We are so excited to welcome 21 summer students to this year’s CBR-LSI Summer Studentship Program. Over the next four months, these students will take part in exciting workshops alongside their research projects. Learn more about them and their research below:
Alice Hong
PI: Dr. Carolina Tropini
I just completed my 5th year in Biomedical Engineering at UBC and am beginning my MASc in the same program at the Tropini Lab. My research focuses on genetically engineering probiotic and commensal gut bacteria to sense changes in the physical environment of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly under stress conditions like those seen in inflammatory bowel diseases. This summer, I’m developing a fluorescent biosensor in E. coli Nissle 1917 (a probiotic strain of E. coli) to detect osmotic and oxidative stress, both key indicators of intestinal inflammation and dysfunction. Outside the lab, I love running, hiking, and swimming, especially in BC. I’m excited to spend another summer exploring the Coast Mountains. To date, Mount MacFarlane in the Fraser Valley has been my all-time favorite hike! If I were a superhero, I’d want the power to fly.
Aliya Karsan
PI: Dr. Aly Karsan
I am heading into my 2nd year at the end of the summer. I am investigating whether a loss of miR-146a in humans cause inflammation-mediated aging and hematopoietic stem cell dysfunction, as suggested there might be by findings in mice. I will be analyzing RNA-seq data to compare CD34+ blood cells with knockdown of miR-146a to controls. Swimming is my favourite sport, and my favourite stroke is breststroke. I also enjoy running, especially by the beach or in the forest, and baking. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be telekinesis because moving things with my mind would allow me to play so many pranks and manipulate objects in ways that my hands never could.
Anna Tikhonova
PI: Dr. Leonard Foster
I’m currently entering my 3rd year of study in the Food, Nutrition and Health major. My research at the Foster Lab utilizes single-cell proteomics analysis, a method used to understand the diversity of protein expression in single cells in order to study heterogeneity of various brain cells. In particular, we are focusing on analyzing the protein content of glioblastoma cells, cells that make up a brain tumour. In my free time, I enjoy staying active by strength training and exploring new hikes, and I love researching and trying new skincare products. If I was a superhero, I’d choose the ability to freeze time or time control!
Arya Prabhakar
PI: Dr. Karen Cheung
I am a 4th year undergraduate student in biomedical engineering, specializing in both cellular engineering and biomaterials. I will be assisting research in Mend the Gap (MtG) project at the Cheung Lab, helping in developing an in vitro model to explore neurite outgrowth at the interface of two hydrogels to model how neurons must grow from spinal cord extracellular matrix into semi-synthetic hydrogel scaffold. In my free time, I love to listen to music and cook good food or watch a movie. If I were a superhero, I would love to have the superpower of being able to do things at super speed.
Carissa Chan
PI: Dr. Heather Leitch
I am a third-year pharmacy student at UBC. This summer I will be working with Dr. Heather Leitch to assess if patients living with myelodysplastic syndrome who are on calcium channel blockers have fewer iron overload related cardiac events than patients not on calcium channel blockers. In my free time, I like trying and documenting new food and dessert experiences. You can also find me trying new hiking trails around the lower mainland. If I was a superhero, I would have the superpower to teleport in order to save on transit time.
Claire Padvaiskas
PI: Dr. Hugh Kim
I am a 3rd year Neuroscience student at UBC. Platelets are blood cells that are essential for hemostasis (blood clotting). The number of platelets in the blood are controlled in part by programmed cell death (apoptosis). My research looks at how the apoptosis is controlled by the actin cytoskeleton (the cell’s framework) and associated proteins. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the ability to fly. It would be so cool to be able to travel anywhere in the world on a whim!
Clare Vu
PI: Dr. Michael Gordon
I’m a 4th year student majoring in Biology at UBC. This summer, I’ll be working at the Gordon lab! My project aims to investigate the molecular basis of insect-repellent avoidance using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. Some of my hobbies include hiking, working out, and playing or coaching volleyball. If I were a superhero, I’d have the ability to teleport.
Garin Bahr
PI: Dr. Hongshen Ma
I am a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering Student. I am working to automate the manufacturing process of nanowell plates. Specifically, I’m working on the initial and final cleaning of the plates. I am an avid cyclist and mountain biker on the UBC Cycling team. If I was a superhero, my superpower would be super speed.
Javad Vatanpour
PI: Dr. Guy Tanentzapf
I am a third-year student in the Bachelor’s of Medical Laboratory program (BMLSC). I am studying the role of TLNRD, a novel protein involved in cell-ECM binding in mammalian development. In this project we will be focusing on what happens macroscopically to the embryos during development as well as cell’s microscopic features affected by this mutation. My hobbies include reading philosophy, watching debates, and enjoying movies. If I was a superhero, I would want to be able to remember everything the first time I read it cause often I feel like I have the right answer but can’t recall what I exactly read.
Katie Gibb
PI: Dr. Hugh Kim
I am going into my third year. My research looks at the molecular mechanism of endocytosis in platelets. I worked in the Kim lab last summer and am very excited to further my understanding of platelets through this research. My main pastime is playing field hockey. I play at university in the United States as well as on the Canadian National Team. Beyond this, I love spending time in nature, specifically going on walks and hikes with my friends, family and dogs. If I were a superhero, I would want my superpower to be flying!
Kayla Fong
PI: Dr. Helene Côté
I recently completed my undergraduate degree at SFU, where I majored in molecular biology and biochemistry and minored in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. My summer research is aimed at optimizing a flow cytometry panel in preparation for assaying five hormone receptors on immune cell subsets from women living with HIV. This work will contribute to assessing whether dysregulation of sex hormones/sex hormone receptors contributes to sex-dependent differences in inflammation seen in women living with HIV, which offers a mechanism for accelerated aging, concurrent conditions, and reduction in life expectancy. My hobbies include aerial sports and reading. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be teleportation.
Lucas Fung
PI: Dr. Emilia Lim
I just finished my 5th year. My research uses a program called Qupath to develop and automate a method to detect/quantify black carbon pigments (anthracotic pigments) in normal lung tissue of never-smoker lung cancer patients to use as an estimate of pollution exposure. My hobbies include badminton, playing piano, watching dramas, and working out. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the ability to fly so that I can enjoy the freedom of going anywhere I want. I’d also never need to buy a car or take transit anymore.
Michelle Lin
PI: Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu
I recently graduated from UBC with an honours degree in Chemical Biology. This summer, I will be working in the Kizhakkedathu Lab in contributing to the creation of a universal blood type to address the global shortage of Type O blood in hospitals. Outside of the lab, I love reading, listening to music, and exploring the outdoors. If I could have any superpower, I’d choose teleportation – who wouldn’t want to be able to travel the world instantly?”
Minhvy Ly
PI: Dr. Ed Pryzdial
I have recently completed my 3rd year of Biochemistry at the University of Victoria. This summer, I will be working in Dr. Ed Pryzdial’s lab doing research on the novel applications and biochemistry of coagulation factor X for clot-dissolving therapies. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, drawing, playing the piano, and working out. I also love listening to music! If I had a superpower, it would be teleportation.
Nastaran Davilu
PI: Dr. Sarah Hedtrich
I am in my fourth year of the Bachelor of Science program at UBC. This summer, I’ll be working in the Hedtrich Lab on developing an effective gene editing strategy harnessing lung-optimized lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations to achieve clinically relevant restoration of CFTR function in bioengineered human cystic fibrosis disease models. Outside of the lab, I enjoy working out and baking — particularly experimenting with new recipes. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be time travel!
Nathan Yeung
PI: Dr. Kevin Wei
I am in my second year, going into third. My research project is on crossover interference. During meiosis, chromosomes exchange alleles via crossover — crossover interference is when having one crossover reduces the probability of additional ones occurring. My project aims to model this process mathematically and computationally. My hobbies include reading and tinkering with software projects. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be to be invisible. I think it would be very flexible.
Paniz Ghavimi
PI: Dr. Ed Conway
I will be graduating in May from the Faculty of Science with a major in Cell Biology. My research explores the molecular pathways regulating coagulation and insulin signalling this summer at the Conway lab. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, running, and exploring new ice cream flavours with friends. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the ability to fly so I could go can anywhere without making any stops along the way.
Parsa Shafiekhani
PI: Dr. Dieter Bromme
I am in my 3rd year. I am working at the Bromme lab on the process of transpeptidation that occurs due to cysteine proteases known as Cathepsin, where I am trying to find the I50 of Spermidine required that would inhibit this dangerous process from occurring. My hobbies include reading books and playing video games. If I were a superhero, I’m unsure what superpower I would have, however, I would love to have the super speed and other abilities of Flash.
Rachel Smid
PI: Dr. Sarah Hedritch
I just finished my 3rd year at the University of Northern British Columbia. This summer, I am working on a project to see if human-based liver organ-on-chip (OoC) technologies can predict liver toxicity of lipid nanoparticles delivering RNA. My hobbies include running and reading. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be speed reading and being able to retain everything that I read.
Sogand Golshahian
PI: Dr. Kelly McNagny
I just completed my fourth year in Biomedical Engineering at UBC. This summer, I will be working on identifying immune-based biomarkers to improve the early diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Using spectral flow cytometry and cytokine profiling, I will be analyzing patient blood samples to discover immune signatures that can distinguish IPF from other lung diseases. Outside of school and research, my hobbies include music (listening, playing, and sometimes composing) and baking! If I were a superhero, my superpower would be the ability to heal people and bring them joy in an instant!
Zarbaab Feroze
PI: Dr. Wilfred Jefferies
I am entering my fourth year of Anatomy and Cell Biology at McGill University. My research aims to understand Alzheimer’s pathophysiology better. My project uses genetic engineering techniques, namely CRISPR-Cas9, to introduce Alzheimer’s-specific mutations into stem cells. Besides learning, I enjoy drawing, reading, hiking, and photography! And, if I could have a superpower, I would choose shapeshifting because I would love to see life through different perspectives—a day in the life of a bird would be pretty amusing!
Click here to read a PDF version of the CBR-LSI Summer Studentship Program 2025.