10/08/2026
GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH PROFILE | AMÉLIE GODIN
MSc Candidate – UNB
BSc (Honours), Marine Biology Concentration – UNB
Supervisor: Dr. Janice Lawrence, Professor, Department of Biology, UNB
Amélie's research focuses on cyanobacterial diversity and toxin potential in the Wolastoq (Saint John River), where concerns about potentially toxic cyanobacteria have highlighted the need for improved water quality monitoring.
• Her research, conducted in collaboration with the Maliseet Nation Conservation Council, investigates cyanobacterial communities in waters upstream of six Wolastoqiyik First Nations communities.
• While cyanobacteria are naturally occurring microorganisms, certain species can produce toxins harmful to humans, wildlife, and domestic animals. Existing research has largely focused on lakes, leaving important gaps in our understanding of cyanobacterial diversity and toxin potential in large river systems.
• Amélie's work uses a two-pronged approach to understand cyanobacterial activity in the Wolastoq:
1. Assessing cyanobacterial diversity, microbial communities, and toxin potential along the river.
2. Evaluating conventional and passive environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling methods to improve the detection and monitoring of potentially toxic cyanobacteria.
Amélie has helped establish a new field sampling program, led fieldwork along the Wolastoq, and developed a new PCR assay to detect a rare and understudied cyanotoxin.
This research contributes valuable baseline information about cyanobacterial diversity and toxin potential in the Wolastoq, supporting improved sampling methods, long-term water quality monitoring, and informed stewardship of the river system.
