Welcome to the website of Dr. Cardinal-Aucoin. You can call me Michael. I am currently a biology professor at Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario. I also teach courses at St. Francis Xavier University, where I spent the last four years, and at York University in Toronto. I am a circadian biologist and my research explores the circadian organization of physiology and behaviour, and the consequences of its disruption.
I am passionate about sharing science and biology with the world. I do this through teaching undergraduates, involving undergrads in research, and participating in many community outreach events for youth and adults alike. As an accomplished musician I also use science-based songs in my lectures and talks.
See below for contact information and Recent News and Events.
Recent News and Events
June 2021:
- I am on the map! The Canadian Sleep Society has put together a useful map of sleep and circadian researchers in Canada. Thanks CSS!
February 2021:
- Attended the 11th Annual Center for Circadian Biology Symposium at the University of California, San Diego and presented work by a former StFX student, Quentin Daigle. The conference was terrific and lots of positive feedback on Quentin’s bioinformatic investigation of the origins and diversity of eukaryotic molecular clockworks!
January 2021:
- I sang this song for my cell biology students at York University and they really enjoyed it! Some shared it on social media and the university asked if they could post it on Twitter. Thank you for sharing, Lisa Philipps, Provost and VP Academic!
December 2020:
- Thank you to the amazing guest speakers who generously contributed their expertise and time this past semester: Dr. Sydney Tam, Dr. Carolyn Arbanas, and Dr. Justin Gregg spoke to Bioethics (Biol 4372) at Lakehead University, Julia Gauberg spoke to Comparative Physiology (Biol 3250) at Lakehead University, and Dr. Chris Earle spoke to Circadian Physiology (Biol 4310) at York University. Thought-provoking and engaging talks by all!
November 2020:
- Congratulations to my StFX students Kristen Booth, Sophie Sawler, and Madison Pendleton for three terrific research presentations at NAPCRG 2020!
September 2020:
- Congratulations to my former research student Sydney Silver on being accepted and starting her MSc in the Donini Lab at York University!
November 2019:
May 2019:
- Sydney Silver presents her research on salinity tolerance of an intertidal insect at a national conference, the Canadian Society of Zoology, in Windsor, ON.
March 2019:
- Sydney Silver presents her research on salt water midges at her first conference, Science Atlantic in Moncton, NB.
August 2018:
- The ‘Time’ course is listed in Acedemica’s Top Ten in Higher Ed.
- The multi-disciplinary, team taught, ‘Time’ course I developed with the Maple League of Universities is covered by StFX News.
Dr. Michael D. Cardinal-Aucoin, PhD
Biologist, Educator, Researcher.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies
Lakehead University (Orillia)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email – mcardin1@lakeheadu.ca
Phone – (705) 330-4010 x2712 
@Mollusc_Man
EDUCATION
PostDoc, Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, QC
Ph.D. Biology, York University, Toronto, ON
M.Sc. Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC
B.Sc. Biology (Spec. Biol.), Concordia University, Montreal, QC
D.E.C. Science (Honours), CEGEP John Abbott College, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC
