Dr. Oksana Vernygora – FOSSIL RECORD OF CLUPEOMORPH FISHES IN ALBERTA

Dr. Oksana Vernygora was born and grew up in Ukraine where she did my BSc degree in Aquatic Bioresources with an undergraduate honours thesis on the evolutionary relationships of the local species of shads (genus Alosa). Right after that (in 2011) she moved to the USA (Naperville, Illinois). There, Oksana went to North Central College to take various classes in genetics, virology, ecology, computer science, etc. to explore her research interests. By the end of her ‘exploration’ year, she knew that she wanted to continue research on the evolutionary relationships of fishes. In 2013, she was accepted to the MSc program at the University of Alberta in Dr. Alison Murray’s lab to do research on the evolution and systematics of the Ellimmichthyiformes (Clupeomorpha). In 2015, Oksana defended her MSc and started a PhD program in the same lab but now expanding her research question to include living and extinct members of the entire Clupeomorpha (herrings, sardines, anchovies, etc.). Oksana