Victor is a soil molecular ecologist who applied the study of nitrogen cycling gene expression to soil nitrogen and carbon release during the spring thawing event. The work is centred on the Atlantic region of Canada and the boreal biome. Through his master’s project and work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dr. Adrian Unc and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Dr. David McKenzie) he determined and interpreted molecular soil microbiological community gene expression as functional markers of soil nitrogen cycling and carbon release across soil management practices that represent the Boreal Atlantic Maritime Climate. Victor’s research has highlighted the increasing need for reliable, functional indicators of soil nitrogen and carbon retention or release in Canada and the global North and that transcriptomics-based indicators are strong contenders that best reflect functional changes induced by land use, land use change, and climate change in these regions.
Research Interests
- Northern land use and land use change.
- Soil food-webs and associated carbon and nutrient dynamics.
- The use of biological indicators of soil quality for sustainable agricultural management.
Education
- MSc in Environmental Science – Agricultural Sciences and Molecular Ecology, St. John’s Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
- BSc in Environmental Science – Biology, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Employment
- Research Affiliate (contract), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St. John’s Research and Development Centre (2017-2019).
- Research Assistant, four positions, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland (2015-2017).
Publications:
