Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto and
Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada
Phone: 647-242-7500
Email: pamela.wong@mail.utoronto.ca
RESEARCH FOCUS
Conservation biology, population viability, genomics, molecular ageing, traditional ecological knowledge, inter-rater reliability, wildlife management and assessment
EDUCATION
Ph.D. University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
2010-present
M.Sc.
B.Sc.H.
Thesis: Integrating Inuit traditional knowledge and genetic approaches to estimate age, population structure, and fecundity of polar bears
Queens University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
2008-2010
Thesis: Reliability, accuracy and tracking techniques of Inuit hunters in estimating polar bear characteristics from tracks
Queens University, Department of Biology, 2004-2008
Academic Major: Biology
Thesis: Reliability estimates of Inuit diagnoses of sex, age, and size of polar bear, along with age of track from footprints in the snow
RESEARCH AND RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
2011 present
University of Toronto, Centre for Aboriginal Studies (Research Technician)
Review literature linking traditional knowledge and water governance in Canada and internationally; interview government officials, conservation authorities and
2010 present representatives
Royal Ontario Museum, Centre for Biological Diversity and Conservation (Research
Technician)
Construct research proposals, funding applications, and permit requirements; prepare
2010 - present manuscript submissions for peer-review relevant to vertebrate genomics
University of Toronto, Office of Research Ethics (Animal Care Committee
Representative)
Review ethics protocols for animal use in research; develop and enforce institutional policies and procedures in compliance with federal guidelines for animal-based research
2007- 2010 Queens University, Queens Molecular Ecology Lab (Vertebrate GIS Technician)
Project and analyze vertebrate data sets collected in Canada (polar bear) and Africa

(white rhino, black rhino, elephant) using ArcGIS
2008 - 2009 Queens University, Queens Molecular Ecology Lab (Research Technician)
Develop a non-invasive polar bear activity survey in Nunavut; interview Inuit hunters for their traditional ecological knowledge of polar bear tracks; optimize genetic sex determination and genotyping of noninvasively collected samples
2007 Queens University, Department of Biology (Laboratory Technician)
Determine length and head measurements of whitefish larvae collected from freshwater lakes in Eastern Ontario
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND AFFILIATIONS
Manuscript Reviewer
Journal of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Monographs
Society Membership
The Wildlife Society (2012
– present)
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (2011 – present)
Sigma Xi Associate Member (2011 – present)
International Bear Association (2010
– present)
Society for Conservation Biology (2010 – present)
Assistant Editor
Versita Publishing (Environmental Studies)
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2012-2014 Postgraduate Doctoral Scholarship, Canadian National Sciences and Engineering
Research Council ($21,000 per year)
2012-2013 Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
($6000 per year; offer declined due to NSERC acceptance)
2012-2013 Northern Scientific Training Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development ($4,000)
2012
2011
Faculty of Arts and Science Boundless Research Feature, University of Toronto
Second to the Student Spotlight North America, Society of Conservation Biology
2011 Frederick P. Ide Graduate Awards in Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology, University of Toronto Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
($2,800)
2011
2011
2011
International Polar Year Montreal Travel Award, Association of Polar Early Career
Scientists ($500)
International Polar Year Montreal Accommodation Award, Association of Polar Early
Career Scientists
Fellowship for Research, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council ($4,500)

2011-2012 Northern Scientific Training Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development ($2,500)
2011 School of Graduate Studies Conference Grant, University of Toronto School of
Graduate Studies ($270)
2011
2011
Harold H. Harvey Travel Award, University of Toronto Department of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology ($400)
Young Scientist Forum 2011 Travel Scholarship, Arctic Marine Ecosystem Research
Network ($2,294)
2010-2014 University of Toronto Tuition Fellowship, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology ($7,177 per year)
2010-2014 EEB Internal Award, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology ($3,250 per
2010 year)
Sigma Xi Grants-in-aid-of-Research, The Scientific Research Society ($900)
2010 State of the Arctic Travel Scholarship, Arctic Research Consortorium of the U.S.
($2,400)
2008-2010 Queens University Graduate Award, Department of Biology ($6,500 per year)
2008-2010 Northern Scientific Training Program, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern
2008
Development ($2,300 per year)
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid-of-Research, The Scientific Research Society ($400)
2008
2008
Second Place Recipient of the Graduate Student Poster Award in Social Sciences,
Arctic Change Conference 2008 ($400)
Dean’s Honours List, Queens University
REFEREED CONTRIBUTIONS
2012 Wong P.B.Y., Latulippe N. and McGregor D. Linkages between traditional knowledge and public policy in water governance in Ontario. In preparation.
2012
2012
2011
Wong P.B.Y., Van Coeverden de Groot P., Harris C., Dyck M.G., Kamookak L.,
Pagès M., Michaux J. and Boag P.T. Toward a noninvasive Inuit polar bear survey: genetic data from polar bear hair snags. Wildlife Society Bulletin. In press.
Wong P.B.Y., Wiley E.O., Johnson W.E., Ryder O.A., O’Brien S.J., Haussler D.,
Koepfli K.P., Houck M., Perelman P., Mastromonaco G., Bentley A.C., Venkatesh B.,
Zhang Y.P. and Murphy R.W. Tissue sampling and standards for vertebrate genomics. GigaScience 1:8-20.
Wong P.B.Y., Van Coeverden de Groot P., Fekken C. and Boag P.T. Polar bear
( Ursus maritimus ) tracking techniques of Inuit hunters: interrater reliability and

inferences on accuracy. Canadian Field Naturalist 125(2): 140-153.
REFEREED POSTERS AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
2012 Wong P.B.Y., van Coeverden de Groot P., Kamookak L., Fekken C., Smith H., Pagès
2011
M. and Boag P.T. Inuit, footprints, and telomeres: an integrative approach to estimating polar bear characteristics. Oral presentation presented at the International
Polar Year Conference, Montreal, Canada.
Wong P., van Coeverden de Groot P., Fekken C. and Boag P.T. Reliability, accuracy, and tracking techniques of Inuit hunters in estimating polar bear characteristics from tracks. Poster presented at the Arctic Frontiers Tipping Points Conference, Tromsø,
Norway.
2010
2008
Wong P., van Coeverden de Groot P., Fekken C., Nirlungayak G., Dyck M. and Boag
P.T. Preliminary reliability assessment of Inuit diagnoses of sex, age, size, and age of track from in situ polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) tracks. Poster presented at the
International State of the Arctic Conference, Miami, USA.
Wong P., van Coeverden de Groot P., Nirlungayak G., Dyck M., Fekken C. and Boag
NON-REFEREED CONTRIBUTIONS
2010 Van Coeverden de Groot P.J., Harris C., Wong P., Dyck M. and Boag P. Report to the Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Organization on Polar Bear Fieldwork 2006-
2009. Kingston, Ontario: Queens University, Department of Biology.
2009
P.T. Preliminary reliability assessment of Inuit diagnoses of sex, age, size, and age of track from in situ polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) tracks. Poster presented at the
International Arctic Change 2008 Conference, Quebec City, Canada.
Van Coeverden de Groot P.J., Harris C., Wong P., Shrenzel M., Cattet M., and Boag,
P. A brief report on the Polar Continental Shelf Project (#61809). Kingston, Ontario:
Queens University, Deparment of Biology.
2008
2012
2012
Van Coeverden de Groot P. J., Harris C., Wong P. and Boag P. T. Final Report to
Nunavut Wildlife Management Board Research Studies: The role of local hunters in i) the genetic studies of polar bear mating, movement and dispersal ii) a genetic estimate of the minimum number of polar bears known alive in M’Clintock Channel, iii) a polar bear activity survey, and iv) potential polar bear population health survey (#
52440701). Kingston, Ontario: Queens University, Department of Biology.
INVITED LECTURES AND ACTIVITIES
2012 Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, Community Consultation Webinar (28
2012
September)
Association of Polar Early Career Scientists, Ask a Scientist Forum, International
Polar Week (16-22 September)
Royal Ontario Museum, Schad Gallery of Biodiversity Family Fun Weekend (19 May):
Meet the Animal Scientist
San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research

2011
2011
2011
2010
2009
2009
Title:
“Tissue sampling and standards for vertebrate genomics”
Grade 3 to 6 Intermediate, Quqshuun Ilihakvik Elementary School, Gjoa Haven
Title: “Gjoa Haven polar bear survey”
Grade 8 and 10, Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik High School, Gjoa Haven
Title:
“Estimating polar bear characteristics from footprints in the snow”
Royal Ontario Museum, ROM 2011 Colloquium: World Discoveries
Title: “How can Inuit hunters help reverse the demise of polar bears?
Queen’s University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series
Title: “Reliability of Inuit diagnoses of sex, age, and size from footprints in the snow – toward noninvasive polar bear population estimates”
Queen’s University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BIOL323:
Animal Behaviour
Title: “Reliability in polar bear estimates: Inuit diagnoses of sex, age, and size from footprints in the snow”
Queen’s University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BIOL110:
Human Genetics
Title: “Evaluating polar bear sex from footprints on the sea ice”
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2012
–
University of Toronto Teaching Assistant
2013 Introduction to Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
2011
2012
2011
–
University of Toronto Teaching Assistant
Environmental Biology
University of Toronto Teaching Assistant
2010
2010
2009
2009
2009
2008
Marine Mammal Biology
University of Toronto Teaching Assistant
Adaptation and Biodiversity
Queens University Teaching Assistant
Animal Behaviour
Queens University Teaching Assistant
Vertebrate Diversity
Queens University Teaching Assistant
Human Genetics
Queens University Teaching Assistant
Introductory Biology of Organisms
Queens University Teaching Assistant

2011
Diversity of Life I
ATTENDED WORKSHOPS
2012 International Polar Year 2012 Conference, Career Development Workshop
From Knowledge to Careers
University of Tromsø, Arctic Frontiers Young Scientist Forum PhD Workshop
Arctic Tipping Points: Research as a Driver for Northern Development
2010 University of Toronto, University of Toronto Libraries
An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using ArcGIS 10
2010 State of the Arctic Conference, Travel Scholarship Awardee Workshop
Communicating Climate Change
SKILLS
Computer: Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, SPSS, JMP, ArcGIS, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe
Acrobat, R
Technical: DNA Extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Gel Electrophoresis, Southern blotting
Other: Administering Questionnaires, Semi-Directive Interviewing, Participant Recruitment,
Leading Fieldwork Projects, Community/Youth Outreach Programs, Grant
Preparation, Constructing Research Reports
CERTIFICATIONS
2012 Laboratory Biosafety Training
2012
2012
2011
2010
2009
2009
WHMIS (Biohazard safety)
Radiation Safety
Fire Arms Safety
WHMIS (General workplace safety)
First Aid
WHMIS (General workplace safety)