Principal Investigator

Dr. Jackie Lebenzon

Assistant Professor

I am a molecular physiologist interested in how animals fine tune their sub-cellular processes to survive and thrive in challenging environments. I fell in love with insects during my PhD at Western University with Dr. Brent Sinclair, where I explored the overwintering physiology of the Colorado potato beetle. Sick of Canadian winters and wanting some California sun, I spent two years at UC Berkeley exploring energetic trade-offs in wing polymorphic field crickets with Dr. Caroline Williams. I started at UCalgary in July 2024 and have brought my love of bugs and winter home. In the Lebenzon Lab we use overwintering insects to better understand adaptations to harsh and changing environments. Outside of the lab and office I like to bake, make insect-themed ceramics, and create pretty graphics any chance I get.

Office : BI 262

Email: jackie.lebenzon@ucalgary.ca

CV

Teaching:

BIOL371 - Comp. Biology of Plants & Animals

ZOOL461- Animal Physiology

Graduate Students

  • Sophie Zaplachinski

    MSC STUDENT (Co-supervised with Dr. Paul Galpern)

    Meet Sophie

  • Maranda van Oirschot

    MSC STUDENT

    Meet Maranda

  • Tomas Diaz

    PHD STUDENT (Co-advised with Dr. Caroline Williams, UCBerkeley)

    Meet Tomas

Undergraduate Researchers

Lab Support

Lebenzon Lab Spring 2025 - Left to right, Bottom row: Jackie (Lab meeting baker), Maranda (Lab Tech, MSc to be), Rahma (Volunteer, potato planter extraordinaire); Top row: Zoe (Volunteer, PURE summer student to be), Alexandra (Volunteer, PURE summer

Lebenzon Lab Spring 2025 - Left to right, Bottom row: Jackie (Lab meeting baker), Maranda (Lab Tech, MSc to be), Rahma (Volunteer, potato planter extraordinaire); Top row: Zoe (Volunteer, PURE summer student to be), Alexandra (Volunteer, PURE summer student to be), Miguel (Volunteer, potato planter extraordinaire), Nageen (507 student, resident bioinformatician)

Partial Lab trip to the Calgary zoo. Left to right, bottom row: Marshall (interloping PhD Candidate and expert transmission electron microscopist), Maranda (Lab Tech, MSc to be), Jackie (former Penguin plunge interpreter); Top row: Gentoo penguin, H

Partial Lab trip to the Calgary zoo. Left to right, bottom row: Marshall (interloping PhD Candidate and expert transmission electron microscopist), Maranda (Lab Tech, MSc to be), Jackie (former Penguin plunge interpreter); Top row: Gentoo penguin, Humboldt penguins, another Gentoo penguin.

Lebenzon Lab BioBlitzin' Summer 2025 - Left to right, Bottom row: Miguel Manuel (undergraduate volunteer, resident archaeologist), Maranda van Oirschot (Lab tech, soon-to-be-MSc), Top row: Alexandra Dvorak (Summer PURE Student, ferritin enthusiast),

Lebenzon Lab BioBlitzin' Summer 2025 - Left to right, Bottom row: Miguel Manuel (undergraduate volunteer, resident archaeologist), Maranda van Oirschot (Lab tech, soon-to-be-MSc), Top row: Alexandra Dvorak (Summer PURE Student, ferritin enthusiast), Zoe Boklaschuk (Summer PURE Student, resident mitochondriac), Jackie (aspiring entomologist)