Image: Supplied by UFV / Dr. Lauren Erland is one of five full-time faculty members who have joined the UFV Faculty of Science.
UFV faculty

UFV welcomes five new full-time science faculty members

Sep 4, 2022 | 6:05 AM

ABBOTSFORD — The University of the Fraser Valley announced Thursday, September 1 that five professors with immensely talented academic backgrounds will be joining its Faculty of Science on a full-time basis.

Dr. Lauren Erland joins UFV as Director, Berry Horticulture Research. Dr. Erland’s research has brought her to many parts of Canada, including Northern Canada, UFV said in a website posting. She is committed to engaging with First Nations on issues to protect traditional berry crops from climate change.

Dr. Erland recently received the Carl Douglas Award for excellence in plant biology and leadership at Plant Biology ’22 Conference. She will be teaching AGRI 272 – Agricultural Seminar Series, focusing on ‘Perspectives in Agriculture (agroecology, TEK/Indigenous cropping systems, indoor ag/production systems and more).

Dr. Javad Hadian joins the Department of Agriculture Technology as Associate Professor. His extensive experience includes teaching post-secondary horticulture courses in Iran and UQTR, Canada, working in greenhouses and conducting research and development in a vertical farm in Ontario.

Image: Supplied by UFV / Dr. Javid Hadian is joining the UFV Faculty of Science as a full-time professor in the Department of Agriculture Technology.

Dr. Hadian grew up in a family farm in Iran where a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, spices and medicinal plants were cultivated. He will be teaching AGRI 124, horticulture skills and techniques; AGRI 142, Agribusiness principles; and AGRI 321, Vegetable crop production: Science and practice.

Dr. Tadhg O’Leary joins UFV as an assistant professor, bringing a wealth of on-farm experience not just as a large animal vet practicing in Ireland for 10 years, but also having grown up on a dairy farm. Since immigrating to Canada, Dr. O’Leary has worked closely with AgSafe and various commodity groups; he will be delivering the bulk of UFV’s livestock programming, including AGRI 237 – Introduction to the health and nutrition of farm animals, AGRI 239 – Management and production of beef, and AGRI 247, an enterprise project he’ll co-teach with Renee Prasad.

Image: Supplied by UFV / Dr. Tadhg O’Leary is joining the UFV Faculty of Science as a full-time professor in the Department of Agriculture Technology.

Dr. Dina Navon joins UFV as an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. She has been a postdoctoral fellow in the U.S. and Canada, including the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Her research utilizes a combination of cutting-edge genomics and functional assays to determine the molecular basis of this critical ability in African cichlids, zebrafish, and threespine stickleback. In addition to fish, evolution and development, she is extremely passionate about science communication, outreach, and activist work for minority populations. Dr. Navon will teach BIO 105 – Human Biology.

Image: Supplied by UFV / Dr. Dina Navon will be joining the Department of Biology as an assistant professor.

Dr. Jake Spooner joins UFV as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. Dr. Spooner has been a long-term sessional and LTA and brings his expertise in molecular modeling. Dr. Spooner will be teaching CHEM 422 – Molecular Modeling.

Image: Supplied by UFV / Dr. Jake Spooner will be joining UFV as a full-time professor in the Department of Chemistry.
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