International eDNA Standardization Task Force

A hub for eDNA standardization development

The International eDNA Standardization Task Force (iESTF) leverages resources and knowledge from members of the eDNA community for coordinated and timely adoption of international eDNA standards.

  • We engage with the eDNA research community to help set minimum quality requirements for standardized procedures while allowing room for growth and optimization in this rapidly advancing field
  • We engage with stakeholders including policy makers, managers, and various industry user groups
  • We work with various ISO working groups for effective developmenet of standards for a variety of applications
  • We provide a point of contact for information, resources, and educational material

Founder & Co-Chair

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Mehrdad hajibabaei

CSO and Research Professor, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics;

Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph;

Founder and CSO, eDNAtec Inc. Canada

Co-Chairs

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john darling

Senior Research Biologist, Environmental Genomics Branch, Centre for Environmental Measurement & Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA

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florian leese

Full Professor, Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany

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kristian meissner

Development Manager of the Marine and Freshwater Solutions Unit, Head of Jyväskylä Office, Finnish Environment Institute, Syke, Finland

Members

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cathryn abbott

Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada

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hitoshi araki

Professor, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan

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donald baird

Senior Research Scientist, Environment & Climate Change Canada;

Visiting Research Professor, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Canada

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pedro beja

Senior Researcher & Executive Vice-President, BIOPOLIS-CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Portugal

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kristy deiner

Assistant Professor, ETH Zurich;

CEO SimplexDNA, Switzerland

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hideyuki doi

Kyoto University, Japan

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nicole fahner

Executive Director, CEGA, Canada

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kelly goodwin

Microbiologist, NOAA Ocean Exploration, USA

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maggie hunter

Research Geneticist, U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland & Aquatic Research Centre, USA

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ryan kelly

Director, eDNA Collaborative at the University of Washington; Faculty, UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, USA

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katy klymus

Research Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, USA

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michio kondoh

Lead, ANEMONE, Japan

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Ntangenedzeni Olivia Mapholi

Associate Professor, Animal Genomics and Deputy Executive Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa

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toshifumi minamoto

Professor, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Japan

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xavier pochon

Associate Professor, University of Auckland;

Team Leader, Molecular Surveillance, Cawthron Institute, New Zealand

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teresita porter

Visiting Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, Canada

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susanna theroux

Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), USA

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alejandro trujillo-gonzáles

Principal Scientist, Australian National eDNA Reference Centre, University of Canberra, Australia

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Alison Watts

Research Assistant Professor, University of New Hampshire, USA

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hiroki yamanaka

Freshwater Ecologist, Ryukoku University, Japan

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Xiaowei Zhang

Professor, School of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan University, China

Mehrdad Hajibabaei
CSO and Research Professor, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics; Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph; Founder and CSO, eDNAtec Inc. Canada

Dr. Hajibabaei’s research focuses on the application of genomics information to biodiversity analysis, ranging from the elucidation of deep branches of the tree of life to the development and application of DNA-based tools for species identification (e.g., DNA barcoding, DNA metabarcoding). He is one of the pioneers of using high-throughput genomics technologies such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for the assessment of biodiversity in environmental samples such as water, soil, and sediments. Hajibabaei has published over 200 scientific papers with over 23,000 citations (h-index 60). He has played a leadership role in establishing and managing large-scale research projects and collaborative networks such as the the International Barcode of Life (iBOL). Hajibabaei is the founder and CSO of eDNAtec Inc. a technology startup based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, which is developing real-world tools for biodiversity monitoring by leveraging eDNA/genomics and advanced computational approaches.

Areas of expertise: Genomic method development, bioinformatics method development, aquatic biomonitoring, ecological studies

John Darling
Senior Research Biologist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Darling is a Senior Research Biologist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His expertise is in molecular and population genetics, invasive species risk management, and the development and application of genetic methods for biodiversity monitoring in the context of aquatic ecosystem assessment and protection. Dr. Darling is EPA’s lead scientist on aquatic biological invasions and serves as the Agency’s representative to the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and multiple invasive species-related working groups of the International Council for Exploration of the Sea. Dr. Darling has been engaged in research on environmental DNA for nearly 15 years, focusing primarily on issues of science communication, technology transfer, and method operationalization. He is currently a member of the steering committee for the US Governmental eDNA Working Group and the federal Task Team for developing a national US eDNA strategy, and within the EPA he serves as research lead for a broad effort aimed at developing and implementing DNA-based biomonitoring approaches.

Florian Leese
Full Professor, Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen

Dr. Leese is Full Professor of Aquatic Ecosystem Research at Unviersity of Duisburg-Essen. A key expertise of Florian and his group is the development of DNA and eDNA-based methods for biodiversity assessment and biomonitoring. A key expertise is in the upscaling of methods for large-scale monitoring as well as the development of QA/QC to improve reliability and comparability of data. As Chair of COST Action DNAqua-Net, Florian coordinated the development of methods for routine montitoring of Europe’s aquatic ecosystems from 2016-2021.

Kristian Meissner
Development Manager of the Marine and Freshwater Solutions unit, Head of Jyväskylä office, Finnish Environment Institute, Syke

Dr. Kristian Meissner is the development manager of the Marine and Freshwater Solutions unit and head of the office in Jyväskylä at the Finnish Environment Institute, Syke. He has worked for over 20 years in research on water quality and environmental management issues. Kristian’s particular interest is developing novel environmental monitoring methods and improving the information value chain from data to management. He has worked on method development for aquatic monitoring as well as for peatland restoration and coordinated international research projects to modernize environmental monitoring. Kristian was tasked by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment to coordinate the renewal of the national environmental monitoring strategy and is a co-author of the Roadmap for implementing environmental DNA (eDNA) and other molecular monitoring methods in Finland’s Vision and action plan for 2022–2025. Since 2012 he worked with international water quality method standardization and established and now chairs the European CEN TC230 working group “eDNA and DNA methods”.

Cathryn Abbott
Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Dr. Abbott’s research has developed eDNA tools for a wide variety of end-uses in aquatic environments. She and other DFO scientists authored formal science advice on the use of targeted eDNA analysis for Aquatic Invasive Species and Species at Risk (https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/library-bibliotheque/40960791.pdf). She led the development of the Novel Applied eDNA Metabarcoding Reference Sequences online portal (https://NAMERS.ca) containing whole mitogenomes from freshwater fish in British Columbia to provide complete reference data for eDNA survey design and data analysis. She was on the Technical Committee for the Canadian Standards Association for the development of a national standard on Performance Criteria for Environmental DNA and Environmental RNA Analyses by Targeted Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (public by end of 2023). Dr. Abbott is also World Organization for Animal Health Reference Lab Expert for infection with Mikrocytos mackini and Technical Manager in an ISO 17025 regulatory lab within Canada’s National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/aah-saa/naahls-slnsas-eng.html).

Areas of expertise: Genomic method development, freshwater biomonitoring, marine biomonitoring, endangered species, population and conservation genetics

Hitoshi Araki
Professor, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan

Hitoshi Araki is a professor of animal ecology in the Research Faculty of Agriculture at Hokkaido University in Japan. After obtaining his Ph.D. at Kyushu University in 2001, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Chicago and Oregon State University in the U.S. from 2001 to 2007. He then worked for the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Switzerland as a group leader from 2008 to 2013 and became a full professor at Hokkaido University in 2013. His research interest includes molecular ecology, population genetics, salmon genetics, environmental DNA, and conservation biology.

Donald Baird
Senior Research Scientist with Environment & Climate Change Canada

Dr. Baird is a Senior Research Scientist with Environment & Climate Change Canada’s Water Science & Technology Directorate. He is also a Visiting Research Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Brunswick, and a Fellow of the Canadian Rivers Institute. His research, which focuses on rivers and their floodplains, includes development of methods for large-scale biodiversity observation, and linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem function. He has been studying the application of DNA barcoding / metabarcoding data in freshwater biomonitoring since 2005, and pioneered the development of the ’Biomonitorng 2.0’ approach.

Areas of expertise: freshwater biomonitoring; ecological studies; remediation and restoration monitoring

Pedro Beja
Senior Researcher and Executive Vice-President of BIOPOLIS-CIBIO

Dr. Beja is a senior researcher and currently serves as Executive Vice-President of BIOPOLIS-CIBIO (2021-present). Conservation biologist interested in the natural and anthropogenic drivers of biodiversity change in human-dominated landscapes, including agricultural, forest and freshwater social-ecological systems, with research carried out in Europe, Africa and South America. Strongly interested in the actual application of conservation science, with practical experience involving a range of conservation projects, species reintroduction, creation of protected areas, land planning for biodiversity, impact assessment and mitigation, ecological assessment and monitoring and corporate biodiversity.

Areas of expertise: Invasive species, freshwater biomonitoring, ecological studies (foodwebs, diet, trophic interactions), conservation biology, environmental monitoring, statistical data analysis and modelling

Kristy Deiner
Assistant Professor, ETH Zurich; CEO SimplexDNA

Kristy Deiner has played a role in the development of methods and recommendations for their standards and authored more than 40 scientific publications and books in the field of environmental DNA. Her work on the transport and cycling of environmental DNA  has been foundational to the field and further application of the technology for biodiversity monitoring.

Areas of expertise: Genomic method development, invasive species, freshwater biomonitoring, marine biomonitoring, endangered species, ecological studies (foodwebs, diet, trophic interactions), remediation and restoration monitoring, fishers and aquaculture

Hideyuki Doi
Kyoto University

Dr. Doi is working on eDNA method development, especially for freshwater ecosystems with eDNA metabarcoding and on-site methods.

Areas of expertise: Ecological studies (foodwebs, diet, trophic interactions), freshwater biomonitoring

Nicole Fahner
Associate Director, CEGA

Nicole is an experienced leader in scientific research and development. As eDNAtec’s first employee in 2016, she helped establish the Centre for Environmental Genomics Applications (CEGA) in St. John’s, NL. Here, she mobilized an emerging technology from its roots in academia into a sustainable business, advancing DNA technologies for simple and scalable biodiversity monitoring. As Executive Director for CEGA at this exciting new technology company, she oversees environmental genomics projects and research programs, and mentors a growing team of professional young scientists. Nicole engages with public, private, and academic clients and collaborators to grow the business in parallel with the technology. Prior to working at eDNAtec, Nicole studied Forensic Science, including an internship at Ontario’s Wildlife Forensic DNA Laboratory, and completed graduate studies at the University of Guelph as part of the Biomonitoring 2.0 project under the supervision of Dr. Hajibabaei.

Kelly Goodwin
Marine Microbiologist, NOAA Ocean Exploration

Dr. Kelly Goodwin is a marine microbiologist with NOAA Ocean Exploration working to develop and apply molecular biological tools for water quality and biodiversity assessments. Dr. Goodwin chairs the NOAA ‘Omics Working Group that works to apply bioscience solutions to the many challenges facing the marine environment. For example, biomolecular mapping serves a range of national priorities, including understanding the ecosystem impacts from large-scale threats such as pollution, pathogens, invasive species, ocean acidification, and warming.

Dr. Goodwin serves on a variety of committees catalyzing solutions through research and innovation, including the Biodiversity Interagency Working Group eDNA Task Team under the U.S. Subcommittee of Ocean Science and Technology (SOST), the Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON) under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance (AORA) Marine Microbiome Working Group under the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation, and Omic BON, a new theme under the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). She serves as a NOAA subject matter expert on Marine Genetic Resources (MGR) for the biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) process.

Dr. Goodwin earned M.S. and Ph.D. (1996) degrees in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology, a minor in Oceanography from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and a B.S. in neurobiological science from the University of Florida.

Maggie Hunter
Research Geneticist, U.S. Geological Survey

Dr. Hunter is a Research Geneticist with the U.S. Geological Survey. She is the director of the WARC Conservation Genetics laboratory and uses genetic and genomic tools to inform management of invasive and imperiled species. She specializes in the development and assessment of environmental DNA (eDNA) markers and methodologies, population genetics, genetic biocontrol of invasives and global biodiversity policy.  She is a co-lead for the the Geo Bon Genetic Composition Working Group and the North America regional subgroups of the IUCN Conservation Genetics Working Group and a founding member of the Coalition for Conservation Genetics.

Areas of expertise: Invasive species, freshwater biomonitoring, marine biomonitoring, endangered species, ecological studies, remediation and restoration monitoring, field and laboratory method development, statistical method development

Ryan Kelly
Director, eDNA Collaborative at the University of Washington; Faculty, UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs

Dr. Kelly is the Director of the eDNA Collaborative at the University of Washington and a faculty member in the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. His work with eDNA focuses on quantitative analysis of ecological and management questions, in the service of moving eDNA science into routine practical application around the world.

Katy Klymus
Research Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Dr. Klymus is a research biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey since 2016. Her work focuses on using genomic tools and environmental DNA to improve wildlife resource management. She currently is co-leading the lab workflow standardization task for the READI-net project (U.S.G.S.), participating in the iTRACKDNA project (Canada), and interested in developing standards workflows for eDNA qPCR, dPCR and metabarcoding studies.

Michio Kondoh
Lead, ANEMONE

Dr. Kondoh leads ANEMONE, a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring project in Japan that utilizes eDNA metabarcoding. It has conducted over 5,000 surveys at 1,000 sites, identifying and categorizing over 900 fish taxa. Citizen participation, standardized protocols, and a dedicated public-access database are key components. ANEMONE aims to leverage eDNA monitoring data with a consortium for innovative solutions in various fields.

Ntangenedzeni Olivia Mapholi
Associate Professor, Animal Genomics and Deputy Executive Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa (UNISA)

Ntanganedzeni Olivia Mapholi is an Associate Professor in Animal Genomics and Deputy Executive Dean at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa (UNISA). She is a rated young researcher and was awarded young emerging research in 2021 by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Chaired the Local Organizing Committee of the 2023 International Society of Animal Genetics Conference held in South Africa. Co-chairs of the African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) and Southern Africa regional node coordinator. Committee member for Earth BioGenome Project (EBP-JEDI). Previously chaired the Livestock Genomics for Developing Countries Committee of the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) for eight years. She holds a BSc Hons (Genetics) and MSc (Molecular Genetics) from the University of Free State, and a PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. She is a specialist in Animal Genetics and Genomics, with a focus on DNA standards, the use of genomics technology to improve livestock production by identifying genomic regions or variants influencing economic important traits using high-density SNP assay and long reads sequence data. Other research focus areas include genetic diversity and the use of DNA markers to combat stock theft and wildlife poaching in South Africa. Published more than 50 articles in peer review journals and conference proceedings.

Toshifumi Minamoto
Professor, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University

Dr. Minamoto is a professor at the Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Japan. He was one of the first in Japan to study eDNA of macroorganisms. He is currently the PI of a laboratory specializing in eDNA analysis and studying all aspects of eDNA. He was responsible for editing the experimental manuals published by The eDNA Society, and the English version of the  manual was published in 2019. He is currently the President of The eDNA Society.

Area of expertise: Genomic method development

Xavier Pochon
Associate Professor, University of Auckland

Dr. Pochon is an Associate Professor and marine molecular ecologist at the University of Auckland and the current Team Leader of Molecular Surveillance at the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand. His research expertise focuses on validating eDNA and eRNA diagnostics tools for measuring biodiversity changes associated with natural and human-induced stressors. His applied research is driven towards the implementation of eDNA/eRNA-based monitoring and regulatory uptake by industry and governmental agencies.

Areas of expertise: Genomic method development, invasive species, marine biomonitoring, fisheries and aquaculture, deep-sea metabarcoding

Teresita Porter
Visiting Researcher, University of Guelph

Dr. Porter uses DNA-based methods to survey complex communities in from environmental samples such as soil, water, and stream-bottom communities.  She has experience using and developing new molecular biology and bioinformatic methods such as the MetaWorks multi-marker metabarcode pipeline as well as numerous curated reference sequence sets to facilitate probabilistic taxonomic assignment.  Currently working as part of the “Sequencing The Rivers For Environmental Assessment and Monitoring” (STREAM) project at the University of Guelph.

Areas of expertise:  Bioinformatics method development, freshwater biomonitoring, ecological studies, mycology

Susanna Theroux
Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)

Dr. Theroux is a scientist at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP). Her research focuses on the development of molecular methods for biomonitoring and bioassessment. She leads the California Molecular Methods Workgroup which develops standardized protocols and guidelines for statewide monitoring programs.

Areas of expertise: Genomic method development, remediation and restoration monitoring

Alejandro Trujillo-González
Principal Scientist, Australian National eDNA Reference Centre, University of Canberra, Australia

Dr. Trujillo-González is an applied scientist at the University of Canberra and the current Principal Scientist at the Australian National eDNA Reference Centre, Australia. His research expertise focuses on developing, optimising, and validating eDNA and eRNA-based tools for measuring biodiversity in biosecurity and conservation applications, with an emphasis in operationalizing technologies for decision making by private stakeholders and governmental agencies.

Areas of expertise: Molecular assay development, parasite-host ecology, invasive species, protocol and technology development, policy engagement

Alison Watts
Research Assistant Professor

Dr. Watts is Research Faculty at the University of New Hampshire, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Research interests include working with regulatory agencies and resource managers to assess and remediate water resource impacts.  Current work is focused on the use of molecular methods, primarily eDNA, and includes baseline assessments in coastal systems, early detection of invasive species, water quality indicators, and impacts of aquaculture.

Hiroki Yamanka
Freshwater Ecologist

Hiroki is a freshwater ecologist who has been involved in eDNA research for about 13 years. He has a big interest in further development of new technologies in eDNA analysis to retrieve much more biological information from the water, soil and air to understand not only species distribution, but also biomass, developmental stage and physiological state.

Area of expertise: Freshwater biomonitoring

Xiaowei Zhang
Professor, School of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan University, China

Prof. Xiaowei Zhang holds a Distinguished Professorship from the School of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan University. He received his PhD degrees at Michigan State University in 2008. He is mainly engaged in research on the theory and methods of aquatic ecosystem security and health, focusing on the monitoring of environmental DNA biodiversity and eco-environment protection. He has published more than 200 SCI papers (H-index=50) and 3 books. He was awarded the Gold Medal of Young Scientist Award of the Chinese society of Environmental Sciences (2018), the National Leading Talent in Ecological and Environmental Protection (2020), and the Award for Development of Alternative Method from the Chinese society of Toxicology (2023). He serves as Associate Editor of Environmental Science & Technology, a top SCI journal in the field of environmental science.

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