About Us
Founded in 2024 in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, White Otter Biotech combines innovative research with trusted commercial molecular laboratory services to advance non-invasive environmental monitoring. Together, this enables highly sensitive, cost-effective monitoring approaches that empower local communities, industry partners, and policymakers with reliable, real-time data on biodiversity presence, populations, and health.
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We are driven by core values:
Integrity - generating transparent, reliable data that meet the highest scientific standards
Collaboration - working closely with partners and clients to deliver meaningful results
Innovation - developing new tools that advanced monitoring technology and inform decisions
Empathy - respecting and understanding partners, communities, wildlife, and the environment
Leadership
Jörg Stetefeld is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba. Jörg has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in renowned journals such as Nature, Nucleic Acids Research, and PNAS.
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Jörg has developed innovative non-invasive biomonitoring tools based on protein nanotube technologies to assist in environmental monitoring. In 2019, Jörg was invited to share his expertise on the use of eDNA technology for monitoring fish populations monitoring at The Senate of Canada.
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Jörg has also co-founded the Centre for Oil and Gas Research and Development (COGRAD), and the Centre for Integrated Structural Biophysics (CISB).
Jörg Stetefeld
Co-Founder &
Chief Executive Officer
Danny Gussakovsky is a motivated RNA scientist and entrepreneur. Danny completed his PhD at the University of Manitoba, where he developed novel techniques to detect and quantify highly similar RNA molecules. Danny has published in journals such as Nucleic Acids Research, RNA, and RNA Biology and presented at multiple international conferences across North America and Europe.
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Danny is committed to strengthening Manitoba's bioscience industry, building partnerships that support local capacity, and creating opportunities for early-career trainees. In 2023, Danny founded and led the Bioscience Association Manitoba Youth Enrichment Network.
Danny Gussakovsky
Co-Founder &
Chief Scientific Officer