evolutionary & conservation ecology

Welcome! The research conducted in my lab primarily focuses on conservation and evolutionary ecology of threatened aquatic and semi-aquatic species in NW Canada (especially AB and YT). Currently, lab members are studying [1] impacts of beavers on water quality and biodiversity of montane streams, [2] the fate of microplastics in aquatic environments, and [3] water quality and biodiversity along elevational gradients. You can see past works by visiting the publications page.

Keep up with me on Bluesky and via my Google Scholar profile.

Opportunities - please read before contacting me


PDF: It's almost always true that I do not have funds to support the stipend of a postdoctoral fellow. Inquiries from interested folks with external funding - or those that want to apply for external funding (e.g., NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship or Liber Ero Fellowship) with me - are always welcome.

PhD and MSc: I do not anticipate recruiting any additional graduate students until Fall 2027.

Undergraduate research opportunities: I usually recruit 1-3 undergraduate research students every year. Most of the time, you will spend four months as an assistant to a graduate student in the lab, potentially also collecting data for a thesis project that you would work on in the following Fall and Winter terms. Generally, it's best to contact me in Fall or by January at the latest, given when NSERC and PURE scholarship applications are due.

Contact Information


Dr. Steven M. Vamosi
Professor, Population Biology
Scientific Director, Biogeoscience Institute

2500 University Drive NW
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Calgary
Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada

Phone: 403.210.8508 (Office) | 403.210.8466 (Lab)
Fax: 403.289.9311
Email: smvamosi+ucalgary.ca