Institute Director
Dr. Adam Ford, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology
Dr. Adam T. Ford leads the Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab at UBC Okanagan. Ford is based in the Department of Biology where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Wildlife Restoration Ecology. Ford and his research team use field experiments, GPS tracking, and satellite imagery to explore the impact of human activity on interactions between people, large predators (such wolves, bears, and cougars), their prey (caribou, moose, deer, and elk), and plants in landscapes that have been altered by people. The team investigates how industry, infrastructure, and human-wildlife conflict change species abundance as well as the way species move through the landscape and interact with one another. Wildlife restoration ecology now forms the backbone of environmental legislation in Canada. This research will support Canada’s international commitments to conserve biodiversity and support Indigenous and community-led restoration.
For more information about Dr. Ford and his research, click here.
BRAES Institute Coordinator
Dr. Tanja Voegel, Dr. rer. nat.
Dr. Tanja Voegel is responsible for planning, coordination, and communication within the BRAES Institute. Dr. Voegel holds a MSc degree in Cell Biology from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and a doctoral degree in Plant Pathology with the University of California, Davis. At UBCO, Dr. Voegel was involved in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and to improve sustainable grape production. Dr. Voegel established and leads a Let’s Talk Science Outreach site at UBCO, to improve youth education and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
BRAES Labs Technician
Daniel Rosa, Ph.D.
Daniel is the Lab Technician responsible for managing the BRAES Institute laboratories. His role includes welcoming and training new students, overseeing lab activities, developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), experimental protocols, safety risk management and developing appropriate mitigation plans, inventory control, ordering, troubleshooting analytical equipment failures, service and maintaining equipment, conducting audits, coordinate meetings, ensure compliance with WHMIS, Health Canada, and UBC policies. Daniel is an Agriculture Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Sciences with an emphasis on Microbiology and Plant Physiology from the Federal University of Santa Catarina – Brazil (2019).
Steering Committee:
Dr. Adam Ford (Institute Director)
Dr. Rebecca Tyson (Member)
Dr. Thuy Dang (Member)
Dr. Lael Parrott (Delegate, Dean of the Faculty of Science)
To be elected (Graduate student representative)
Dr. Jason Pither (Member)
Dr. Greg Garrard (Delegate, Dean of the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies)
Dr. Michael Noonan (member)