We are so excited to welcome 20 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:
Aidan Gallant
PI: Dr. Calvin Roskelley
I just completed my 3rd year doing an Honours in Cell and Developmental Biology as part of the Biology Program. This summer, I’ll be working in the Roskelley lab on a CRISPRi screen of genes involved in Podocalyxin antibody binding in breast cancer cells. Some of my hobbies involve sailing and biking which are both great for this time of the year! If I had a super power, I would want to have super speed so then I could do tons of experiments really fast!
Alessa Palumbo
PI: Dr. Leonard Foster
I’m a 4th year undergraduate student and will be working in the Foster lab this summer. My research looks at the effects of sex hormones on the proteomic landscape of cells. We are using mass spectrometry to characterize the changes in proteins & metabolites that occur when systems are introduced to new hormones. I like to crochet, dance and go to the beach! If I was a superhero, I would want the power of shapeshifting!
Andrew Johnston
PI: Dr. Shannon Jackson
I’m in my 4th year of Health Sciences at McMaster University. Under the supervision of Dr. Shannon Jackson, I’ll be working to determine a benchmark set of clinical and laboratory metrics, health outcomes, and complications that can be used to develop a provincial registry and prospective AHA database. I love to travel, work out, and (attempt) to cook new recipes! If I had a superpower, it would be to speak any language.
Anna Zandstra
PI: Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu
I will be entering my 3rd year studying life sciences at Queen’s University in the fall. I’ll be working in the Kizhakkedathu Lab this summer! The research I will be studying aims to engineer immune-deactivating activity from polymers to re-establish native mechanisms that prevent rejection. This will help improve the lifespan of patients with organ failure! Some of my hobbies include spending time outdoors, playing tennis and running. If I was a superhero, I would love for my superpower to be time travel so I could live in lots of different eras!
Ben Paetzel
PI: Dr. Natalie Strynadka
I’m entering into my 4th year of study at UBC. I’ll be working in Dr. Strynadka’s lab to investigate the mechanistic details of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. My research will employ various biophysical techniques! In my spare time, I enjoy playing flag football and basketball. I also really enjoy hiking. If I were a superhero, I would have the power of flight!
Houria Afshar
PI: Dr. Yossef Av-Gay
I have just finished my 3rd year in Microbiology and Immunology at UBC. My project aims to generate resistant mutant strains of Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the activity of two antimicrobial compounds. I will be working at the Av-Gay lab and am very excited to be a part of this Studentship Program. In my free time, I enjoy playing beach volleyball with friends! If I was a superhero, my superpower would be time manipulation.
Jackie Hagstrom
PI: Dr. Wendy Davis
I just completed my second year in Integrated Sciences at UBC, with a focus on genomic medicine & data science. I’ll be conducting a retrospective chart review under the guidance of Dr. Wendy Davis to investigate the risk of thrombosis in secondary polycythemia among patients undergoing SGLT2 inhibitor therapy. I enjoy working out, learning languages, and doing outdoor activities. If I could choose a superpower, it would be teleportation so I can avoid being late to classes when buses are full in the mornings!
Khirad Hassam
PI: Dr. Aly Karsan
I just finished my 2nd year at Western University where I’m pursuing a Bachelor in Medical Science (BMSc). This summer, I will be working in the Karsan Lab under Dr. Gary Cole where I will be researching the role of Sash1 signalling in the generation of hematopoietic stem cells. Some of my hobbies include playing soccer, golf, hitting the gym, and rock climbing. If I were a superhero, I would want my superpower to be the ability to never sleep.
Lee Wang
PI: Dr. Benjamin Lai
I’m in year 1 of MSI in the UBC MD Fraser cohort. I will be conducting research with Dr. Benjamin Lai on comparing anticardiolipin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein-1 testing on the Phadia and BioPlex testing platforms in diagnosis and risk stratification for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). In my spare time I enjoy cooking and hiking. If I was a superhero, I would want to have the superpower of coming up with good jokes any time for all situations!
Madelyn Tisdale
PI: Dr. Kota Mizumoto
I’ve just finished my 2nd year at UBC! This summer, I’ll be working in the Mizumoto lab. My research aims to uncover the novel function of tight junction associated protein Z01 in precise synapse pattern formation, using c.elegans as a model. Some of my hobbies include soccer and piano. If I were a super hero my super power would be invisibility.
Mohammed Al-Seragi
PI: Dr. Franck Duong
I’m in my 3rd year of biochemistry studies. I’ll be working with Dr. Franck Duong, looking to aid in the recapitulation of underrepresents membrane proteins and finetune new multimerizing techniques using the “peptidisc” scaffold, an amphipathic helix designed by Dr. Duong. In my spare time, I’m an avid recreational runner and I love to hike whenever I have the chance to! My superpower would be to change superpowers because I’m fairly indecisive.
Nadege Oger
PI: Dr. Govind Kaigala
I’m a 3rd year undergraduate biomedical engineering student at UBC. I’ll be working with Dr. Govind Kaigala! My research involves method development for a project that will bridge the gap between the microfluidic probe and mass spectrometry.
My hobbies include playing the guitar, skating, and tending to my ever-growing collection of plants. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be flight!
Nastaran Davilu
PI: Dr. Ali Amid
I am entering my 3rd year of Integrated Sciences in the Bachelor of Science program at UBC. I’ll be working with Dr. Ali Amid this summer. My study aims to conduct a comparative assessment of the Quality of Life (QoL) in patients with HbH disease compared to those with thalassemia intermedia & thalassemia major. I enjoy working out & spending quality time with friends. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be time travel! I’d love the ability to explore different eras, learn from history, & potentially shape the future.
Nathan Millward
PI: Dr. Kelly Brown
I just finished my 2nd year of study in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program at UBC. This summer, I’ll be working with Dr. Kelly Brown at BC Children’s Hospital! I’ll be investigating the adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) enzyme mediated effects on vascular endothelial growth & to characterize how pathogenic variants in the ADA2 gene contribute to the newly characterized disease deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2). I enjoy playing sports, working out, & hiking. If I was a superhero, I’d want the ability to teleport!
Parisa Javadian
PI: Dr. Ed Conway
I’m a 4th year student majoring in Microbiology & Immunology at the Faculty of science. This summer I’ll be working in the Conway lab! My research aims to create biocompatible surfaces resistant to host immune and thrombotic response by applying knowledge of blood-based proteolytic cascades, complement & coagulation. My hobbies include going on hikes, cycling, swimming and trying out new coffee places! If I were a superhero, I would have the ability to teleport myself to wherever I want with just the press of a button.
Rayan Ramadan
PI: Dr. Heather Leitch
I’m entering my 2nd year of the Engineering Science program at the University of Toronto. I will be working under the supervision of Dr. Heather Leitch to develop a machine learning model for predicting autoimmune cytopenias (AIC’s) secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). I like reading, finding new lakes across British Columbia, and learning new things about, well, everything. If I were a superhero, my superpower would be to be able to extend my day into however long I need it to be.
Sajida Chowdhury
PI: Dr. Karen Cheung
I’m in my 4th year of Integrated Engineering! I’ll be working on the biosensors project under the BIOMEMS lab with Dr. Karen Cheung. My role is focused on optimizing the role of amplification in binding assays we conduct over silicon photonic biosensors and characterizing their performance. My hobbies include training in a classical Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam, bouldering, karaoke, delivering campus tours & exploring museums. If I were a superhero, I’d want to teleport! I constantly feel like I need to be in two places at once.
Simrat Binning
PI: Dr. Hélène Côté
I am finishing up 4th year, and headed in my fifth year to complete my undergraduate thesis! I’ll be working in the Cote lab this summer. My research focuses on the mitochondrial toxicity of drugs used to treat patients with HIV. I’ll be exploring the biological processes, and sociocultural and environmental factors that may contribute to the mitochondrial toxicity observed due to using these drugs. I love the outdoors, being outside in the sun, and playing sports! If I had a superpower, it would either be to time travel or to teleport!
Susan Zhang
PI: Dr. Ed Pryzdial
I am finishing up 4th year, and headed in my fifth year to complete my undergraduate thesis! I’ll be working in the Cote lab this summer. My research focuses on the mitochondrial toxicity of drugs used to treat patients with HIV. I’ll be exploring the biological processes, and sociocultural and environmental factors that may contribute to the mitochondrial toxicity observed due to using these drugs. I love the outdoors, being outside in the sun, and playing sports! If I had a superpower, it would either be to time travel or to teleport!
Vivian Zhang
PI: Dr. Hayley Merkeley
I just finished my 1st year of medical school! I’ll be working with Dr. Hayley Merkeley on a retrospective chart review looking at demographics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP). In my spare time, I like rock climbing, hiking, reading, board games and trying unusual food combinations! If I was a superhero, I would want to fly. Think of the views!
Click here to read a PDF version of the CBR-LSI Summer Studentship Program 2024.