Jillian grew up in Newfoundland, surrounded by the ocean, which kickstarted her interest in its inhabitants. She earned her BSc (Hons) from Memorial University in 2023, majoring in Marine Biology which she complimented with a minor in Biochemistry. During her undergrad, Jillian assisted on multiple research projects covering a range of topics including the regenerative capabilities of brittle stars, the mapping of coastal kelp beds using drone imagery, and the bioprocessing of sea cucumbers as nutraceuticals. Jillian was also a caretaker for the university’s two resident harp seals. For her honours thesis Jillian conducted independent research that challenged assumptions about invertebrate sentience and tested different invertebrate anesthetics for their efficacy on sea cucumbers.  

   

     Jillian began her MSc with the Davies lab in January 2024. With a focus on invertebrates and marine mammals, Jillian’s research interests center on relating feeding ecology to biochemical properties.  Her current research in the Davies lab incorporates these interdisciplinary interests as she explores the prey quality (energetics, morphometrics and physiology) of copepods across North Atlantic right whale foraging areas.  

 

     In her free time, you can find her reading, teaching ballet, thrifting, and SCUBA diving. Check out her LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter!