Current Lab Members

Dr. Evan Booy
Research Associate
2014-present

Postdoctoral Fellow
2011-2014





Daniel Gussakovsky
Ph.D. Student

University of Manitoba
2020-present


Mira Brown
Ph.D. Student

University of Manitoba
2021-present



Alyssa Cohen
MSc Student
University of Manitoba
2024-present




Liam Zamora
PhD Student
University of Manitoba
2025-present





Bruce Barrientos
Honours Thesis Student (2024-2025)

Currently: Undergraduate Student, University of Manitoba






Dr. Sean A. McKenna
Associate Dean - Programs
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Faculty of Science
University of Manitoba (2008-present)

Postdoctoral Fellow,
Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University
Supervised by Dr. J.D. Puglisi (2003-2008)

Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta (1998-2003)
Supervised by Dr. M.E. Ellison and Dr. L. Spyracopoulos

B.Sc. (SSP Biochemistry)
Faculty of Science, Queen’s University (1994-1998)

Previous Lab Members

Research Associates/Postdocs

Dr. Trushar Patel
Research Associate (2012-2013)

Currently:
Associate Dean (acting), Associate Professor, Tier II CRC, University of Lethbridge, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (2016-present)


Dr. Pauline Padilla-Meier
Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-2017)
Currently: Research Associate, University of Manitoba

Graduate Students

Nikhat Lubna
M.Sc. Student

University of Manitoba
2019-2023




Taegi Choi
M.Sc. Student

University of Manitoba
2018-2021

Currently: Research Technologist, Adela Inc., Toronto, Ontario.

Dr. Amit Koul
Ph.D. Graduate (2014-2020)

Intern at Emergent Biosolutions
University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship

Currently: Staff Scientist, Novel Biotechnology

Dr. Ewan McRae
Ph.D. Graduate (2015-2019)

NSERC Alexander Graham Bell CGS-D

Currently: Assistant Professor, Center for RNA Therapeutics, Houston Methodist Research Institute


Dr. Emmanuel Ariyo
Ph.D. Graduate (2012-2017)

Currently: Federal Government of Canada employee




Dr. Edis Dzananovic,
Ph.D. Graduate (2010-2016)

Currently: Research Scientist, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon




Dr. Soumya Deo
Ph.D. graduate (2010-2015)

Currently: Scientist, Polyamyna Nanotech Inc.




Hui Meng
M.Sc. graduate (2010-2012)

Currently: Research Chemist, Apotex, Winnipeg

Undergraduate Students

Rowan Schwaluk
Honours Thesis Student (2023-2024)
University of Manitoba URA student (2022, 2023)

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Manitoba



Lexie Desjarlais
Honours Thesis Student (2023-2024)









Ruth Amede
Honours Thesis Student

University of Manitoba
2023-2023



Jazmin Boisclair
NSERC USRA student (2021)

Currently: Undergraduate Student, University of Manitoba






Asad Nasir
University of Manitoba URA student (2021)

Currently: Undergraduate Student, University of Manitoba





Zihang Zou
Honours Thesis Student (2020-2021)
University of Manitoba URA student (2019)

Currently: Undergraduate Student, University of Manitoba



Cody Cherepuschak
B.Sc. Medicine Summer Student (2019-2020)

Currently: Medicine Student, University of Manitoba




Steven Dupas
University of Manitoba URA student (2018)
University of Manitoba URA student (2019)
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2019-2020)
Faculty of Science USRA student (2020)

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Toronto

Simi Ajayi
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2019-2020)

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Manitoba




Negar Atefi
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2018-2019)
NSERC USRA student (2019)

Currently: Medical School Student, University of Manitoba



Nicole Neudorf
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2018-2019)

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Manitoba




Oscar Sze
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2018-2019)

Currently: Technician, University of Manitoba




Jessy Slota
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2017-18)

Currently: Graduate Student, Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba




Lok Hui
Undergraduate Honours Thesis Student (2017-18)

Currently: Graduate Student, Chemistry, University of British Columbia




Micaela Lisogorsky
NSERC USRA Student (2017)
Principal Supervisor: Dr. Rebecca Davis

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Toronto



Matt Genung
NSERC USRA Student (2014)

Currently: Medical School Student, University of Manitoba





Mahalia Lepage
Honour Thesis Project Student (2015-2016)

Currently: CWSE-Prairies/WISE Kid-Netic Energy Program Coordinator, University of Manitoba




Ilan Rubinchik
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2015-2016)
Faculty of Science Undergraduate Student Award (2015)

Currently: Medical School Student, University of Manitoba



Sarah Adamson
NSERC USRA Student (2015)

Currently: Dentist, Manitoba




Zev Ripstein
Undergraduate Researcher (2013-2014)
NSERC USRA Student (2014)

Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba



Veronica Lau
University of Manitoba USRA Student, co-supervised with Dr. D. Herbert
(Summer 2014)

Currently: Dentistry Student, University of Manitoba



Khalid Zeid
Faculty of Science USRA Student (Summer 2014)
NSERC USRA Student (Summer 2012)

Currently: Physician, Internal Medicine, Manitoba



Dr. Ryan Howard
University of Manitoba USRA Student (Summer 2012 & 2013)
Honours Project Student (2012-13)
Faculty of Science Undergraduate Award (Summer 2011)

Currently: General Practice Resident, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB.


Gregory Wills
NSERC USRA Student (Summer 2013)

Currently: Postgraduate Medical Education Student, University of Manitoba




Julie Manguba
Biochemistry Project Student (2012-13)

Currently: Physiotherapist, Winnipeg, MB




Michael McDonald
Biochemistry Project Student (2012-13)

Currently: Engineering Student, University of Manitoba




Rebecca Sherbo
Part-time undergraduate researcher (Fall 2012)
NSERC USRA Student (Summer 2012)

Currently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University



Matthew Packer
NSERC USRA Student (Summer 2012)

Currently: Postgraduate Medical Education Student, University of Manitoba




Walter Kim
University of Manitoba USRA Student (Summer 2012)

Currently: Pharmacy Student, University of British Columbia




Dr. Lisa Spangelo
Biochemistry Honours Co-op Student (Summer 2011)
Biochemistry Project Student (2010-11)

Currently: M.D., Canada



Dr. Stefanie Novakowski
NSERC USRA (Summer 2011)
Undergraduate Summer Student (Summer 2010)

Currently: Scientific Writer, Centre for International Child Health,
BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada


Dr. Shawn Xiong
Biochemistry Project Student (2010-11)
NSERC USRA (Summer 2009 & 2010)

Currently: Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State University



Garret Munch
Biochemistry Project Student (2009-10)

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Western Ontario




Dr. Cody van Dijk
Biochemistry Project Student (2009-10)

Currently: Optometrist, Winnipeg, MB




Jane Kolegaev
Biochemistry Project Student (2009-10)

Currently: Employee, Procurity Inc., Winnipeg




Dr. Corey Veldman
NSERC USRA (2009)

Currently: M.D., Canada

Visiting Students

Yaru Zhang
Visiting Student (2017)
Principal Supervisor: Dr. Geoff Hicks

Currently: Medical Master's student, Neurology Department, Jilin University, China



Artur Reich
Visiting Student (Winter 2014)

Currently: Biochemist, Germany

High School Students

Neilloy Roy, M.Sc.
Sanofi Aventis Biotech Challenge Student (2009-10)
Fort Richmond Collegiate

Currently: Graduate Student, University of Manitoba