Welcome to my site! I am a fisheries scientist and programmer currently based at the Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I grew up on the south shores of Lake Superior, near Duluth, Minnesota, USA, which provided a deep love and appreciation for the water and all things that live in it. Currently, my fisheries research investigates the mechanisms (e.g., thermal habitat availability) that influence the spatial ecology, trophic dynamics, and bioenergetics of lake trout (Salvelinus namayush) in a multibasin lake ecosystem. I am interested in how cold-water fishes deal with changing abiotic and biotic conditions (e.g., oxy-thermal habitat, prey availability, and introduced/invasive species) as a result of anthropogenic stressors. I have previously worked within fish physiology, fish endocrinology, aquatic toxicology, and aquatic invasive species management. My interest in statistics and programming has led me to teach biostatistics courses, develop a R package, and contribute to an additional R package. When I am not working, I am often out in nature, paddling a canoe, cross country skiing, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, and backcountry camping. Lastly, I am dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Interests

  • Fish Ecology
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Acoustic Telemetry
  • Fisheries Management
  • Fish Physiology
  • Biological & Environmental Data Analytics

Education

  • PhD Candidate – Biology, 2018-Present
    • Carleton University
  • MSc – Integrated Biology, 2015
    • Wilfrid Laurier University
  • BSc – Fisheries Management, 2013
    • University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

Contact Info: benjamin.hlina@gmail.com