PhD Graduates
Chaminda Gunawardene (February 2022)
Supervisor: Dr. A. White
Dissertation: Tombusvirids Avoid and Exploit a Plant Exoribonuclease
Ryan Scott (February 2022)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Sharma
Dissertation: The Ecological Response of Lakes and Littoral Benthic Macroinvertebrates to Alterations in Flood Regime in a Climate-Sensitive Arctic River Delta
Ravneet Bhogal (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. J.D Crawford
Dissertation: Abnormal Lipid Signalling in the Developing Mouse Brain: Implications in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Paige Whyte-Fagundes (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. G Zoidl
Dissertation: Functional Analysis of The ATP Release Channel Pannexin1 in Mouse and Zebrafish Models: Implications for Health and Disease
Laura Newburn (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. White
Dissertation: Molecular Analysis of Translational Readthrough in Tobacco necrosis virus-D
Bianca Ruxandra Baltaretu (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. J.D. Crawford
Dissertation: Cortical Mechanisms for Transsaccadic Perception of Visual Object Features
Nickie Safarian (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Zoidl
Dissertation: Roles of Panx1 Channels in Larval Zebrafish: From Genes to Visual-Motor Behavior
Chun Chih Chen (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Kelly
Dissertation: Barrier Properties and Molecular Physiology of Fish Gill Epithelia and Gill Epithelium Models
Soma Tripathi (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. J. McDernott
Dissertation: The Smad7 Protein Interaction Network in Skeletal Myogenesis
Ryan Siu (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Zoidl
Dissertation: Roles of Calmodulin and a N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor - Pannexin-1 Signaling Complex in Connexin-36 Plasticity
Nadejda Tsvetkov (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Dissertation: What's Really Out There? Investigations into the Effects of Pesticides and Pathogens on Bee Health
Alexander Klenov (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. K. Hudak
Dissertation: Development of a Pokeweed Mosaic Virus Vector as a Molecular Tool to Study Host Protein Function in Phytolacca Americana
Alyssa Murdoch (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Sharma
Dissertation: Understanding How Northern North American Freshwater Fishes are Responding to Rapid Environmental Change
Ahmed Tarek Hussin (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. K. Hoffman
Dissertation: Hippocampal and Neocortical Dynamics During Long-term Memory in Macaques
Amanda Rae Liczner (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Colla
Dissertation: The Conservation Management and Ecology of Northeastern North American Bumble Bees
Mark Jason Verschoor (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Sweeney
Dissertation: Relationship of Hypolimnetic Iron, Sediment Biogeochemistry, and Sulfate in the Promotion of Cyanobacterial Blooms
Wonsuk Jahng (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Sweeney
Dissertation: The Role of miR-590-3p in Regulating Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Development
Lalanthi Kumari Ratnayake Mudiyanselage (February 2020)
Supervisor: P. Lakin-Thomas
Dissertation: Role of UV90 Gene in the FRQ-Less Oscillator of the Neurospora Crassa Circadian System
Veroni Saratha Sri Theivakadadcham (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Rosonina
Dissertation: Regulation of Yeast Transcription Factors Sko1 and Cst6 by Sumyoylation
Nanyoung Yoon (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Sweeney
Dissertation: Transendothelial Movement of Adiponectin in Diabetic Vasculature
Yara Amer Zayed (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Peng
Dissertation: Characterization of Microrna Expression Profiles and Role of Nodal-Related Genes in Zebrafish Ovarian Follicles
Mohamed Salem (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Peng
Dissertation: The Role of miR-590-3p in Regulating Human Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Development
Alessandro Filazzola (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Lortie
Dissertation: Examining Mechanisms of Positive Plant Interactions in Deserts
Current position: Post-doctoral Fellow at University of Alberta
Tim Vincent Gabor (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Scheid
Dissertation: The Role of CDCA7 in Akt-mediated Myc-Dependent Apoptosis and Proliferation
Sara Sadat Chavoshi (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. V. Saridakis
Dissertation: Investigating Interaction Partners Of Yeast UBPS and Human USP7 Deubiquitinases
Jyotsna Vinayak (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Bayfield
Dissertation: Human La Function in Expression of Coding Transcripts
Current position: Biology Content Specialist at Top Hat
Uzma Nadeem (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Peng
Dissertation: The Role of MicroRNA-378a-5p and its Target Genes in Differentiation and Fusion of BeWo Cells
Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow at Krembil Research Institute
Hyuk Ho Sheen (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. A. White
Dissertation: GCD10 and GCD14 Proteins Facilitate Tomato Bushy Stunt Viral (TBSV) RNA Replication in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Thomas Markian Onuferko (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. L. Packer
Dissertation: Biosystematics of the Cleptoparasitic Bee Genus Epeolus Latreille and its Ecological and Evolutionary Relationship with Its Hosts of the Bee Genus Colletes Latreille
Rahima Khatun (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. Y. Sheng
Dissertation: Structural and Functional Studies of Human E3 Ubiquitin Ligase HUWE1
Current Position: Project coordinator and Research Fellow in Adjuvant discovery program at Boston Children's Hospital
Mariann Oemisch (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. T. Womelsdorf
Dissertation: Neural Processes Underlying the Flexible Control and Learning of Attentional Selection
Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow at Yale University School of Medicine
Maria Cristina Plastina (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. I.Coe/A. Donini
Dissertation: Understanding the Regulation of the Human Amino Acid Transporter ASCT2
Luana Sciullo (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Thiemann
Dissertation: Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) Foraging Ecology in Western Hudson Bay
Current Position: Academic Professor and Course Director at Humber College
Ana Vakiloroayaei (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Bayfield
Dissertation: tRNA Structural Stability and Functionality Associated with the RNA Chaperone La and Post-Transcriptional Modification Enzyme Trm1
MSc Graduates
Song Huang (February 2022)
Supervisor: Dr. Y. Sheng
Thesis: Characterization of the Functional Roles of the E3 Ligase HUWE1 in the Regulation of Poly [ADP-ribose] Polymerase 1 (PARP-1) under DNA Damage
Tina Shaffaf (February 2022)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Ghafar-Zadeh
Thesis: COVID-9 Detection Strategies: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Paria Rahmannejadi (February 2022)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Ghafar-Zadeh
Thesis: Hybrid Microfluidic Sensing Platforms for Cancer Cell Study: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Victor Olek (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. L McKinnon/Dr. S. Sapna
Thesis: Exploring the Strategies of First Migration in the Subarctic-nesting Shorebird, Calidris alpina hudsonia
Harpreet Saini (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Fallah
Thesis: Color Modulates Visual Processing
Pankaj Puar (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. R. Kwong/Dr. S. Niyogi
Thesis: Using Zebrafish as a Model System to Examine the Effects of Environmentally Relevant Zinc Exposures during Development
Tran Cindy (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. T. Kubiseski
Thesis: Investigating the Role of Ztf-17 in Response to Oxidative Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
Divya-Shree Patel (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Forer
Thesis: Characterizing the Effects of Jasplakinolide on Mesostoma Ehrenbergii Primary Spermatocytes to Study the Role of Actin during Chromosome Movement
John Nguyen (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Ghafar-Zadeh
Thesis: Cellular Adhesion Properties of Cornstarch-Based Biomaterials for Oral Health Applications
Amanda Jass (October 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Connor
Thesis: Synaptic Plasticity in Murine Autism Spectrum Disorder Models: An
Electrophysiological Perspective
Sarah Mackell (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Colla
Thesis: Understanding Honey Bee Forage Requirements and the Impacts of Urban Hives on
Wild Bees
Joon Yeo (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. T. Kubiseski
Thesis: The Role Of Vab-3 in the Caenorhabditis Elegans Oxidative Stress Response
Gursimran Bahia (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Thesis: Examining Neonicotinoid Resistance in the Honeybee
Elia Grieco Guardian (June 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Donini
Thesis: Aquaporin AaAQP2 expression in the anal papillae of Aedes aegypti is modified by salinity
Bandele Morrison (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Thesis: Analysis of Spatial Learning in Honeybee Foragers Using the Food Search Box Assay
Nour Barazi (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. P. Backx
Thesis: Circadian Rhythm in Intrinsic Heart Rate
Brandon Norman (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. L. McKinnon
Thesis: Effects of Spatial and Temporal Variation in Resource Availability on the Growth Rates and Survival of Dunlin (Calidris Alpina Hudsonia) Chicks
Victoria Ilic (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. Y. Sheng
Thesis: Investigating the Anti-Cancer Effects of Small Molecule
MEI-1 as a Potential MDM2 Inhibitor
Arnab Shuvo (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Sharma
Thesis: The Relative Role of Nutrient Inputs, Climate, Land Use, and Spatial Patterns on Chlorophyll a Concentrations Worldwide
Gabriella Gerzon (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. Y. Sheng
Thesis: Investigating the Role of the E3 Ligase HUWE1 in Response to DNA Damage
Amy Cocksedge (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Thiemann
Thesis: The use of compact surveillance radar to study polar bears (Ursus maritimus) near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Simon L'Allier (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. V. Schoof
Thesis: Behavioral Endocrinology of Male Dispersal in Vervet Monkeys at Lake Nabugabo, Uganda
Nahid Vagharfard (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Bucking
Thesis: Enzyme Activities in the Intestinal Layers of Teleost Fishes: Endogenous versus Exogenous Contribution
Karin Snyder (Feb 2021)
Supervisor: Dr. V. Schoof
Thesis: Sexual Signaling in Male Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus Pygerythrus); Influences of Hormones, Behaviour, and Parasitism on Scrotal and Penile Skin
Anna Bojagora (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. V. Saridakis
Thesis: Identifying Novel Interactions Between Human Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (USP7) and Histone Methylating/Demethylating Proteins
Nargol Ghaziantafrishi (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Lortie
Thesis: Micro-Climatic Amelioration in a California Desert: Artificial Shelter versus Shrub Canopy
Lisa Christine Horn (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. B. Stutchbury
Thesis: Carry-Over Effects of Overwinter Climate and Habitat Productivity on Spring Arrival of Migratory Songbirds at a Northern Stopover Site
Negin Masoudifar (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Ghafar-Zadeh
Thesis: Novel Salivary Neutrophil Isolation and Counting Method: A Multidisciplinary Approach Towards Early Detection of Periodontal Diseases
Malory Blake Owen(October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Lortie
Thesis: Variety is the spice of desert bird life: foundation plant species provide habitat heterogeneity for bird communities in the Mojave Desert
Emma Smith (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Forer
Thesis: Examining the Role of Phosphorylation in the Gain and Loss of the Elasticity of the Tethers that Connect Separating Anaphase Chromosomes in Crane-Fly Spermatocytes
Mahtab Zonouzi-Marand (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. R. Kwong
Thesis: Effects of Exposure to CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots on the Neurophysiological Performance of Developing Zebrafish
Mario Zuliani (October 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Lortie
Thesis: Shrub Density Effects on the Structure and Composition of a Desert Animal Community
Denis Adigamov (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Dorota Crawford
Thesis: The Effect of Misoprostol on Neuronal Stem Cell Migration and Differentiation
Harbandhan Kaur Arora (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. John Douglas Crawford
Thesis: Eye-Head-Hand Coordination During Visually Guided Reaches in Head-Unrestrained
Macaques
Nicholas Joseph Bragagnolo (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Gerald Audette
Thesis: Characterization of an Intrinsically Disordered Region in Trag from the F Plasmid
Cait Raylene-Alice Carew (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Sapna Sharma
Thesis: Chironomid Autoecology of the Past & Present & a Causal Analysis of Recreational Shoreline Developments on Hypolimnetic Oxygen in Algonquin Park Lakes
Camille Anne Diaz (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Kathi Hudak
Thesis: Transcriptional Regulation of Pokeweed Antiviral Protein
Dan Lucian Gheorghiu (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Tsushima
Thesis: Expression and Regulatory Mechanisms of SNAP25 and STX1A in H9c2 Cells
Mohammad Arshad Imrit (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Amro Zayed
Thesis: Negative Selection in Social Insects
Aryan Lajevardi (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Jean-Paul Paluzzi
Thesis: Functional Characterization of Pyrokinins and their Receptors in the Adult Mosquito, Aedes aegypti
Helen Liu (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Vivian Saridakis
Thesis: Identification of Novel Substrates and Binding Partners of Speckle-Type POZ Protein
Adapter from Cullin3-Ring E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex
Octavia Mahdiyan (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Sapna Sharma
Thesis: Investigating Changes in Chlorophyll a and Other Water Chemistry Variables in Response
to Global Environmental Change
Vu Hong Loan Nguyen (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Chun Peng
Thesis: Investigating the Anti-Tumor Effects of Two Novel B-Catenin Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer
Cells
Brandan Tyler Norman (June 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Laura McKinnon
Thesis: Effects of Spatial and Temporal Variation in Resource Availability on the Growth Rates and Survival of Dunlin (Calidris Alpina Hudsonia) Chicks
Fargol Nowghani (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Scott Kelly & Dr. Andrew Donini
Thesis: The Impact of Freshwater Salinization on the Osmoregulatory Physiology of Mayfly
Nymphs (Hexagenia Rigida)
Tyler Robert Ross (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Gregory Thiemann
Thesis: Foraging Ecology and Contaminant Burdens of Ringed Seals (Phoca Hispida) in the
Central Canadian Arctic
Manvir Singh Virdi (February 2020)
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Tsushima
Thesis: Characterizing the Role of Syntaxin 1A in the Heart
Jenna Braun (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Thesis: Pollinator-Mediated Interactions of Foundation Plants in the Mojave Desert
Tehmeena Chaudhry (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. B. Stutchbury
Thesis: Measuring the exposure of Songbird Nestling to Neonicotinoids in Natural and Agricultural Nest Sites
Michael Chimenti (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. J. McDermott
Thesis: The Role of a B-Catenin - FMRP Complex In Skeletal Muscle
Sarah D’Angelo (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. P. Cheung
Thesis: Elucidating the Mechanisms Surrounding H2A.X Monoubiquitylation Marks in the DNA Damage Response Pathway
Yimo Dou (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Rosonina
Thesis: Investigating the Effects of Sumoylation on the Yeast General Transcription Factor TFIIF
Tracey Edwards (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. J. McDermott
Thesis: AP-1 Proteins Regulate Autophagy in Skeletal Muscle Progenitor Cells
Bailey Hewitt (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Sharma
Thesis: Effects of Climate Change on Lake Ice Freeze Up Across the Northern Hemisphere: Historical Patterns and Future Predictions
Lianna Lopez (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Sharma
Thesis: Investigating Changes in Lake Ice Breakup Under Current and Future Climate Change
Myat Ma (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. P. Cheung
Thesis: Tagging Endogenous H2A.Z1 and H2A.Z2 Histone Variant Isoforms Using CRISPR-Cas9 and Identifying SUMOylated Proteins in Proximity to H2A.Z-Containing Nucleosomes
Harshil Patel (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Thesis: Searching for the Genetic Basis of Hygienic Behavior and Overwintering in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
Stephen Rose (June 2019)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Zayed
Thesis: Uncovering Markers for Honey Production and Defensive Behaviour Using Pooled Genome-Wide Data with the Honeybee (Apis Mellifera)
Kamran Ebrahimian (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. J. McDermott
Thesis: CRegulation and Function of MEF2 in Cardiomyocytes
Lidiya Misyura (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Donini
Thesis: Salinity Responsiveness of Aquaporins in Osmoregulatory Organs of Larval Mosquito Aedes Aegypti
Melanie Paez (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. J. Paluzzi
Thesis: Distribution of Ionomotive Pumps and Control of Malpighian Tubule Secretion By Cyclic Nucleotides in the Black-Legged Tick, Ixodes Scapularis
Shaon Badhan Parial (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. M. Scheid
Thesis: Novel Interaction, Regulation of Phosphorylation and Mitotic Localization of Cell Division Cycle Associated Protein 7 (CDCA7)
Dmitri Perlov (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. R. Quinlan
Thesis: A Chironomid-Based Paleolimnological Assessment of Long-Term Cumulative Effects Of Multiple Anthropogenic Stressors on Hypolimnetic Oxygen Dynamics in Lake Erie
Leah Anne Turner(October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Bucking
Thesis: Assessing the Effects of Temperature, Feeding Status, and the Microbiome on the Maximal Activities of Several Enzymes Important to Energy Production and Ammonia Detoxification in the Intestines of Teleost Fish
Azizia Wahedi (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. J.P. Paluzzi
Thesis: Characterization of the Adipokinetic Hormone/Corazonin-Related Peptide Signalling System in the Mosquito, Aedes Aegypti
Di Wu (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. P. Lakin-Thomas
Thesis: Studies on the Function of the PRD-1 Gene in Neurospora Crassa
Gil Yerushalmi (October 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Donini
Thesis: Describing the Ionoregulatory Changes that Underlie Cold Acclimation in Drosophila Melanogaster
John Babu (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. E. Rosonina
Thesis: Characterization of a Yeast Strain that us Deficient in Protein Sumoylation
Hee Ho Cho (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Sweeney
Thesis: Investigation of Mechanisms Responsible for Myocyte Cell Death in Metabolic Syndrome
Thanh Que Dang (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Sweeney
Thesis: Investigate of Changes in Glucose Homeostasis by Modulating Endothelial Permeability
Hossein Davarinejad (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. Y.Sheng/V. Saridakis
Thesis: Characterization of E2E Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes and Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (USP7) in Histone H2A Ubiquitination
Eva Francesca DeRango-Adem (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. R. Pearlman
Thesis: Macromolecular Interactome of Tetrahymena CHD Family Chromatin Remodelers
Pranav Dhakal (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Bucking
Thesis: Investigating the Response of the Gut Bacterial Community and Enzyme Activity During the Challenge of Diet Manipulation in the Herbivorous Fish Compostoma Anomalum (Centre Stoneroller) and the Carnivorous Fish Etheostema Caeruleum (Rainbow Darter)
Jessica Bettencourt Di Salvo (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. A. Forer
Thesis: Possible Roles for Tropomyosin During Anaphase Chromosome Movement
Katie Rae Nettie Florko (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. G. Thiemann
Thesis: Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) Foraging Ecology in the Western Canadian Arctic
Julia Gauberg (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. S. Kelly
Thesis: The Barrier Properties of the Skin of Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Vertebrates
Shailee Bhavan Jani (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. D. Golemi-Kotra
Thesis: Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of Signal Transduction in LiaSR Two Component System in Bacillus Subtilis
Margarita Miklasevskaja (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. L. Packer
Thesis: Phylogeny of Chilicola (Hylaeosoma)(Hymenoptera:Colletidae) Based on Morphological and Morphometric Data of Extant and Fossil Species, with Description of Seven New Species
Aishwarya Rajalakshmi Sudhama (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. L. Wilcox
Thesis: The Impact of Object-Based Grouping on Perceived Depth Magnitude
Ali Uyuklu (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. JP Paluzzi
Thesis: Distribution and Activity of CAPA-like Peptides in the Black-legged Tick, Ixodes scapularis
Heidi Elizabeth Joy Van Vliet (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. B. Stutchbury
Thesis: The Effects of Agricultural Intensification on An Obligate Grassland Bird of North America
Melanie Renee Williams (June 2018)
Supervisor: Dr. C. Bucking
Thesis: Investigating Gastrointestinal Tract Functional Zonation in the Gut Microbiome and Enzyme Activity of Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout) with Temperature and Ion-poor Water Salinity Challenge
