The Science Behind Zombie Ants
Alumni All-Access | Oct. 29 | 5 to 7 p.m.
Join us for a thrilling and thought-provoking evening with Dr. Chenhua Li, PhD’23, as she dives into the eerie world of host-parasite interactions — just in time for Halloween!
Fresh off receiving the Early Career Achievement Arch Award at the 40th Anniversary Arch Awards Gala on Oct. 16, Dr. Li will share her award-winning research in this exclusive public lecture. Known for her work on the infamous “zombie ant” phenomenon, Dr. Li explores how parasites manipulate host behaviour using advanced omics-level techniques like genomics and metabolomics.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to engage with cutting-edge science and hear from one of the world’s leading parasitologists.
About the speaker
Dr. Chenhua Li, PhD’23 (she/her)
Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Otago
Dr. Chenhua Li has built a body of work that bridges disciplines, demystifies complex ideas and brings long-overdue attention to the biodiversity of parasites and the value they hold in ecosystems around the world. She pursued her undergraduate degree in China, and her curiosity around parasitology led her to a master’s degree at the University of Manitoba, followed by her PhD at UCalgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In 2021, she founded the Global Parasitologist Coalition and in 2004 received the Public Education Award from the Canadian Society of Zoologists, followed by a 2025 Arch Award — the highest honour awarded by the UCalgary Alumni Association.
About the venue
This lecture will be held in the Clara Christie Theatre in the Health Sciences Centre at 3330 Hospital Dr. N.W. at UCalgary’s Foothills campus (see map).
Nearby public parking is available in Lot 6. UCalgary Foothills Campus is also accessible by Calgary Transit.
Alumni programs are made possible through the generous support of UCalgary Alumni Association Partners TD Insurance and Manulife.