Our Values

Integrity

Respect

Kindness

Fairness

Collaboration

Knowledge sharing

Honesty

Open communication

Determination

Resilience

Accountability

Curiosity

Our Research Team is Growing!

Prospective graduate students with academic training and/or experience in restoration ecology, land reclamation, remediation, plant ecology, or soil science are encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate students enrolled at Trent University who would like to gain experience conducting field and lab work should contact me about thesis, community-based research project, or summer employment opportunities. For thesis, get in contact in the winter semester!

Please send a short CV and cover letter to autumnwatkinson@trentu.ca.

LAB MEMBERS

Principal Investigator

Dr Autumn Watkinson

Assistant Professor, Trent School of the Environment

Education

PhD Land Reclamation & Remediation, University of Alberta (2020)
MSc Biology, Laurentian University (2014)
BSc Biology, University of Ottawa (2012)

Other Current Positions

Program Coordinator, Ecological Restoration, Trent University
Associate Editor, Botany, Canadian Science Publishing

Professional Affiliations

Member, Society for Ecological Restoration
Member, Canadian Land Reclamation Association
Member, Canadian Society of Soil Science

Research Interests

My research focuses on land reclamation and restoration ecology. Specific research interests within these fields include:

Plant species selection
Novel approaches to facilitate revegetation
Soil reconstruction (Anthroposol development)
Habitat restoration for species-at-risk
Prairie ecosystems
Boreal ecosystem

Current Lab Members

Dr Fallon Tanentzap

Postdoctoral Fellow, January 2025-present

Research Project

RECLAIM – Restoring Ecosystems with Custom-Designed Anthroposols for Impacted Mine Sites

Education

BSc in Biology, Laurentian University (2015)
PhD in Boreal Ecology, Laurentian University (2010)

About Me

My research is shaped by a lifelong connection to the mining world, having grown up and traveled extensively through mining regions. This experience fostered my commitment to sustainable mine restoration.

Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow on the R.E.Cl.A.I.M. project, I am investigating the long-term viability of anthroposols for mine reclamation in shallow-soil regions of Canada, aiming to establish a comprehensive framework for effective and sustainable restoration practices.

During my Ph.D., my work focused on large-scale multi-year lysimeter experiments to test best practices for planting trees in mining-impacted areas in collaboration with the local city and mine industry partners. My work aims to bridge academic research with practical applications, collaborating with industry partners to ensure our findings are both scientifically rigorous and field-relevant.

My passion lies in integrating plant physiology and soil science with industry collaboration to restore mining-impacted areas and promote responsible environmental stewardship.

See Fallon’s recent publication in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08814-5

Jennifer Fedak

MSc Student, May 2024-present

Research Project

Urban Meadow Restoration with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Education

MSc Environmental and Life Sciences (2024-)
BSc Ecological Restoration, Trent University (2024)
Ecological Restoration Technician, Fleming College (2022)

Awards

NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (2025-2026)
Patterson Abbey Gardens Graduate Research Fellowship (2024-2025)
Queen Elizabeth II - Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (2024-2025)
BMO Future Green Leader Scholarship (2024-2025)
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2023)
Beulah & Harry Christian, Margaret & Ernie Seager OPAF Bursary (2023)
Ecological Restoration Achievement Prize (2023)
Trent National Renewable Scholarship (2022-2023)
Len Stanley - King of Kew Scholarship (2022)

About Me

My research focus is on restoration in prairie ecosystems, the passion of which stems from my curiosity towards the use of functional traits to resist and be resilient against disturbance. I have always found joy in thinking about how the world balances itself naturally. As a very young child I recognized human disturbance as something evidently pervasive in the world. However, I found solace in areas that have been (for the most part) left alone from human disturbances. I know now that certain kinds of disturbance can also help to restore ecosystems to a trajectory that will benefit everyone; human and non-human. I hope that with my passion for plants and my drive to help, I will be able to bring back some of the lost beauty I witnessed when I was a child.

Daniel Vandeloo

MSc Student, May 2024-present

Research Project

Alder Microclimates and Facilitated Revegetation on Anthroposols

Education

MSc Environmental and Life Sciences (2024-)
BSc Ecological Restoration, Trent University (2024)
Ecological Restoration Technician, Fleming College (2022)
Construction Craftworker Journeyman, Ontario College of Trades (2019)

Awards

Queen Elizabeth II - Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (2025-2026)
CLRA Dr Jack Winch Memorial Scholarship (2024-2025)
Patterson Abbey Gardens Graduate Research Fellowship (2024-2025)
NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (2024-2025)
Champlain College Master’s Award (2024)
BMO Future Green Leaders Undergraduate Student Research Award (2024)
J. P. Bickell Foundation Mining Scholarship (2023)
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2023, 2024)
City of Kawartha Lakes Scholarship (2023)
Ecological Restoration Achievement Prize (2023)
Ralph McEwen Scholarship (2023)
Robert Paehlke Scholarship (2023)
Trent National Renewable Scholarship (2022-2023)

About Me

My hobbies have always revolved around wilderness pursuits. Backpacking, camping and hiking through all Canadian seasons has given me comfort and enjoyment in outdoor settings. Paired with my passion for learning, I frequently seek to engage with others regarding their own experiences, opinions, and inquiries related to nature. I fully recognize the effectiveness of staff teamwork, and ultimately place team values and morals in the highest regard.

I have a 1-year-old puppy, who certainly believes I am her biological father. She is a St. Bernedoodle (25% Bernese, 25% St. Bernard, 50% Poodle) named Brandy. Her interests include napping when she should be assisting with fieldwork, excitedly greeting me when I get back from the lab, and identifying tree species by chewing on sticks.

Lucy Martin-Johnson

MSc Student, January 2025-present

Research Project

Assessing functional traits of native plants to increase resistance against the invasive Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) in urban greenspaces

Education

MSc Environmental and Life Sciences (2024-)
BSc Ecological Restoration, Trent University (2020)
Ecological Restoration Technician, Fleming College (2018)

About Me

My graduate research will inform the Meadoway project, a hydro-corridor meadow creation in Scarborough, by suggesting native species that can resist invasion from the patch-forming Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). I aim to identify which plant traits will curb early establishment of this invasive species.

I began my career working in lake and stream ecology, and in recent years I've focused on native plant horticulture and restoration of tallgrass ecosystems. I was inspired to return to academia by my curiosity while doing fieldwork, and the urge to dive into the research that informs restoration practices.

In my free time, I'll be in my backyard nursery and gardens, checking on plant growth and watching insect visitors. I also enjoy trying out creative projects whenever inspiration strikes!

Scott Cecchin

BSc Thesis Student, May 2025-present

Research Project

Quantifying the effectiveness of herbicide treatments against invasive plants in an urban meadow

Education

BSc Ecological Restoration, Trent University (2022-)
Ecological Restoration Technician, Fleming College (2024)
MA, Public Texts, Trent University (2016)
BA, English Literature/Cultural Studies, Trent University (2010)

Awards

Trent School of the Environment Undergraduate Research Internship (2025)

About Me

Most of my interests (both personal and academic) centre around thinking about the relationship between people and place. In my personal life, this manifests in my attraction to certain landforms and ecosystems (most recently, the Oak Ridges Moraine and prairie ecosystems come to mind). Academically, I’ve explored this at the meeting place between philosophy and poetry in the eco-poetics of various Canadian writers (Jan Zwicky and Don McKay are good examples). Most recently, I have come to ecological restoration as a way to continue my exploration of what we know and what we do with that knowledge in a more grounded way. Moving forward, I’d like to deepen my commitment to various interests, including ecology, restoration, poetry, plants, birds, science communication, storytelling, hiking, place-based community building, and liberation-focused political & spiritual movements.