Ph.D. Trainees
Michaela Smit
Sit group
Current Degree: Ph.D. Applied Science
Education
BSc Medical Sciences - University of Pretoria
BSc Honours Genetics - University of Pretoria
MSc Genetics - University of Pretoria
Research: I will be joining the Sit research group this May. My project will focus on analysing secondary metabolites produced by endophytes found in traditional herbal medicines from Asia and the Caribbean using both a biochemical and genetic perspective to identify candidates that have the potential to be used as novel antibiotics. My previous research involved using TaqMan® genotyping technology to develop a diagnostic screening tool to identify acaricide resistance associated genetic markers in the economically important cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus.
Publications & Awards
Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society (2015).
Receiver of a National Research Foundation Grant-Holder linked bursary (2020).
Fun Fact(s): I am from sunny South Africa and enjoy making the most of our wonderful weather by spending as much time as I can swimming and hiking. I also enjoying painting and practising yoga.
M.Sc. Trainees
Amanda Black
Bearne Group
Current Degree: M.Sc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Education: Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto
Research: Completed a fourth year research project in Dr. Julie Brill’s lab at U of T focused on planning experiments to determine potential functions of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs), specifically on those enriched in the testis of Drosophila melanogaster. Current project in Dr. Stephen Bearne’s lab at Dalhousie focuses on the investigation of substrate specificity of amino acid racemases for biotechnology applications, specifically looking at isoleucine 2-epimerase and glutamate racemase (GR).
Awards
Howard Ferguson Scholarship (U of T)
Gail Ferris Sheard Scholarship (U of T)
Nova Scotia Graduate Studies Master’s Scholarship (Dal)
Vitamin Scholarship (Dal)
Fun Fact(s): I’m a pentathlete on the varsity track and field team.
Janet Debly
Gray Group
Current Degree: MSc Biology/Chemistry
Education: UNBSJ - BSc (Hons) Biology-Psychology with a minor in Chemistry
Research: I have been part of the Natural Product Research Group for two years of my undergraduate degree learning about and performing antimicrobial susceptibility assays and separation techniques. My research now focuses on the isolation of novel and/or bioactive natural products from endophytic fungi and Canadian medicinal plants.
Poster presentations
Isolation of endophytes from medicinal plants. MNPC 2019, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick.
Isolation of asperuloside from the Canadian medicinal plantMitchella repens. ChemCon 2021, Mount Allison University, Virtual.
Fun Fact(s): My hobbies include cooking/baking new recipes, martial arts, and hiking.
Joshua Hayden
Bearne Group
Current Degree: M.Sc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Education: BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University.
Research: I have been conducting research in the Bearne Lab since my third year of my BSc and have enjoyed it so much that I have decided to stay in the lab for an MSc. My research involves enzyme inhibition and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. I am currently studying the inhibition of mandelate racemase variants by 3,4-dichlorophenylboronic acid, and am conducting MD simulations to account for the catalytic activity of several mandelate racemase variants.
Awards
University Medal in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Dolphin Memorial Prize in Biochemistry
Fun Fact(s): In addition to research, I love music, whether it be playing guitar or bass, or simply listening to it. I also love staying active through powerlifting and walks with my dog!
Logan Cox
Sit group
Current Degree: Master's in Applied Sciences
Education: BSc Biology - Saint Mary's University
Research: I will be working with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and other fungal variants. Pd has decimated the bat population across North America, and it is beginning to spread to areas once thought inaccessible to it. By analysing these different fungi and seeing how they react in the presence of different naturally occurring components found on the bat microbiome, unique and healthy counter measures can be created that will help prevent the dangerous effects of Pd while also not causing too much human Interference.
Fun Fact(s): I am a dual citizen (United States & Canada) originally from North Carolina. I love sports and being active, playing everything from ice hockey, to golf, and baseball. I love attempting to learn new Instruments and languages. I am always trying to expand my horizons, hoping that I can become a well-rounded individual.
Sara Evans
Rainey Group
Current Degree: M.Sc. Chemistry
Education: BSc. in Physics, McMaster University
Research: During my undergraduate degree, I often worked in labs that combined polymers and nanoparticles. At MesoMat, I worked on elastomer-conductive nanoparticle composite fibres that sense stress and temperature. In the de Lannoy lab, I used cellulose nanocrystals as a nucleation site for nanoscale zero valent iron for soil remediation. I am continuing the polymer/nanoparticle theme in the Rainey Lab. I will create spider silk nanoparticle composites and study their mechanical and optical properties and look at their potential applications.
Publications
Ruiz-Caldas, M. X., Andrei, C. M., Evans, S., & de Lannoy, C. F. (2020). The role of cellulose nanocrystals in stabilizing iron nanoparticles. Cellulose, 27(15), 8709-8724.
Fun Fact(s): When I was a kid, I wanted to study spiders. I had a pet spider until the eggs hatched. I suddenly had MANY more spiders and I was forced to release them. I'm excited to work with spider silk in my research.
Steve Sequeira
Thompson Group
Current Degree: M.Sc. Chemistry
Education: BSc (Honours) in Chemistry and a Minor in Math, Dalhousie University
Research: I have been part of the Thompson group since the summer of 2019, until I switched to focus on a different area of Chemistry. In 2020, my honours project focused on Phosphinimines-based polymers. Now, I am back with the Thompson group and am better than ever. My research focuses on development of Azo-dyes (Azobispyrroles) and derivatives and studying their photophysical properties.
Fun Fact(s): Other than working on research, I love to cook, run, workout, play ping pong, and nurture my plants. I have a wide variety of plants from air plants to succulents down to water plants. Additionally, I love exploring new places and hike difficult trails!
Undergraduate Trainees
Luke Ferguson
Thompson Group
Current Degree: B.Sc. Chemistry
Research: Currently taking a 4902/4903 research project in my 4th year of my undergraduate. My main research is focused on synthesizing a new Ruthenium complex using naphthalene.
Fun Fact(s): My hobbies include: reading, hiking, video games, and board games.