WGI - Wildlife Genetics International - Nelson British Columbia Canada

Lab Staff

Your project will normally be processed by a single staff member who handles everything from initial correspondence about project goals through to drafting a results file for Dr. Paetkau to review. When studies span multiple years we try to maintain continuity by having the same staff member work on each year’s submission. We encourage direct communication between customers and the workers who manage their projects.

Jenna Benson graduated with a B.Sc. in Biology (Ecology concentration) from UBC Okanagan. Since joining our team in 2009, Jenna has completed numerous population inventory projects, and has been responsible for developing many of our scat techniques. Jenna is the best person to contact with scheduling questions.

Sara Gillespie came to us in 2009 after studying Arts and Science at Carleton University and Selkirk Community College. In addition to handling our invoicing, Sara is often involved in projects involving species and genetic markers that are new to us.

Jeremy Caron joined us in 2017 after completing biochemistry programs at UBC and McMaster University. Jeremy maintains our DNA sequencers, databases and computer systems.

President (and Molecular Artificer)

Dr. David Paetkau developed many techniques and statistical methods that are used at WGI, and in other laboratories around the world. He has authored numerous scientific publications, including the first use of genetic methods for assigning individuals to their population of origin. David’s Ph.D. thesis was awarded the Governor General’s gold medal and won him an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship that he used to study Australian small mammals at the University of Queensland. Contact David to discuss feasibility and pricing of potential projects, or to discuss any other aspect of the work done at WGI.

Some of our pulications