The Paleo-DNA Laboratory at Lakehead University
is the only facility in the world that offers a training program
in extraction, amplification, sequencing and analysis of ancient
nucleic acids (aDNA). This annual program is made possible by a combination of highly trained staff
and state-of-the-art equipment. The latter includes real-time PCR and ABI 3100 automated
sequencers. Since 1999, 226 students from many scientific disciplines
(e.g. anthropology, chemistry, biology and clinical laboratories)
from around the world have completed this program.
2010 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2010 Ancient DNA Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 10-28, 2010. Eleven students from Canada, USA, Ireland, United Kingdom and Puerto Rico learned about extracting, amplifying, sequencing and analyzing DNA.
Guest lecturers this year were Dr. Mirjana Roksandic from the Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, Dr. Jack Ballantyne from the Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida and Dr. David Law from the Department of Biology, Lakehead University.
To view the 2010 class photo, click here.
Do you want to know what the students thought about the course, then click here.
The 2010 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:



2009 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2009 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 11 to May 29, 2009. The program was well received with 16 students in attendance.
Dr. Carney Matheson, professor of Anthropology at Lakehead University was on board again this year to deliver the majority of the lectures while Paleo-DNA Staff members Renee Fratpietro, Kristin Stewardson and Stephen Fratpietro provided the balance of the talks. Guest Lecturers included Dr. Alex Greenwood who joined us again from Old Dominion University, Dr. John Th'ng, lead research scientist from the Regional Cancer Care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and Dr. Marie Danforth, professor of Anthropology from the University of Southern Mississippi.
To view the 2009 class photo, click here.
The 2009 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations (click on the logo to visit their website):



2008 Ancient DNA Training Program
The Paleo-DNA Laboratory’s 2008 Ancient DNA Training Program was a huge success and marked the 10th consecutive year the program has been offered.The course was attended by 20 students including those from Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University and Confederation College, Southern Ontario, Manitoba, USA, Switzerland, the UK and Australia. Their academic backgrounds were just as diverse including anthropology, health and medical sciences, agriculture, biology and conservation biology.
The Ancient DNA Training Program’s course instructor Dr. Carney Matheson, Associate Professor from the Department of Anthropology at Lakehead University engaged the students with his extensive knowledge of molecular DNA analysis and techniques and his charismatic demeanor.
Invited guest lecturer Dr. Alex Greenwood joined us from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. His lecture stimulated the students while he spoke of his wide-spread experience in evolutionary biology presenting on the topics of pathogens and mammoths.
To view the 2008 class photo, click here.
2007 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2007 Ancient DNA Training Program was held on the campus of Lakehead University from May 22nd to June 9th, 2007 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We had 20 students from all over the world enroll in the program including students from Portugal, Australia, United Arab Emirates, France, the U.K., the U.S.A. and from coast to coast across Canada. It was truly an international event this year.
Guest lecturers for this year’s program include Lakehead University’s own Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Tamara Varney and from the University of Connecticut, renowned Neanderthal expert Dr. Igor Ovchinnikov. Dr. Ovchinnikov stayed on in Thunder Bay a few extra days and assisted the students with their lab work by providing his expertise when needed. Of course the training program wouldn’t be the same without inviting Entomologist, Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan from Yale University back to lecture. He continually provides exciting lectures that keep our students fully engrossed.
To view the 2007 class photograph, click here.
The 2007 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:
2006 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2006 Ancient DNA Training Program was a huge success and congratulations to all of our successful students. Nineteen students enrolled in the program this year. Students from coast to coast across Canada, the southern United States and even as far away as Denmark traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario to partake in this year's program.
We were extremely pleased with this years guest lecturers who included Dr. Eldon Molto, one of the original laboratory directors here at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory. Dr. Molto is currently in the Anthropology department at the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Charles Greenblatt joined us coming all the way from the Hebrew University in Israel to deliver his lectures. Our grateful students were treated to not one, but two lectures by the renowned Dr. Greenblatt who enjoyed his stay in Thunder Bay immensely. Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, an entomologist from the University of California at Davis, presented the students with his lectures on pathogen transmission and forensic entomology. Not for the faint of heart, Dr. Vaidyanathan's graphic photos and engaging talks kept the students' attention throughout his lectures.
Click here to view class photos.
The 2006 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:
2005 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2005 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 24 to June 11, 2005. The program was well received with 24 students in attendance.
The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Canada and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.
Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, University of California at Davis; Dr. Michael Schillaci, University of Toronto; Dr. Scott Hamilton and Jill Taylor-Hollings, Lakehead University; Dr. Bruce Pynn, Thunder Bay, ON; and the staff of the Paleo-DNA Laboratory including Renee Praymak, Steve Fratpietro and Christine Beaulne.
Click here to view class photos.
The 2005 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:
2004 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2004 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held twice in 2004 from April 26 to May 14, 2004 and from August 16 to September 3, 2004. The program was well received with 25 students in attendance.
The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia, Mexico, Canada and the United States) proved equal to their diverse background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained, is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology, biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.
Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Rajeev Vaidyanathan, University of California at Davis; Dr. Jack Ballantyne, University of Central Florida; Dr. Bruce Rothschild, N.E. Ohio University; Dr. Dongya Yang, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Dennis O'Rourke, University of Utah; Linda Larcombe, University of Manitoba; Dr. Scott Hamilton, Lakehead University; Dr. Bruce Pynn, Roy Wittock, Brian Reguly all of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Dr. Marcella Sorg, Margaret Chase Smith Center for Public Policy, Orono, Maine; Dr. Theodore Schurr; Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia; Zack Gaskin, DNA Print, Sarasota, Florida; Dr. John Verano, Tulane University, New Orleans; Karen Mooder, University of Alberta; and Dr. Vera Tiesler, Yucatan University, Merida, Mexico.
Click here to view class photos.
The 2004 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by the following organizations:
2003 Ancient DNA Training Program
The 2003 Ancient DNA Research Training Program at the Paleo-DNA Laboratory was held from May 5-24, 2003. This 5th annual program
was once again an outstanding success, with 25 students.
The diversity of the students' originating countries (Australia,
Canada, Portugal and the United States) proved equal to their diverse
background disciplines. The knowledge and skills the students gained,
is now being applied to the fields of biochemistry, biological anthropology,
biology, zoology, genetics, archaeology, zoo archaeology, and forensics.
Guest lecturers at this year's course included Dr. Scott Hamilton,
Dept. of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Dr. El Molto, Dept.
of Anthropology, Lakehead University; Tal Fisher, Dept. of Anthropology,
Lakehead University; Dr. Kathy Gruispier, University of Toronto;
Dr. Ryan Parr, Genesis Genomics; Dr. Robert Thayer, Genesis Genomics;
Dr. Bruce Pynn; Prof. Wil Salo, University of Minnesota, Duluth;
and Dr. Jack Ballantyne, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Central
Florida. At the concluding conference for the course, our keynote
speaker was Prof. Art Aufderheide, Dept. of Medicine, University
of Minnesota, Duluth. Prof. Aufderheide spoke about the recovery
of ancient human material and it's applications within the field
of DNA studies.
Click here to view class photos.
The 2003 Ancient DNA Training Program was sponsored in part by
the following organizations:
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