Our Team

Maribeth Murray

Executive Director 

murraym@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Murray is a transdisciplinary scholar with expertise in both the social and natural sciences. Trained as an environmental archaeologist, she transitioned to focus on contemporary climate change and the impacts on people and the environment in the Arctic. Today her research activities are focused in three areas: the integration of historic and modern data sets to better understand how the Arctic functions as a system; mobilizing genomics and genomics tools for Arctic biodiversity conservation and wildlife management; and research and strategic planning for the ongoing development and implementation of an internationally supported Arctic Observing System.

In 2016 Maribeth initiated the development of the Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability (CCADI), a national coalition of universities, Indigenous organizations, federal departments, not-for profit and private-sector partners. The CCADI is engaged in the design and establishment of an Arctic Research Data Infrastructure for Canada to improve access to data, data interoperability and data analytics in support of decision-making across scales and organizations, and for research.

Maribeth is a member of the Board of Directors of Polar Knowledge Canada, a member of the Canadian Mountain Network Board of Directors, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, and a past faculty member of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Brent Else

Associate Director

belse@ucalgary.ca

Supports the executive director with tasks related to AINA's strategic plan.

Establish partnerships and write grant applications to develop AINA's leadership capacity.

Connect UCalgary researchers with AINA initiatives.

Supports initiatives related to AINA's Observer status at Arctic Council.

Associate Professor, Geography

PhD, Environment and Geography – University of Manitoba (2012)

Maria Beketskaia

Operations Manager

mbeketsk@ucalgary.ca

Maria is accountable for orchestrating the smooth and effective operation of AINA, by managing the Institute’s finances, human resources, and day-to-day administrative services.

Prior to joining AINA, Maria was a Research Associate for 7 years in the Departments of Surgery, Radiology, and Clinical Neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine (University of Calgary).

During her free time, she enjoys exploring the mountains with her husband, daughter, and elderly Pomeranian (Zelda!).

Cert. in Project Management – University of Calgary (2019)
MSc in Molecular Microbiology – University of Calgary (2014)
BSc in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology – University of Calgary (2011)

Shannon Christofferson

Manager, Research Data, Collections, and Digital Services

shannonv@ucalgary.ca

Shannon leads the Institute’s initiatives in knowledge mobilization and exchange including its databases, digital projects, and initiatives related to the Institute-led Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability (CCADI). She also manages the Institute’s internal special collections and acts as the Institute’s liaison for AINA Collections held at University of Calgary Libraries. 

Shannon is the Project Coordinator for the Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability, the Institute’s representative on the International Arctic Science Committee/Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks Arctic Data Committee, the Vice-Lead for the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata (DALAM), the Co-Chair of the Polar Observing Assets working group (POAwg), a member of the ADC-IARPC-SCADM Vocabularies and Semantics Working Group, a member of the Polar Libraries Colloquy Steering Committee (currently serving as ex-officio Web Developer), and she sits on the Advisory Board of the Polar Data Journal.

MLIS – University of Alberta (2005)
BA in Anthropology – University of Calgary (1999)
BA in English – University of Calgary (1999)

Patty Wells

Editor, ARCTIC Journal

patricia.wells@ucalgary.ca

Processing manuscript submissions and peer-review, managing production, and publishing quarterly journal issues.

Patty's research has focused on the social life of the first Arctic peoples who lived on the island of Newfoundland through her study of animal exploitation for food and raw materials in the manufacture of tools.

PhD in Archaeology – Memorial University of Newfoundland (2012)

Kim Hatcher

Field Station Operations Manager, KLRS

kim.hatcher@ucalgary.ca

Kim is a Yukon-based geologist with a passion for mountains, volcanoes, and glaciers. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of British Columbia, she pursued geophysics research on volcanic plume dynamics. She has spent the last six years exploring mineral potential throughout Northern Canada and Alaska.

As the new Field Station Operations Manager, Kim aims to use her background in geoscience and project management to help contribute to the growth and success of programs at KLRS. Through communication and collaboration, she strives to facilitate a positive space for all researchers and community members.

An outdoor enthusiast, Kim enjoys adventuring in the mountains year-round. She resides in an off-grid cabin near Haines Junction, and is grateful to live, work, and play in the traditional territory of the Kluane, Champagne and Aishihik, and White River First Nations.

Michaela (Mia) Allchin

Postdoctoral Associate, Mountain Environment Observation and Monitoring

michaela.allchin@ucalgary.ca

I work mainly with a project funded by the Canadian Mountain Network, focusing on environmental observation and monitoring in mountain regions. Part of this has involved analysing the spatial distribution of strategic observation assets throughout the mountains of Western Canada; another initiative seeks to facilitate building situational awareness and resilience to natural hazards driven by rapid environmental change in small mountain-influenced (particularly Indigenous) communities, by enhancing capabilities in scientific observation, monitoring and data-management. I have also contributed to activities by the Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability, developing functional and technical designs for a system to identify, quantify and communicate locations and rates of coastal erosion in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

PhD – University of Northern BC (2020)
MSc – University of Southampton (2013)
BSc (Hons) – University of Bristol (1986)

Shivangi Mishra

Postdoctoral Associate, Arctic Genomics

shivangi.mishra@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Mishra’s research focus is the role of genomics in fostering and supporting Arctic Biodiversity. The goal of her project is to mobilize genomics research outcomes on Arctic wildlife to diverse end users for the widest possible benefit and in the interest of environmental management and the sustainable use of living resources.

During her Doctoral thesis, Dr. Mishra has worked on the conservation of globally endangered Egyptian Vultures in Uttar Pradesh, India. She has presented this research at both national and international conferences and received numerous prestigious awards, including the William C. Andersen Award (2018), the James Koplin Award (2019), and the Wings to Fly Award (2020) by Raptor Research Foundation, USA. She has also studied butterflies in Uttar Pradesh and secured funding from the U.P. State Biodiversity Board for this project. Dr. Mishra’s research work has led to over 25 research papers and two book publications.

During her free time she loves to travel and explore new places.

PhD in Zoology – University of Lucknow (2022)
MSc in Zoology – University of Lucknow (2013)
BSc in Zoology, Botany, Chemistry – University of Lucknow (2011)

Steven Crookes

Research Associate, Canadian BioGenome Project

steven.crookes@ucalgary.ca

Steve Crookes is a Research Associate attached to the Canadian BioGenome Project whose aim is to support genomics tool development for at risk, socio-economically valuable and culturally important species within an ecosystem context, and to empower local communities with such tools so they can be incorporated into indigenous, local, and regional biodiversity conservation, management, restoration, and monitoring programs.  

Prior to joining AINA, Steve spent most of the last decade working in the nascent ‘environmental DNA’ biomonitoring sector, including co-founding a company — Precision Biomonitoring, Inc — in 2016 whilst a postdoc at the University of Guelph, with a focus on detecting DNA in environmental samples shed by both at risk and invasive biota. This ultimately led to an “innovation of the year” award (2022) by the University for helping the commercial environmental monitoring sector adopt novel DNA-based methods. Steve has also worked in functional ecology, investigating the relative efficacy of resource utilization by invasive species and their native trophic analogs in areas where they now coexist.  

During leisure time, Steve loves to travel and hike; read science and history non-fiction; immerse himself in music and film; and spend quality time with family (both human and canine).  

PhD in Population Genetics and Molecular Ecology – Royal Holloway, University of London (2013)

Kara Matthews

Senior Information Analyst 

kara.matthews@ucalgary.ca

Kara works with the Research Data, Collections, & Digital Services team at the Arctic Institute, and has a special interest in geospatial data visualization, research data and information management, and science outreach, particularly via simple web application development.

Kara has a background in Earth and data sciences. Prior to joining the Institute, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford and the University of Sydney, building quantitative plate reconstruction models and using marine geophysics data to map and interpret tectonic structures on the seafloor.

PhD in Geophysics – University of Sydney (2014)

Jacob Huffman

Information Analyst 

jacob.huffman1@ucalgary.ca

My primary role is to keep the Institute's bibliographic database up to date with the latest arctic research from our clients and us. I have a B.A. in art history from the University of Calgary and originally came to the Institute as a volunteer with the ambition of cataloging the institutes' extensive collection of Inuit handicraft, arctic art, and ephemera. Outside of my work with AINA, I have worked on major public art projects and have worked in contemporary art in varying professional roles, including curatorial and preparatory.

Alexandra Tremblay

Information Analyst 

alexandra.tremblay@ucalgary.ca

Alexandra joined AINA in September of 2022, taking on the position of Information Analyst with Research Data, Collections, and Digital Services.

During Alexandra’s post-secondary studies, she worked as a historian, archivist, and special collections specialist at The Military Museums in Calgary. She is also a full-time artist, has her own painting practice, and is the owner of a traditional beading business. A bilingual Calgarian (English/French), Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Alberta University of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Calgary, with a focus on Canadian and Indigenous military history. In 2020-21, she completed a Master’s in Art Law from the University of York in England. Her LLM dissertation focused on the restitution and repatriation of cultural heritage and property of Canada’s First Peoples, including a comparative study of the Canadian and British legal frameworks and museum legislations. Alexandra is thrilled to be a part of AINA’s diverse and passionate team.

Outside of work and academia, Alexandra is always learning, reading, and creating. She enjoys the wonders of the Rocky Mountains of Treaty 7 territory and does so through hiking, rock climbing, snowshoeing, skating, and snowboarding.

Munish Madan

Software Engineer

munish.madan@ucalgary.ca

Munish leads software engineering and application development for the “The Canadian Consortium for Arctic Data Interoperability” (CCADI) based at the Arctic Institute of North America. CCADI consists of various geospatial, visualization and scientific applications that comprise an integrated Canadian arctic data management system which facilitates data interoperability and exchange between researchers. In his role Munish helps to design, develop, maintain and manage CCADI systems that have been created by member institutions across North America and Europe.

Emily Marston

Project Coordinator

emily.marston@ucalgary.ca

Emily is Project Coordinator for Arctic Genomics and the Canadian BioGenome Project.

The Arctic Genomics research team, led by Maribeth Murray (AINA) and Peter Pulsifer (University of Carleton), is working to co-develop a suite of genomics knowledge-mobilization tools that will support environmental decision making. The Canada BioGenome Project, with partners across Canada, is part of the International Earth BioGenome Project and is providing the first genomic assessment of biodiversity of Canadian species.

Emily is also an undergraduate student at Royal Roads University, pursuing a degree in Environmental Management. She graduated from Olds College in 2018 with a diploma in Environmental Stewardship and Rural Planning.

Talia Wells

Research Associate

twells@ucalgary.ca

Talia is an interdisciplinary researcher with an MA in Political Science from the University of Calgary (2020). Her research interests include the science-policy interface, environmental security, science communication, and the intersection of Western science and Indigenous/Inuit Traditional Knowledge (ITK) in the Canadian North as they pertain to policy development, Arctic observation, infrastructure expansion, Northern access, and resource development. She is passionate about making Arctic science more engaging, accessible and relatable.  

Talia joined AINA in 2021, serving as the Project Coordinator for the 2022 Arctic Observing Summit in Tromsø, Norway and has since moved into the role of Research Associate. She supports AINA's research objectives and serves several organizations with the goal of developing and furthering the Arctic observational network, including the Sea Ice Expert Panel (Arctic Passion/ROADS), Observing System Benefits Working Group (AOS 2024), US AON Expert Committee, and the ROADS Advisory Panel. 

Talia is also the owner/operator of TWEquestrian, a boutique equestrian business specializing in coaching, training and sales. In her time "out of office" she can be found traveling or enjoying the outdoors.

M.A. Political Science – University of Calgary (2020)
B.A. International Relations – University of Calgary (2014)
B.A. Political Science – University of Calgary (2014)