Danielle Chiasson

Danielle is a master’s student in geographical sciences at Université Laval and a self-described permafrost fangirl. Originally from the Georgian Bay area in Ontario, she has spent the last few years doing research and conducting fieldwork across the Canadian subarctic. She holds a BA in geography and environmental studies from the University of Ottawa (2018) and a diploma in ecosystem management technology from Sir Sandford Fleming College (2019). She previously worked as a research technician at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre where she fostered a passion for thermokarst terrain. 

Her MSc project focuses on the paleoecological history of ancient drained lake basins in Old Crow Flats, Yukon, part of the Vuntut Gwitchin Traditional Territory. Under the supervision of Pascale Roy-Léveillée and Najat Bhiry at Université Laval’s Centre d’études nordiques, she will utilize radiocarbon dates and macrofossil analyses to better understand the evolution of vegetation and permafrost dynamics within the basins. 

When she’s not out frolicking in nature, she enjoys yoga, writing poetry, and playing Dungeons & Dragons. She’s also an avid birder, loves looking for wildflowers, and eats an absurd amount of blueberries.