Elizabeth Clare

Elizabeth Clare is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at York University, affiliated with the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on developing novel technologies to monitor biodiversity and assess ecosystem responses to environmental change, particularly using environmental DNA (eDNA). She pioneered airborne DNA sampling to study terrestrial biodiversity at continental scales and has contributed to BIOSCAN, a global biodiversity program.

• Research Themes: Biodiversity monitoring, species interactions, environmental change resilience, bat biology, tropical ecosystems.
• Technological Innovations: Airborne eDNA, iDNA from leeches, and mobile lab sequencing in remote locations.

Her work has been featured in Science, Nature, and media outlets like Wired and NPR. She teaches courses in evolution, ecology, and conservation biology, emphasizing critical thinking and applied research. Recent grants include NSERC and Genome Canada funding for airborne DNA projects.

Clare collaborates globally, with fieldwork in Belize, South America, and Southeast Asia. Her lab's 'airDNA' technology has revolutionized biodiversity surveys, leveraging existing air-quality networks for ecological insights. She advises students on projects like urban bat ecology and BIOSCAN applications.

Awards include election to the Royal Society of Canada (2023) and recognition for teaching innovations like the BioAudio podcast. Her lab also develops open-access tools, such as 3D-printable eDNA filters.