Project: Historical and Palaeoecology of Arctic Fox.

​​

Bio

Before joining the Trent Environmental Archaeology Lab, Alex earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, her province of origin, a fact that is readily apparent given her interest in reiki yoga. Alex's doctoral research explores how human subsistence strategies have shaped the diet and life history of Arctic foxes in Inuit Traditional Territory. In the lab, Alex wears her “academic gown” as a zooarchaeologist and isotope scientist, but she has equally demonstrated skills from her past career in the film industry in lab social media posts as well as channeling the energy of lab members that were absent from the weekly lab meeting to give their updates so seemlessly that many questioned whether or not they were actually there. Alex once trained as a bartender and loves collecting souvenirs from scotch lounges. On some days, you can also catch Alex rock climbing, making music (on bass, drums, violin, or piano), crocheting, or baking cakes. Bio by Moses Akogun. 

​​​

TEAL Publications

• Derian AAY, Pawlowski R, Szpak P, 2025. Solubilization of skin collagen improves the accuracy and reliability of stable isotope measurements. PeerJ 13, e20152. doi:10.7717/peerj.20152. [DOWNLOAD .pdf]

​

TEAL Awards and Honours

🥈 2023 Lab Olympics Silver Medal: Bone Cutting

🏆 2023 Best Sample Replicate (with 2022-23 Graduate Class)

🏆 2023 Best Sample Analytical Session (with 2022-23 Graduate Class)

🥈 2024 Lab Olympics Silver Medal: Pipette Transfer

🏆 2024 Best Sample CNS Analytical Session

🏆 2024 Best CNS Sample Replicate

🏆 2024 Early Worm Award

🏆 2024 Lowest δ34S Value

🥇 2025 Lab Olympics Gold Medal: Microbalance Accuracy & Precision

🥇 2025 Lab Olympics Gold Medal: Bone Cutting

🥉 2025 Lab Olympics Bronze Medal: Microbalance Speed