mSc Candidate
Current Research
There has been increasing interest in mining polymetallic sulfide deposits at deep-sea hydrothermal vents, leading to the development of environmental regulations to minimize risk to the marine environment. While an extensive body of literature exists on the ecological communities at active vents, fauna at inactive hydrothermal vents are poorly described. My project aims to characterize non-vent megafaunal communities at inactive vents and on the vent periphery.
Education
M.Sc. Candidate
Department of Oceanography
Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
2022 – present
B.Sc. Concentrated Honours in Marine Biology
Department of Biology
Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
2016 – 2021
Scholarships and Awards
2022 – NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS-M)
2022 – Faculty of Graduate Studies Allocation
2022 – Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship (NSGS)
2021 – The University Medal in Marine Biology
2021 – Alex Graham Memorial Award
2020 – Vemco Scholarship in Marine Biology
2020 – Hugh P. Bell Award
2020 – Rob Stewart Undergraduate Summer Research Award in Marine Conservation (NSERC USRA)
2019 – Dal/BIOS Fund
2019 – CABIOS
2019 – Study/Work International Fund (SWIF)
2019 – Nancy Witherspoon Memorial Summer Research Award (NSERC USRA)
2019 – David Durward Memorial Prize
2017 – Dalhousie In-Course Scholarship
2016 – Dalhousie Entrance Scholarship
2016 – Dalhousie Renewable Bursary
Publications
Neufeld, M., Metaxas, A., and Jamieson, J.W. (2022). Non-Vent Megafaunal Communities on the Endeavour and Middle Valley Segments of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Northeast Pacific Ocean, Frontiers in Marine Science, v. 9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.849976
Presentations
Neufeld, M., Metaxas, A., Jamieson, J.W. 2021. Faunal communities at inactive hydrothermal vents. Oral Presentation. (35th Annual Cameron Conference, Halifax, Canada).
Neufeld, M., Metaxas, A., Jamieson, J.W. 2020. Faunal communities at inactive hydrothermal vents. Oral Presentation. (5th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, Auckland, New Zealand; Highly commended talk).
Other relevant experience
Editor Current Tides Magazine, Volume 6 – Dalhousie University (present)
Teaching Assistant Deep-Sea Biology (OCEA4370/5370) – Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University (2022)
Teaching Assistant Writing in Science (SCIE1505) – Dalhousie Integrated Science Program, Dalhousie University (2022)
Marine Conservation Assistant – Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Halifax, NS (2021)
Marker/Demonstrator Herpetology (BIOL3639) – Department of Biology, Dalhousie University (2021)
Teaching Assistant Evolution (BIOL2040) – Department of Biology, Dalhousie University (2020)
Intern and Fieldwork Assistant – Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. George’s, Bermuda (2019)
Naturalist/Research Assistant – Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, Brier Island, NS (2018)
Data Analyst Northern Bottlenose Whale Project – Whitehead lab, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University (2018)
Contact Information
Email: Monika.Neufeld@dal.ca
Twitter: @MonikaNeufeld
Marine Benthic Ecology and conservation 