhD in the epidemiology, disease ecology, and management of avian influenza at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Population and Public Health (SPPH). She is most interested in better understanding the integrated nature of human, environmental, and animal health; also known as “one”, or planetary health.

PhD Student

Dr. Amarachi Ezeocha is a veterinarian and a PhD student in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. Her previous work focused on antimicrobial resistance mitigation strategies. She now concentrates on bridging research and policy through implementation science and knowledge mobilization. Her PhD thesis explores effective One Health communications.

PhD Student

Christine is a PhD Student in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. Her research explores how people and rats interact in urban environments, focusing on how social, environmental, and infrastructural factors shape the distribution of human-rat interactions and their associated health risks. Using a One Health approach, mixed methods surveys, geospatial analysis, and epidemiological modelling, her work aims to contribute to urban health research, public health policy, and zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention, bridging social and ecological perspectives to improve health outcomes in  urban multispecies communities.

Master’s Student (she/her)

Irina is a master’s student with SFU’s School for Resource and Environmental Management, whose work explores Indigenous models for sustainable land practices and advancing Indigenous sovereignty. She is working with Dr. Kaylee Byers at the OH-HI CoLab on chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids and its effects on the food sovereignty of small communities in Northeastern British Columbia. Often at home in her free time, you can find her watching sumo wrestling, reading sci-fi/fantasy, and drinking quite a lot of tea.

Master’s Student (she/her)

Kayli is a Master's Student in SFU's School of Communication and a Long COVID Research Assistant in SFU Health Sciences. A longhauler herself since Dec. '21, she has also helped carry out local & national Long COVID research studies, knowledge mobilization products, and science communication about the condition. Her Master's Thesis is on the biopolitics of "immunity" and Long COVID.

Master of Public Health Student

Dr. Rume Veronica Nwankpa holds an Associate Degree in Medical Microbiology, an MSc in Veterinary Microbiology, and a PhD in Microbiology (viral evolution), with diverse expertise in animal health, veterinary vaccines, quality control, and virology and human health. To enhance her focus on human health and its intersection with animal and environmental health, she is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree. Dr. Rume is passionate about One Health, promoting health equity, and advancing evidence-based research and advocacy.

BSc Honours Student

I am a BSc Honours student and research assistant with the OH-Hi lab interested in the intersection of One Health, infectious diseases, and public health. Through my Honours, I am synthesizing Chronic Wasting Disease management strategies to inform wildlife decision-makers. Additionally, I also support the lab's project on One Health communication platforms.

BSc Honours Student

Chloe Goodison is a BSc. Honours student at Simon Fraser University in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Chloe is interested in public health and health communications to equity-deserving populations, specifically relating to British Columbia's ongoing drug poisoning crisis. Chloe's Honours thesis looks at how mobilizing peer-to-peer naloxone training and drug education in schools will impact perspectives and uptake of naloxone kits among youth. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant (she/her)

I am an undergraduate Health Sciences student at SFU working as a Research Assistant at the OH-HI science lab. I perform literature searches and data analysis to aid in the progression of our project.

BSc Honours Student

Ryan Yazdani is a Bachelor of Science Health Sciences student at Simon Fraser University. His work focuses on interdisciplinary approaches, such as One Health, and how research can incorporate the social and ecological determinants of health within these lenses to address complex global issues. He has also helped in creating a video series on social media communications for health practitioners and is working to scope One Health issues in BC and Ontario to support multi-sectoral communications efforts.

Mixed Indigenous–European ancestry (Kawacatoose Cree, Secwepemc, English, Swedish)
M.Sc. Student

I am a M.Sc. student with mixed Indigenous–European ancestry. I am a status member of Kawacatoose Cree Nation through my great-grandfather, and I was raised in Secwepemc Territory, where my great-grandmother was from and where I continue to act as a caretaker. I also carry English and Swedish ancestry. 

I have always felt a strong connection with our animal kin and felt responsible to care for and advocate for them. As such, I completed a B.Sc. in Applied Animal Biology from UBC, where I conducted research in the Animal Welfare Program. My undergraduate work explored Indigenous knowledge and animal welfare through a Two-Eyed Seeing lens, and I also studied public perceptions of rodeo events in North America. After graduation, I worked as a junior biologist for Splatsin First Nation.

My current research focuses on Wildlife Health and Indigenous Food Sovereignty with the Akisqnuk First Nation in Ktunaxa Territory. My project will explore human–animal relationships, specifically, wildlife health and its impacts on human health, cultural identity, and intergenerational knowledge. My work is guided by the Splatsin principle of health,  la7 sumac, which means living a good life. La7 sumac emphasizes being healthy through our relationship with all creation. My research centres on kinship and caretakership with creation and the broader goals of food sovereignty, human-animal bonds and collective health.

Research Assistant (she/her)

Carly's work largely focuses on the connections between policy and One Health. Previously she worked with BC Parks and the Squamish Nation to develop more culturally appropriate and ecologically healthier paths for the Nch'Kay Provincial Park. Having just finished a BSc with a specialisation in veterinary policy, she is continuing her studies, beginning a Master's at UBC in September.

Research Assistant

Simran Purewal holds an MSc in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford, and a BA in Health Sciences from Simon Fraser University. She currently works as a Research Centres and Institutes Manager at SOAS University of London. She previously worked as a Research and Engagement Associate at the Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society. In this role, she conducted community-engaged research with priority populations to understand the health and social inequities arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, she conducted community-engaged research to understand barriers in the medical licensing process for internationally trained doctors. Simran has published several peer-reviewed articles, governmental reports, and lay language articles with outlets such as The Conversation.