About US
Welcome to The Zhou Lab, where we delve into the intricate origins of biodiversity and explore the mechanisms that drive adaptation and resilience within ecological communities. Our mission is to advance scientific understanding through rigorous research and innovative methodologies.
Meet Our Team
Our team comprises experts in various fields of biodiversity genomics and evolutionary biology. We pride ourselves on our collaborative spirit and interdisciplinary approach, ensuring that our research is comprehensive and impactful.
PI, Professor
Xin Zhou is a Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the University of Guelph, where he holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Eukaryote Biodiversity Genomics. His research explores the origins and evolution of biological diversity and its responses to environmental change, integrating evolutionary genomics, biodiversity genomics, molecular ecology, and phylogenomics. His current research focuses on two interconnected areas: understanding how honey bees evolve and adapt to diverse environments, and developing genomic approaches to characterize biodiversity and ecological interactions at large scales. Through field studies, genomic analyses, and international collaborations, his lab seeks to connect evolutionary processes with contemporary ecological change and contribute to a broader understanding and conservation of biodiversity.
Melissa MacLeod-Bigley
Lab Manager
Dr. M. A. Thanuja Fernando
Postdoctoral Fellow
Thanuja Fernando is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph. She holds a PhD in Bioinformatics from the University of Guelph and a BSc (Honours) in Bioinformatics from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Her research focuses on bioinformatics, comparative and evolutionary genomics, DNA barcoding, phylogenetics, and biodiversity genomics, with an emphasis on developing computational approaches for large-scale biological data analysis. During her PhD, she developed a novel computational pipeline based on a nested phylogenetic approach for constructing large-scale phylogenies using Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) as a model system. She also investigated the accuracy of DNA barcode sequence placement onto phylogenetic backbones, examining how backbone completeness and species representation influence placement accuracy. Her current research focuses on evaluating DNA barcode coverage across insects. Using Trichoptera (caddisflies) as a model system, she is developing a Barcode Bias Index to quantify the representation of taxonomic diversity in barcode databases by integrating phylogenetic and barcode data. Her research leverages high-performance computing to enable large-scale phylogenetic and biodiversity analyses.
Ava Augustine
Research Technician
(June - August, 2026)
Ava Augustine is a recent graduate in the first cohort of the Bachelor of Indigenous Environmental Science and Practice program at the University of Guelph. As a research technician with Dr. Xin Zhou, Ava assisted in field work to map subarctic pollination networks in the summer of 2026. She created a scientific illustration of the pollination networks that was used during engagement activities to support researcher-community relationships. During her studies at the University of Guelph, Ava was a Work Study student at the Centre of Biodiversity Genomics where she enriched her passion for entomology. Ava also had the honour of working with Dr. Susan Chiblow and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Elders group, Dr. Madhur Anand’s Collaboratory, and Dr. Diana Lewis’ IndigenERA lab. Through this work, she strengthened diverse understandings of environmental science. Ava also created the Indigenous Environmental Science Student Council and was honoured to represent her peers on the University of Guelph Senate and Board of Governors. As a settler learner, she strives to increase accessibility in the sciences and uplift diverse knowledge systems through scientific communication and environmental advocacy.
Rendel Arner
Undergraduate Thesis Project Student
Chris Ho
Volunteer
Luyu (Louise) Li
Undergraduate volunteer
Luyu Li is an undergraduate student in Animal Science at the University of Guelph. With a background in software engineering, she is interested in how technology can support biological and animal research. She is currently volunteering with the Churchill project.
Joséphine Noue
Undergraduate Volunteer
Joséphine Noue is an undergraduate student in Biological Science at the University of Guelph. Her experience includes wildlife rehabilitation and animal care, as well as undergraduate research in animal biosciences. Her interests lie in wildlife health, conservation, and veterinary medicine, with a particular interest in how research can contribute to understanding and protecting animal populations.