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Lara Emily Hopf

+1 416 859 2904
lara.hopf@utoronto.ca

Research Experience

Casual Worker, Researcher05/2026 – 08/2026
University of Toronto Scarborough (UofT, UTSC)Toronto, Canada
  • Participated in a multiple-day field sampling campaign on the Great Lakes (Kingston, Canada), collecting water and sediment samples across multiple sites.
  • Performed wet-lab tasks in the laboratory including sample preparation and analysis.
Bachelor's Thesis Research09/2025 – 04/2026
Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)Berlin, Germany
  • Participated in daytime and overnight field sampling campaigns at the IGB lake laboratory in northern Germany, collecting depth-stratified zooplankton data across multiple sites.
  • Applied joint species distribution models (JSDMs) in R to jointly model taxon-specific zooplankton behavioural responses to artificial light, adapting community-level spatial ecology methods to fine-scale aquatic behavioural data.
Student Assistant, Microbiology Lab11/2024 – 03/2025
Institute for Product Quality (IfP)Berlin, Germany
  • Performed routine microbiological testing for food safety with thorough documentation and strict, reproducible procedures, including PCR and pipetting schemes.
  • Worked in an S2-designated laboratory (equivalent to Canadian Containment Level 2), following strict safety and containment protocols.

Technical Skills

Programming tools: Python, LaTeX, Git, JavaScript/TypeScript, WordPress

Communication tools: Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms), Notion, Teams

AI tools: Claude Code, Cursor

Data analysis: Statistical modelling and data processing in R (creating JSDMs using CSV, JSON)

Laboratory: Aquatic fieldwork and data collection, dry lab, wet-lab safety procedures

Languages: German (native), English (C2 certificate), French (B1 certificate), Spanish (A2)

Education

B.Sc. in Biology10/2022 – 04/2026
Humboldt University of BerlinBerlin, Germany
  • Thesis: Phototaxis in Zooplankton Communities under Artificial Light at Night (ALAN), supervised by Prof. Liliane Rueß (HU) and Dr. Franz Hölker (IGB).
  • Specialisation modules in molecular plant sciences and behavioural neurology.
  • Relevant coursework: microbiology, parasitology, organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular cell biology, neurobiology, ecology, zoology, methods (Python).

Additional Work Experience

Founder05/2026 – present
Evidio (iOS app, not launched yet)Remote — Toronto, Canada
  • Building a source-based, short-form scientific social media platform.
  • Learning full-stack development and effective communication with LLMs.
Service Worker01/2024 – 11/2024
eyescontact, claudel eventsBerlin, Germany
  • Worked at two different service-worker contractors as a freelancer.
  • Worked a range of events: soccer games, weddings, concerts, festivals, fairs, etc.
Service Worker05/2023 – 11/2023
Allermunde RestaurantBerlin, Germany
  • Serving tables (food and beverages), mixing drinks, cleaning dishes.
  • Shift leader — responsible for all staff during my shift and in close communication with management.