Principal Investigator
Dr Steven M Short
I earned my Combined Honours BSc in Biology and Oceanography at the University of British Columbia in 1995. I obtained my PhD from UBC in 2002. After that, I worked at the Ocean Sciences Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz as a postdoctoral researcher. In 2004 I started my independent research program as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Denver. In 2007, I joined the Department of Biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga an Associate Professor and the Department Chair. I am appointed as graduate faculty in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, a tri-campus graduate unit at the University of Toronto, and the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences at University of Toronto Scarborough. At UTM, I teach undergraduate classes in Microbial Ecology and Virology and supervise undergraduate and graduate research students.
Research Staff
Dr. Ichiro Inamoto, PhD.
Lab Manager, Isolation, purification, and transmission electron microscopy of Chrysochromulina parva viruses.
Graduate Students
Jason Yan, HBSc 2026 in Biotechnology, Graduated with Distinction, University of Toronto, 2026.
MSc in progress, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Thesis: Understanding the role of meiosis and sexual reproduction in the persistant growth of virus-infected cultures of Chrysochromulina parva.
Matthew Kauffman, BSc in Honours Biology, Graduated with Distinction, McGill University, 2025.
MSc in progress, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Thesis: The nature of host-virus coexistence in Chrysochromulina parva.
Karolina Szlapa, HBSc with High Distinction, University of Toronto, 2018.
MSc in progress, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Thesis: Determining the decay rate and abundance of environmental DNA from freshwater algal viruses.
Undergraduate Research Students
Anwesha Bal
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Exploring the fitness cost of viral coexistence in productive infections of C. parva.
Chris Cao
BIO399Y, Biology Research Project. Identifying newly isolated algal viruses recovered from the sediments of an urban pond.
Short Lab Alumni
Graduate Students
Shuwen Liu, M.Sc. 2026
Thesis: Examination of benthic sediments in freshwater ponds as reservoirs for viruses of the freshwater haptophyte Chrysochromulina parva. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Sophie Anderson, M.Sc. 2025
Thesis: The influence of viruses on algal photosynthesis. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Dr. Christine Palermo, PhD 2022
Thesis: Diversity, Relative Abundance, and Functional Potential of Viral and Bacterial Communities. University of Toronto Scarborough, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences.
Dr. Dylan Shea, PhD 2021
Thesis: The Influence of Aquaculture on Marine Microbiota and Pathogen Communities in a British Columbia Coastal Ecosystem. Co-supervised with Prof. Martin Krkosek, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Dr. Samantha Cheung, PhD 2021
Thesis: Application of Molecular Tools to Determine the Effects of Key Growth Factors on Cultivated Algal Biofilm Communities. Co-supervisor with D. Grant Allen, University of Toronto, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry.
Rose Mastin Wood, MSc 2021
Thesis: Examination of Infection Dynamics within a Viral Consortium Infecting the Haptophyte Alga Chrysochromulina parva. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Alex Paquette, MSc 2017
Thesis: Understanding the Microbial Community of a Microalgal Biofilm from a Photobioreactor. Co-supervisor with George Espie, University of Toronto, Department of Cell and Systems Biology.
Dr. Michael Staniewski, PhD 2017
Thesis: Grazer and Virus-Mediated Mortality of Freshwater Phytoplankton. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Dr. Andrew Long, PhD 2017
Thesis: The Persistence of Algal Viruses in Freshwater Environments. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Lindsey Ogston, MSc 2015
Thesis: The Prevalence of Fish Viruses Associated with Aquaculture Enclosures in B.C. Coastal Waters. Co-supervisor with Martin Krkosek, University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Robin Rozon, MSc 2012
Thesis: Algal virus dynamics and ecology in the Bay of Quinte, Canada. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Oksana Rusanova, MSc 2010
Thesis: Seasonal Abundance of Chlorella Viruses in Two Contrasting Freshwater Environments of Ontario, Canada. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Claire Olsofka, MSc 2008
Thesis: A Quantitative Molecular Technique for Studying Competition among Strains of Micromonas Pusilla. University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences.
Undergraduate Research Students
Jason Yan HBSc 2026
University of Toronto Excellence Award, Summer 2026. Understanding the complex infection dynamics of freshwater algal viruses.
George Thomas HBSc 2026
NSERC USRA Summer 2026. Refining quantitative molecular tools to monitor hyperparasitic infections of algae.
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Characterizing the fitness cost of the virophage CpV-PLV Moe on its giant helper virus CpV-BQ3 in the freshwater alga Chrysochromulina parva (2025/2026)
NSERC USRA Summer 2025. Characterizing the complex interactions of multiple viruses infecting a single algal host.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Virophage mediated protection of a freshwater alga.(2024/2025)
Y Chen Pen, HBSc 2026
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Subcloning and sequencing analysis of CpV-PLV Moe genome termini. (2025/2026)
Muhammad Bin Azam, in progress
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Replication dynamics of CpV-PLV Larry & Curly. (2025/2026)
Sidoné Grange, HBSc 2025
NSERC USRA Summer 2025. Characterizing a newly isolated algal virus through genomics and molecular methods.
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Confirming the genomic conformation of Chrysochromulina parva Virus, CpV-BQ3. (2024/2025)
NSERC USRA Summer 2024. Characterizing the complex interactions of multiple viruses infecting a single algal host.
Heeji Kim, HBSc 2025
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Production of infectious viruses from a virus-resistant strain of the haptophyte algae, Chrysochromulina parva. (2024/2025)
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Design and validation of quantitative PCR assays targeting a newly discovered algal virus. (2023/2024)
Gurshan Bajaj, HBSc 2024
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Does the Tethysvirus ontarioense support the growth of the putative polintovirus CpVV-Moe? (2023/2024)
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Quantifying the infectivity of natural samples lysing the cosmopolitan freshwater alga Chrysochromulina parva. (2022/2023)
Daphne Arguelles, HBSc 2023
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Monitoring the environmental abundances of multiple agal viruses using multiplex quantitative PCR. (2022/2023)
University of Toronto Excellence Award, Summer 2022. Development and validation of multiplex TaqMan assays to quantify algal viruses in mixed cultures.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program: Purifying and characterizing viruses and virophages that coinfect the alga Chrysochromulina parva (2021/2022)
Simran Rakhra, HBSc 2023
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. The diversity of prymnesiophyte algae (haptophyta) in Lake Ontario and a nearby urban pond. (2022/2023)
Deryk Vu, HBSc 2021
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Separation and visualization of viruses and virophages infecting Chrysochromulina parva. (2020/2021)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2020. Isolating and studying components of a complex virus-host system.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Understanding the nature of virophages, viruses that parasitize other viruses. (2019/2020)
Ajandan Nandakumar, HBSc 2020
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Using the Rhodopsin Gene as a Novel Molecular Target for Effective Quantification of C. parva, an Important Phytoplankton. (2019/2020)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2019. Examining the Dynamics of a Complex Virus-Host System.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Evaluating the Distribution of Algae Infecting DNA Viruses in Coastal British Columbia. (2018/2019)
Cynthia Ton, HBSc 2019
Research Assistant, Maintenance and growth of Chrysochromulina parva and its viruses.
Jenna Black, HBSc 2019
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Understanding the Complexity of a Novel Virophage-Virus-Host System. (2018/2019)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2018. Understanding the Complexity of a Novel Virophage-Virus-Host System.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. A Complex Community of Viruses and Virophages Infects the Alga C. parva. (2017/2018)
Ammar Hafeez, HBSc 2018
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Fine-Scale Temporal Dynamics of a Novel Algal Virus-Host System. (2017/2018)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2017. Fine-Scale Temporal Dynamics of a Novel Algal Virus-Host System.
Nikhil George, HBSc 2017
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Spatial-Temporal Analyses of Algal Virus Genotypes in Hamilton Harbour. (2016/2017)
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Spatial-Temporal Analyses of Algal Virus Diversity and Abundance Throughout Hamilton Harbour. (2015/2016)
Yuri Chaban, HBSc 2016
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Investigating Host-Virus Interactions Between the Freshwater Algae Chrysochromulina parva and its Virus, CpV-BQ1, Using a Modified Dilution Assay. (2015/2016)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2015. Clonal Variation of Viruses that Infect the Freshwater Haptophyte Chrysochromulina parva.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Investigating the Diversity of Algae-Infecting Chloroviruses and the Effect of Nutrient Treatment on Primary Productivity in KSR Experimental Ponds. (2014/2015)
Amna Alam, HBSc 2015
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Biogeography of Freshwater Algal Virus Communities: An Analysis of the Diversity in Lake Ontario, Lake Kinneret, and Lake Taihu. (2014/2015)
Samia Mirza, HBSc 2014
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Isolation and Characterization of Viruses Infecting the Freshwater Algae Chrysochromulina parva. (2013/2014)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2013. Virus Parasitism of Chrysochromulina parva, a Globally Important Freshwater Phytoplankton.
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Molecular Analysis of Phytoplankton and Their Viruses. (2012/2013)
Ankita Virdi, HBSc 2013
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. The Biodiversity of Algal Viruses in the Great Lakes. (2012/2013)
NSERC USRA, Summer 2012. Cultivation and Molecular Characterization of Freshwater Phytoplankton.
Rawana Hayour, BSc 2012
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Which Marker Gene is Better to Study Phytoplankton Diversity and Taxonomic Resolution: psbA or 18S rDNA? (2011/2012)
Michael Lagowski, HBSc 2012
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Phylogenetic Analysis of the DNA Polymerase (polB) Gene Reveals Phycodnaviridae Diversity Within and Among the Great Lakes. (2011/2012)
Saba Haroon, HBSc 2012
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Molecular Identification of Phytoplankton Isolated from Ontario Freshwaters. (2010/2011)
Michael Staniewski, HBSc 2010
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Modified Dilution Method to Estimate Grazing and Virus-Induced Mortality of Phytoplankton in the UTM Storm Water Management Pond. (2009/2010)
Natasha Musrap, HBSc 2010
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Seasonal Abundances of Chlorella Species in Ontario Freshwater Environments. (2009/2010)
BIO399Y, Research Opportunities Program. Molecular Analysis of Freshwater Microorganisms. (2008/2009)
Oksana Rusanova, HBSc 2009
BIO481Y, Biology Research Project. Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Lake Ontario Phycodnavirus Communities. (2008/2009)