Vivian Dayeh

Dr. Vivian Dayeh is a Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo, where she has been a faculty member since 2004.

Her primary focus is undergraduate education in cell biology, physiology, toxicology and animal cell culture. Dayeh has extensive experience teaching large-enrolment courses and is particularly interested in developing engaging, evidence-based instructional strategies that promote student engagement and deeper understanding. Dayeh’s research interests are in cellular toxicology and development of in vitro methodology. Her research has focused on the use of animal cell cultures and protozoa as alternatives to whole-organism toxicity testing, as well as the cellular effects of environmental toxicants. Her work has contributed to the advancement of in vitro methodologies in toxicology. Dayeh has also been involved in teaching-based research on instructional strategies to support student learning, as well as the development of open educational resources.

Dayeh’s work has had a significant impact on advancing inclusive, evidence‑based STEM education. Through initiatives such as Indigenous Learning Circles, she has helped create culturally responsive learning environments that center Indigenous ways of knowing while strengthening student belonging and engagement in science. Her leadership in open educational practices and authentic assessment has expanded access to high‑quality learning resources, influenced teaching practices across disciplines and supported meaningful, community‑engaged science education.

• Open educational resources

• Accessible teaching

• Toxicology

• Animal cell culture

• Cell biology

• Animal physiology

• 2004, PhD Biology, Waterloo, Canada

• 2001, MSc Biology, Waterloo, Canada

• 1999, BSc Biology, Waterloo, Canada

• 2023, President’s Award, Society for In Vitro Biology

• 2021, Fellow Award, Society for In Vitro Biology. Awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the field of in vitro biology and service to the society.

• 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, Service Award, Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB)

• 2017, Distinguished Service Award, Society for In Vitro Biology. For outstanding service to the society.

• 2011, Distinguished Teaching Award, University of Waterloo

• 2010, Excellence in Science Teaching Award, Faculty of Science, University of Waterloo

• 2006, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, Outstanding Performance Award, University of Waterloo

• 2006, 2018, 2025, Jack Carlson Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo

• 2003 – 2004, Ontario Graduate Scholarship, Province of Ontario

• 2003, Best Ph.D. oral presentation “Protozoa and fish cells as alternatives to fish in water quality testing”, Biology Graduate Symposium, University of Waterloo

• 2003, Best oral presentation in the theme of Environment. Title: “Fishing in a Petri dish: The search for alternatives”, 3rd Annual Graduate Student Research Conference, University of Waterloo

• 2003, First place poster presentation. Title: “Developing rapid toxicity tests with the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila that utilize 96 microwell filter plates”, 30th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop

• 2003, Graduate Student Conference Travel Award , Centre for Research in Earth & Space Technology

• 2002, Honor B. Fell Award, Society for In Vitro Biology

• 2002, 2003, Joseph F. Morgan Award, Society for In Vitro Biology

• 2002, 2003, Student Travel Award, Society for In Vitro Biology

• 2002, Provost’s Graduate Women’s Incentive Fund Scholarship, University of Waterloo

• 2001, Student Travel Award, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

• Biology Teaching Fellow

• Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB), Board Member

• Instructional Skills Workshop Facilitator

• Open Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators

• Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB)

• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

• BIOL 130 - Introductory Cell Biology
  • Taught in 2024, 2025
• BIOL 201 - Human Anatomy
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023
• BIOL 273 - Principles of Human Physiology 1
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
• BIOL 354 - Environmental Toxicology 1
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• BIOL 483 - Animal Cell Biotechnology
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• For the full list of Vivian Dayeh's publications, please see Google Scholar.

• Solhaug, A., Dowd, G., Dayeh, V.R., Sindre, H., Lee, L.E.J., Bols, N.C. (2025) Improve your success with fish cell lines - small things that matter. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-025-01042-1

• Dayeh, V.R., Solhaug, A., Hamilton, M.E., Linton, L.E., Lee, L.E.J., and Bols., N.C. (2025). The impact of beauvericin on rainbow trout intestinal epithelial cells at different temperatures and dosing methods. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-025-01014-5

• Bols, N.C., Pham, P.H., Dayeh, V.R., and Lee, L.E.J. (2017). Invitromatics, invitrome, and invitroomics: introduction of three new terms for in vitro biology and illustration of their use with the cell lines from rainbow trout. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology – Animal. 53: 383-405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-017-0142-5

• Dayeh, V.R., Bols, N.C., Tanneberger, K., Schirmer, K. and Lee, L.E.J. (2013). The use of fish-derived cell lines for investigation of environmental contaminants: An update following OECD's fish toxicity testing framework No. 171. In: Current Protocols in Toxicology. John Wiley & Sons. New York, NY, USA. 56:1.5.1–1.5.20. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471140856.tx0105s56

• Dayeh, V.R., Chow, S.L., Schirmer, K., Lynn, D.H., and Bols, N.C. (2004). Evaluating the toxicity of Triton X-100 to protozoan, fish and mammalian cells using fluorescent dyes as indicators of cell viability. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 57: 375-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-6513(03)00083-600083-6)

• Dayeh, V.R., Schirmer, K., and Bols, N.C. (2002). Applying whole-water samples directly to fish cell cultures in order to evaluate the toxicity of industrial effluent. Water Research. 36: 3727-3738. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00078-700078-7)