DR. TAMARA FRANZ-ODENDAAL

Dr Franz-Odendaal is a Full Professor in the Department of Biology at Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.  She started her lab at the Mount in 2006.  She is also an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University (Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science) and at Saint Mary’s University (Faculty of Science).

She is a developmental biologist with a strong background in paleontology.  She completed all her degrees at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her past supervisors include Dr. Susan Kidson, University of Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, also from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and Dr. Julia Lee-Thorpe, now at Oxford University, United Kingdom. Her post-doc supervisor was Dr. Brian Hall (Dalhousie University).

She was born in Paarl, South Africa and now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her husband and daughter.

Dr Franz-Odendaal is an advocate for Women in Science and runs WISEatlantic. She is also the Lead Ally and Co-founder of the Canadian Black Scientists Network.

Recent Awards:

Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2023)

Professional of Distinction, Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia (2022)

Public Awareness Award, Canadian Society of Zoologists (2023)

Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (Atlantic) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada (2011 – 2023)

Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award, Mount Saint Vincent University (2020)

Fellow of the American Association of Anatomists (2020)

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Research Excellence Award – Mount Saint Vincent University (2015)

Young Investigator Award in Morphological Sciences – American Association of Anatomists (2013 )

Women Worth Watching in STEM Diversity Journal, Crystal Award (2017)

Unstoppable Moms for Unstoppable Girls DOVE (2013)

Science Champion (finalist), Discovery Centre, Nova Scotia (2013)

University Faculty Award – Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council, Canada (2006 – 2011)

Exceptional Service Award – Canadian Society of Zoologists (2008)

Dedicated Service Award – American Association of Anatomists (2008)

Board & Committee Memberships

President, Canadian Society of Zoologists (2023-2024)

President, Nova Scotian Institute of Science (2020-2022)

Lead Ally and co-Founder, Canadian Black Scientists Network (2020-)

Dimensions Chair, Mount Saint Vincent University (2020-2022)

Member, NSERC Evaluation Committee, Genes, Cells and Molecules (2023-2026)

Member, New Frontiers in Research Fund Transformation Jury (2022-2023)

Member, External Advisory Committee for the Tri-agency Training Strategy (2023-2024)

Member, NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grant panel, Genes, Cells and Molecules (2021-2022)

Board Members, CCWESTT (2015-2020)

Board Member, Science Atlantic (2017-2019)

Member Scientific Affairs Committee, American Association of Anatomy (2016-2020)

Board Member, Canadian Society of Zoology (2015-2017)

Past education:

Post Doc (Dalhousie University, Canada) in Evo-devo with Dr. Brian K. Hall

PhD  (University of Cape Town, South Africa) in Paleontology (Zoology)

MSc (University of Cape Town, South Africa) in Developmental Biology

BSc (Med)(Hons) (University of Cape Town, South Africa) in Developmental Biology