Gabriela Ibarguchi
Biography
Dr. Gabriela Ibarguchi joined Red Deer Polytechnic in 2021 as a Biology Instructor. Working in ecology, evolution, and environmental sciences, she focuses on the conservation of species in harsh and rapidly changing environments, particularly on birds as indicators of change.
She has taught biology and environmental sciences at Queen’s University and Carleton University, Ontario and as a guest lecturer in Canada, USA, and Mexico. Gabriela’s interests include understanding the past, present and potential future factors that shape lineages and the resiliency of populations.
She works with diverse community partners to restore and conserve habitats and species, investigate risk factors and investigate the complex ecological effects of climate change.
Gabriela studied ecology and population genetics at the University of Toronto, Scarborough and Queen’s University. She has conducted research on Arctic seabirds and marine ecosystems and on seedsnipes, unusual cold-adapted shorebirds of the Andes.
She has served as part of international research collaborations with Environment Canada, the Arctic Institute of North America (University of Calgary), the Terrestrial Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (Arctic Council) and with teams working in health sciences.
Prior to joining RDP, she worked on endangered birds as a Conservation Program Manager at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and she taught at Queen’s University.
Gabriela serves as a mentor and volunteer promoting community engagement and conservation, often working with students and with groups including Audubon chapters, the Society for Conservation Biology, and APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists).
In Red Deer, Gabriela enjoys participating in community outreach alongside students with the Red Deer River Naturalists, the Beaverhill Bird Observatory and other partners.
Education
- Ph.D. (Ecology, Evolution and phylogeography), Queen’s University
- M.Sc. (Population genetics and ecology), Queen’s University
- Hon. B.Sc. (Ecology and environmental studies), University of Toronto