CV & expertise

Research expertise, education, appointments, funding, teaching and service.

Research expertise

Animal behaviour & movement

  • Behavioural assays
  • Radio telemetry deployment and fixed tower arrays
  • Motus Wildlife Tracking System data
  • Home range and step-length analysis
  • Resource and habitat selection analysis
  • Tracking data management

Statistical & spatial modelling

  • Hierarchical and mixed-effects models
  • Generalised linear models
  • Machine learning
  • Species distribution and climate modelling
  • Spatial conservation prioritisation
  • Landscape connectivity analysis
  • Large-dataset workflows

Field ecology & survey design

  • Pollinator and vegetation sampling
  • Nest and overwintering site searching
  • Detection dog surveys
  • Insect rearing
  • Monitoring protocol development
  • Experimental design

Synthesis, tools & reproducibility

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis
  • R programming
  • QGIS
  • Git and GitHub
  • Open Science Framework
  • Research web infrastructure (HTML, CSS, Astro)

Education

Ph.D. Biology

York University, Canada

  • 2016–2020
  • Dissertation: “The effects of climate change on bumble bee movement and habitat selection”
  • Supervisor: Dr. Sheila Colla, York University

M.Sc. Biology

York University, Canada

  • 2014–2016
  • Dissertation: “Nursing back to health: Shrubs facilitate the restoration of native forbs with reductions in non-native competition in an invaded arid shrubland”
  • Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Lortie, York University

Spec. Hons. B.Sc. Biology

York University, Canada

  • 2009–2014
  • Honours thesis: “A desert nurse plant (Larrea tridentata) facilitates the germination and seed characteristics of winter annuals in California”
  • Supervisor: Dr. Christopher Lortie, York University
Dr. Amanda Liczner in graduation regalia

Appointments

  1. Postdoctoral Research Associate

    May 2026 – present

    Western University , Department of Biology and the Centre for Animals on the Move

    Supervised by Dr. Yolanda Morbey and Dr. Alice Boyle

  2. Quantitative Ecologist

    Jan 2026 – May 2026

    Apex RMS

  3. Research Analyst

    Jul 2025 – Jan 2026

    Toronto and Region Conservation Authority , Ecosystem and Climate Science

  4. Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    May 2021 – Jul 2025

    University of Guelph

    Supervised by Dr. Nigel Raine

  5. Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    Sep 2020 – Feb 2022

    University of British Columbia Okanagan , BRAES Institute

    Supervised by Drs. Jason Pither, Adam Ford, Lael Parrott, Josie Hughes and Richard Pither

What each position involved is described on the research page.

Awards & funding

>$200,000 in competitive fellowships and scholarships. Nominations and declined offers are labelled and are not counted towards that total.

Years Award Value
2023–2025 NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (NSERC PDF) University of Guelph $90,000
2023 Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Guelph Nominated by the University of Guelph Nominated
2022 Webster Postdoctoral Fellowship University of Guelph $10,000
2020 Susan Mann Dissertation Scholarship York University One of nine scholarships awarded at York University $22,500
2018–2020 NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral (NSERC PGS-D) York University One of ten NSERC scholarships awarded at York University $42,000
2018–2019 Ontario Graduate Scholarship York University Declined in order to accept the NSERC PGS-D Declined
2018 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship York University Nominated by York University Nominated
2017–2018 Ontario Graduate Scholarship York University One of five award winners in the Department of Biology $15,000
2016–2017 The Carswell Scholarship York University One of six award winners in the Faculty of Science $10,000
2016–2017 Ontario Graduate Scholarship York University One of nine award winners in the Department of Biology $15,000
2014–2015 York Graduate Scholarship York University Entrance scholarship awarded by the Department of Biology $6,000
2017–2019 Research / Fieldwork Cost Fund York University Internal award, Faculty of Graduate Studies $2,380
2015–2017 Research Cost Fund York University Internal award, Faculty of Graduate Studies $960
2016 Graduate Development Fund York University Internal award, Faculty of Graduate Studies $750
2016–2017 Graduate Development Fund York University Internal award, Faculty of Graduate Studies $600

Research grants

  • Ontario Species at Risk Stewardship Program

    2019–2020

    Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

    $25,717

Teaching

Guest lectures

  • BIOL 306: Ecology of Animals

    2021

    University of British Columbia Okanagan, 40 students

    Bumble bee ecology and conservation

  • BIOL 1001: Biology II. Evolution, Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

    2019

    York University, 500 students

    Life history traits and bumble bee ecology

  • DATT 4010: Physical Computing III: Environmental Sensing and Art

    2017

    York University, 50 students

    Importance of environmental monitoring for restoration science

Teaching assistantships

Laboratory coordinator, demonstrator and marker for four courses at York University (BIOL 1000, BIOL 1001, BIOL 2010 and BIOL 2050) across 12 appointments in 11 terms between Fall 2014 and Fall 2019, in classes ranging from 20 to 2,400 students.

All appointments
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 1000, Biology I: Cells, Molecular Biology and Genetics. York University, Fall 2019 (2,400 students).
  • Laboratory demonstrator, BIOL 2010, Plant Biology. York University, Winter 2019 (20 students).
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 1000, Biology I: Cells, Molecular Biology and Genetics. York University, Fall 2018 (2,400 students).
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 1001, Biology II. York University, Winter 2018 (2,000 students).
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 2050, Ecology. York University, Fall 2017 (180 students).
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 1001, Biology II. York University, Winter 2017 (2,100 students).
  • Laboratory demonstrator, BIOL 2050, Ecology. York University, Fall 2016 (24 students).
  • Marker, BIOL 2050, Ecology. York University, Fall 2016 (200 students).
  • Laboratory coordinator, BIOL 1001, Biology II. York University, Summer 2016 (500 students).
  • Laboratory demonstrator, BIOL 2050, Ecology. York University, Fall 2015 (44 students).
  • Laboratory demonstrator, BIOL 1001, Biology II. York University, Summer 2015 (40 students).
  • Laboratory demonstrator, BIOL 2050, Ecology. York University, Fall 2014 (40 students).

Mentorship & supervision

  • Undergraduate research assistant supervisor (informal)

    2021–2025

    University of Guelph

    Directly supervised four undergraduate field assistants across summer field seasons. Trained assistants in field safety, bumble bee identification, ethical handling of wildlife, radio telemetry, laboratory procedures, insect rearing, and technical field equipment installation.

  • Research assistant supervisor (informal)

    2017–2019

    York University

    Directly supervised undergraduate and graduate field assistants and community science volunteers during spring and summer field seasons. Trained all assistants in field sampling methods, plant identification, and bumble bee behaviour.

Talks

7 invited presentations and 26 conference presentations.

Invited presentations

  1. Liczner AR, MacPhail V, Woollett D, Richards N, Colla S. Using detection dogs to find bumble bee nests: lessons learned. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) rusty-patched bumble bee seminar series. Virtual.
  2. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Rondeau S, Raine N. 2024. Using radio-telemetry to discover habitat selection and movement behaviour of bumble bees. Joint meeting of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Quebec, Quebec City, Canada.
  3. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Raine N. 2023. Understanding bumble bee behaviour through tracking their movements. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) rusty-patched bumble bee seminar series. Virtual.
  4. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Rondeau S, Raine N. 2023. Conserving bees by tracking their needs: using radio telemetry to study bumble bee habitat and investigate impacts of stressors. BOMBUSS 3.0, San Cristóbal, Mexico.
  5. Liczner AR. 2023. Identifying conservation needs by tracking bees. rare Charitable Research Reserve.
  6. Liczner AR. 2021. Conservation of bumble bees and landscape connectivity. University of Calgary Department Seminar Series.
  7. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2019. On a quest for bee nests. High Park Nature Centre Wild Bee Series.
All 26 conference presentations
  1. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Rondeau S, Raine N. 2024. Using radio-telemetry to discover habitat selection and movement behaviour of bumble bees. Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Quebec, Quebec City, Canada.
  2. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Raine N. 2024. Overwintering and nesting behaviour of bumble bees unveiled using radio telemetry. Animal Behaviour Society, London, Canada.
  3. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Raine N. 2023. Flying in the face of danger? Flight behaviour impacts for bumble bee queens exposed to systemic insecticides. International Pollinator Conference, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.
  4. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Raine N. 2022. She moves in mysterious ways: tracking bumble bee queen movement to identify critical habitat gaps. Joint Entomological Society of America and Canadian Entomological Society Annual Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  5. Liczner AR, Franklin E, Raine N. 2022. Impacts of systemic insecticide exposure on the movement ecology of bumble bee queens. Joint Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution (CSEE) and Ecological Society of America (ESA) conference, Montreal, Quebec.
  6. Liczner AR, MacKell S. 2021. Does soil temperature determine bumble bee queen emergence timing? Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE) Annual Conference. Virtual.
  7. Liczner AR, Richardson L, Schuster R, Colla SR. 2021. Conservation priority areas for Canadian bumble bee species under current and future climate scenarios. Canadian Parks Collective for Innovation and Leadership (CPCIL) Research Summit. Virtual.
  8. Liczner AR, Richardson L, Schuster R, Colla SR. 2020. Conservation priority areas for Canadian bumble bee species under current and future climate scenarios. BeeCon 2020. Virtual.
  9. Liczner AR, Richardson L, Schuster R, Colla SR. 2020. Conservation priority areas for Canadian bumble bee species under current and future climate scenarios. North American Congress for Conservation Biology Conference. Virtual.
  10. Liczner AR, MacPhail V, Colla SR. 2019. Using detection dogs to find bumble bee nests: lessons learned. Credit Valley Research Colloquium, Mississauga, Ontario.
  11. Liczner AR, MacPhail V, Colla SR. 2019. Using detection dogs to find bumble bee nests: lessons learned. BOMBUSS 2.0, Toronto, Ontario.
  12. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2019. Think big: landscape-scale habitat variables are more important than local-scale factors for determining at-risk bumble bee habitat. International Pollinator Conference, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California.
  13. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2019. Think big: landscape-scale habitat variables are more important than local-scale factors for determining at-risk bumble bee habitat. 45th Annual Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences Symposium, Toronto, Ontario.
  14. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2018. Using citizen scientists and detection dogs to locate bumble bee nests. BeeCon, Toronto, Ontario.
  15. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2018. Determining the habitat for at-risk bumble bee species in Southern Ontario. Society for Conservation Biology North American Congress for Conservation Biology Conference, Toronto, Ontario.
  16. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2018. Determining the habitat for at-risk bumble bee species in Southern Ontario. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution Conference, Guelph, Ontario.
  17. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2017. Assessing at-risk bumble bee habitat in Ontario for the conservation of declining species. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution Conference, Victoria, British Columbia.
  18. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2017. Assessing at-risk bumble bee habitat in Ontario for the conservation of declining species. BeeCon, Toronto, Ontario.
  19. Liczner AR, Colla SR. 2017. Assessing at-risk bumble bee habitat in Ontario for the conservation of declining species. 43rd Annual Association of Graduate Students in Biology Symposium, Toronto, Ontario.
  20. Filazzola A, Liczner AR, Westphal MF, Lortie CJ. 2017. The effect of consumer pressure and abiotic stress on positive plant interactions are mediated by extreme climatic events. 43rd Annual Association for Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences Symposium, Toronto, Ontario.
  21. Liczner AR, Sotomayor DA, Filazzola A, Lortie CJ. 2016. Germination response of desert annuals to shrub facilitation is species specific but not ecotypic. York University Biology Day Conference, Toronto, Ontario.
  22. Filazzola A, Liczner AR, Westphal MF, Lortie CJ. 2016. A test of the stress-gradient hypothesis including both abiotic stress and consumer pressure during an extreme drought year. Ecological Society of America Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  23. Liczner AR, Filazzola A, Lortie CJ. 2016. The use of shrubs as a tool for re-establishing native annuals to an invaded arid shrubland. Ecological Society of America Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  24. Filazzola A, Liczner AR, Westphal MF, Lortie CJ. 2015. The habitat of the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard is determined by an interplay between native shrub cover and invasive grass abundance. Conservation Conference, California Native Plant Society, San Jose, California.
  25. Filazzola A, Westphal MF, Liczner AR, Powers M, Johnson B, Lortie CJ. 2015. The realized niche of the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard is determined by an interplay between native shrub cover and invasive grass abundance. Ecological Society of America Conference, Baltimore, Maryland.
  26. Liczner AR. 2014. Cushion plant effects on seed germination in an alpine environment. Northern Studies Training Program Symposium, Toronto, Ontario.

Service & peer review

Professional service

  • Symposium co-organiser

    2024

    Entomological Societies of Canada and Quebec

    Co-organised a symposium on methods and tools for studying wild pollinators, Quebec City.

  • Pollinator Week Working Group

    2023

    Sustainability Office, University of Guelph

    Organised pollinator week educational events, including bumble bee identification workshops for students, community members and the public.

  • Conference volunteer organiser

    2021

    Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE)

    Member of the social media and communications, and programme development committees for the 2021 virtual conference.

  • Student presentation judge

    2021

    Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference

    Judged student presentations for a virtual conference spanning universities in western Canada and the United States.

  • Contributed symposium organiser

    2020

    North American Congress for Conservation Biology

    Organised a contributed symposium on prioritisation in conservation: tools and considerations.

  • Student representative

    2016–2020

    Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE)

    York University graduate student representative, encouraging student involvement and distributing society information.

Departmental & institutional service

  • Graduate student representative, Committee on Teaching and Learning

    2018–2020

    Faculty of Science, York University

    One of two graduate student representatives giving input on teaching assistant training initiatives and adjudicating teaching awards.

  • Communications Officer, AGSBS

    2019–2020

    Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences, York University

    Maintained the association’s social media accounts and website.

  • Department of Biology student representative, AGSBS

    2018–2019

    Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences, York University

    Represented graduate student interests to the Department of Biology.

  • Symposium Committee Chair, AGSBS

    2017–2018

    Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences, York University

    Led planning of the annual biology graduate student symposium, including organising meetings, securing funding and promotion. Attended by 110 participants.

  • Symposium Committee Member, AGSBS

    2016–2017

    Association of Graduate Students in the Biological Sciences, York University

    Organised the annual biology graduate student symposium for 100 attendees.

  • Symposium Committee Organiser

    2014–2015

    Ontario Ecology, Ethology and Evolution Colloquium (OE3C)

    Organised the annual provincial symposium, with approximately 140 attendees.

Peer review

29 reviews for 16 journals.

  • Insect Conservation and Diversity 5
  • Plant Ecology 3
  • Journal of Natural History 3
  • Ecology and Evolution 3
  • Oikos 2
  • Conservation Science and Practice 2
  • Restoration Ecology 2
  • Annals of the Entomological Society of America 1
  • Ecological Entomology 1
  • Ecology 1
  • Environmental Entomology 1
  • Forest Ecology and Management 1
  • Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 1
  • Insectes Sociaux 1
  • Nature Sustainability 1
  • Scientific Reports 1

Curriculum vitae

The record above is also available as a PDF.

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