ABOUT US
Founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba by a team of experts in lab and field work, Prairie Scientific Inc. is focused on providing our clients with reliable data for use in policy, regulation, and other decision making. Our group has prioritized collecting both western scientific and local traditional knowledge to provide a complete picture of environmental status, and to help our clients prepare for challenges related to climate change, effluent regulations, and local contamination. We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor our services to the needs of our clients, and to communicate in an effective and respectful manner.
Olga Francisco, M.Sc.
Co-Founder
Olga is an interdisciplinary professional with 10+ years of combined experience in Research & Development, Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis, Regulatory Auditing and Consulting, Stakeholder Management and Community Engagement and Outreach. During her career, Olga authored and co-authored many high-impact scientific publications and regulatory documents. Olga has an undergraduate degree in Chemical engineering and graduate Master of Science degree in Chemistry. Olga also serves as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves.
Matt McDougall, PhD
Co-Founder
Matt completed his PhD at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada, after which he worked as the Director of the eDNA facility at the Centre for Oil and Gas Research and Development. His work has focussed on protein function, the design of passive sample devices, and eDNA metabarcoding in the Arctic. Matt has worked closely with industry, government, and Inuit organizations in Canada’s north, has presented work at international conferences, and published in high impact academic journals. Matt is always ready to take on a challenging project, where he brings to the table his technical skills, many years of experience with field work in the north, and expertise in data analysis and reporting.
Katrina Audet, MSc
Katrina is an environmental technician for Prairie Scientific Inc. bringing experience and expertise in the field of eDNA and aquatic sciences. Katrina completed her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba where she received the NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS M) for her work on fish stock monitoring in Lake Winnipeg. Over the course of her academic career, she has acquired important technical skills in both the field and laboratory settings, co-authored on a publication, and presented her research at multiple academic and professional conferences.
Vy Nguyen, BSc
Vy holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Manitoba. As an Environmental Specialist, Vy has gained valuable knowledge in water quality assessment and environmental field research. Vy has experience in handling large environmental datasets, performing statistical analyses to extract meaningful insights for informed decision-making, and producing comprehensive reports. Inspired by the company's core values of growth, Vy is dedicated to pursuing excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.