Maia V. Palka
Evolutionary microbiology & protistology
Select Talks
Microbial Diversity 2026 - Research Talk
August 8, 2026
Symbiotic interactions between euglenozoan flagellates and sulfate-reducing bacteria in anoxic marine sediments.
Focused on Scientific Imaging Seminar Series (UBC) – Seminar
April 28, 2025
A practical approach to study uncultivated protists using single-cell techniques for electron microscopy
Conference Presentations
Protistology Open (ISOP Annual Meeting)
Prague, Czechia. April 19–23, 2026
Symbiotic bacteria and mitochondria-related organelles in ploeotid euglenids reveal an independent evolutionary route to living in low-oxygen marine environments.
Palka, M.V., Lax, G.. & Leander, B.S.
Awarded 1st place for Best Oral Presentation
Botany Graduate Student Symposium
UBC, British Columbia, Canada. April 13, 2026
Symbiotic bacteria and mitochondria-related organelles in ploeotid euglenids reveal an independent evolutionary route to living in low-oxygen marine environments.
Palka, M.V., Lax, G.. & Leander, B.S.
Awarded Best Talk in Heat 3
Botany Graduate Student Symposium
UBC, British Columbia, Canada. April 17, 2025
Dynamic predatory flagellates with epibiotic bacteria and a putative photoreception apparatus: Urceolus sp. nov. (Euglenida). Oral presentation.
Palka, M.V., Lax, G. & Leander, B.S.
Awarded Best Talk in Heat 3 and 1st Place for Best 15 Minute Talk
PSA–ISOP–ISEP Joint Meeting
Seattle, Washington USA. July 29–August 1, 2024
Ultrastructure of dynamic predatory flagellates with epibiotic bacteria: Urceolus (Euglenida).
Palka, M.V., & Leander, B.S.
PSA–ISOP–ISEP Joint Meeting
Seattle, Washington USA. July 29–August 1, 2024
Ultrastructure of Ploeotia scrobiculata (Euglenida) shows novel epibiotic bacteria and mitochondrion-related organelles.
Palka, M.V., & Leander, B.S.
3rd Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology
Montreal, Quebec, Canada. June 27-28, 2024
Ultrastructure of Ploeotia scrobiculata (Euglenida) shows novel epibiotic bacteria and mitochondrion-related organelles
Maia V. Palka, & Brian S. Leander
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution Annual Meeting
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. May 26-29, 2024
Ultrastructure of Ploeotia scrobiculata (Euglenida) shows novel epibiotic bacteria and mitochondrion-related organelles
Maia V. Palka & Brian S. Leander
Presentation Award: First place for oral presentation
Eco-Evo Retreat
Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. Oct 27-29, 2023
Morphology of The Complex and Charismatic Euglenid: Urceolus sp.
Maia Palka & Brian S. Leander
