CURRENT
Postdocs
- Dr. Maria Cleveland (2022 – present). Plastic biodegradation.
- Dr. Jaeick Lee (2024 – present). Plastic biodegradation
PhD Students
- Samantha Hollands (2019 – present). Biosynthesis of cyanobactins.
- Sahar Shokrgozar (2022 – present). Biodegradation of plastics.
- Alessia Rizzello (2022 – present). Biosynthesis of nucleocidin.
- Liwah Keller (2022 – present). Biodegradation of plastics.
- Shaoyan Wang (2024 – present). Biodegradation of plastics.
MSc Students
- Danica Levesque (2024 – present). Carbon-phosphorus lyase.
- Mosorire Tajudeen (2023 – present). Polyurethane biodegradation.
Undergraduate
- Celina Bradley (4th yr thesis, 2024 – 2025). Plastic biodegradation.
- Safya Hassan (4th yr thesis, 2024-2025). Plastic biodegradation.
ALUMNI
PhD Students
- Ola Pasternak (2016 – 2022). Biosynthesis of the fluorometabolite nucleocidin by Streptomyces calvus.
- David Simon (PhD student, 2013 – 2019, co-supervised with Richard Oleschuk). Influence of the bldA gene on the proteomes and secondary metabolite profiles in Streptomycetes.
- Usman Aftab (April – Oct., 2013, visiting Ph.D. student, University of the Punjab). Discovery of anticancer compounds in Streptomyces isolated in Pakistan
- Fern McSorley (Ph.D., 2008 – 2013). Enzymatic cleavage of carbon-phosphorus bonds.
- Katie Groom (Ph.D., 2005 – 2013, co-supervised with Victor Snieckus). Studies into the Biosynthesis and Chemical Synthesis of Indolocarbazoles and Related Heterocyclic Compounds. Metalation of Indole-6-Carboxamide.
- Arne Gessner (visiting Ph.D. student, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität-Freiburg, June-July 2012). The effect of the bldA gene on Streptomyces secondary metabolite production.
MSc Students
- Maame Yaa Yamoa (2021 – 2024). Microbial degradation of plastic.
- Ketil Krabbe (visiting MSc student from Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany, 2022-23), enzymatic degradation of plastics.
- Kendall Hupp (4th year thesis, 2018 – 2019; MSc, 2019 – 2022). Novel pathways for organophosphonate degradation and biosynthesis.
- Suhayla Sequeira (MSc student, 2017 – 2019). Biosynthesis of the fluorometabolite nucleocidin by Streptomyces calvus.
- Isobel Barber (MSc student 2018-2019, on exchange from Durham University, UK). Biosynthesis of a cyanobactin.
- Jorge Antonio Tzec Interián (MSc student, summer of 2018, on exchange from the Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, México). Application of a promoter assay to improve nucleocidin production in S. calvus.
- Becky Lo (2017 – 2018). Mechanistic analysis of the phosphonate degrading enzymes PhnY* and PhnZ.
- Kaitlyn Pinkett (MSc student, 2015 – 2017). Biosynthesis of the fluorinated natural product nucleocidin by S. calvus.
- Jacqueline Séguin (M.Sc., 2013 – 2015). Mechanistic analysis of the organophosphonate degrading enzymes PhnY and PhnZ.
- Alyssa Brewer (M.Sc., 2013 – 2015). Analysis of cryptic biosynthetic pathways in Streptomyces calvus.
- XiMing Zhu (M.Sc., 2012 – 2014). Exploration of cryptic biosynthetic pathways activated with a functional bldA gene in Streptomyces calvus.
- Ryan Latimer (M.Sc., 2008 – 2010 ). Studies on the chloramphenicol halogenase CmlS.
- Di Hu (M.Sc., 2007 – 2010, co-supervised with Derek Pratt). Computational Studies of Lipid Autoxidation and Solvent-Mediated Antioxidant Activity and a Kinetic Study of a Halogenase in the Pyrrolnitrin Biosynthetic Pathway.
- Meagan Perry (M.Sc., 2006 – 2009). Improving protein solubility via directed evolution.
- Shu-Mei He (M.Sc., 2005-2008). Towards the structure and function of CP-lyase enzymes.
Postdoctoral Fellows
- Dr. Luana Cunha (2022 – 2024). Nucleocidin biosynthesis.
- Dr. Sheng Li (2023). Polyurethane biodegradation.
- Dr. Tripti Dadheech (2022 – 2023). Plastic biodegradation.
- Dr. Simanga Gama (2018 – 2021). Characterization of glyphosate degradation enzymes.
- Dr. Manisha Patel (2018 – 2020). Biosynthesis of cyanobactins.
- Dr. Daria Trofimova (2008 – 2010). Production of reactive oxygen species by antibodies (joint with Derek Pratt).
- Dr. Anupam Bhattarachya (2005 – 2007). Indolocarbazole biosynthesis and halogenases.
- Dr. Yan Luo (2004 – 2006). Analysis of bacterial CP-lyase enzymes.
Visiting Professors
- Prof. Bjarne Hove-Jensen, Dept. of Biology, University of Copenhagen (2010 – 2012). Analysis of the pathway for organophosphonate degradation by carbon-phosphorus lyase.
Undergraduates
- Daniel Mason (2024 summer, NSERC USRA). Nucleocidin biosynthesis.
- Alisha Amlani (4th yr thesis, 2023-24) – plastic biodegradation
- Zach Meikle (4th yr thesis, 2023-24) – biosynthesis of nucleocidin
- Ava Earle – (4th yr thesis, 2023-24) – plastic biodegradation
- Kal Riseling – (4th yr thesis, 2023-24) – biosynthesis of nucleocidin
- Kennedy Quigg (4th year thesis, 2022-23). Biodegradation of plastics.
- Megan Millier Stellato (4th year thesis, 2022-23). Cyanobactin biosynthesis.
- Steven Chandler (4th year thesis, 2021-22). Biosynthesis of a cyanobactin.
- Alessia Rizzello (4th year thesis, 2021-22). Biosynthesis of a cyanobactin.
- Jordan Goodnough (4th year thesis, 2021-22). Plastic biodegradation.
- Alysa Evans (4th year thesis student, 2020-21). Biosynthesis of fosfonochlorin.
- Dylan Thompson (4th year thesis student, 2020-21). Microbial degradation of RoundUp herbicide.
- Joshua Maligaya (4th year thesis student, 2020-21). Biosynthesis of a cyanobactin.
- Shanzeh Chaudhry (4th year thesis student, 2020-21). Biosynthesis of the fluormetabolite nucleocidin.
- Mimi McClean (4th year thesis student, 2019 – 2020). Biosynthesis of fosfonochlorin.
- Christina Roesch (diploma student, University of Freiburg, summer of 2019). Biosynthesis of a cyanobactin.
- Zed Lu (4th year thesis student, summer 2019). Phosphonate specificity of CP-lyase PhnD proteins.
- Peter Hall (4th year thesis in biochemistry, 2019). Biosynthesis of nucleocidin.
- Eric Lawrence (4th year thesis in chemistry, 2017-2018). Analysis of PhnZ by solid state 17O-NMR spectroscopy (in collaboration with Prof. Gang Wu).
- Shauna Deorajh (4th year Eng Chem student, 2017-2018). 4th year thesis project on the functional characterization of nucleocidin biosynthetic enzymes.
- Peter Kalistchuk (2017). Exchange student in Biotechnology from St. Lawrence college. Biosynthesis of nucleocidin.
- Stephanie Hrab (4th year BSc student, 2016-2017). 4th year thesis project and summer student.
- Alexa Torelli (3rd year life science, 2017). Summer student.
- Linor Berezin (4th year BSc student, 2016-2017). NSERC summer student and lab volunteer. Biosynthesis of nucleocidin.
- Dragos Chiriac (3rd year BSc student, 2016-2017). iGEM Synthetic Biology team leader.
- Sophia-Klara Gassenschmidt (exchange student from Freiburg University, Germany, August – September, 2016). Biosynthesis of nucleocidin.
- Jessie Hebbert (BSc, 2015-2016, 4th year thesis in Chemistry). Biosynthesis of nucleocidin in S. calvus.
- Akpevweoghene Akohwarien (BSc, 2015-2016, 4th year thesis in Chemistry). Identification of the product of a NRPS in S. calvus.
- Shane Colborne, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2014-2015.
- Nathalie Butler, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2013-2014.
- Aric Huang, co-op student via McMaster Chemical Biology program and NSERC USRA, 2013.
- Anne Li, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2012-2013
- Stephanie Vanner, NSERC USRA, 2012
- Christine Klaus, diploma exchange student from Bechthold lab (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität-Freiburg), Mar-June 2012
- Hanna Zhao, co-op student from McMaster Chemical Biology Program, Jan-August 2012
- Anjuli Szawiola, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2011- 2012
- Matthew Rankin-Byrne, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2011 – 2012
- Zhimeng Jia, NSERC USRA, 2010
- Matt Wong, 4th year thesis in Chemistry and NSERC USRA, 2009-2010
- Joshua Wood, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2009-2010
- Christina Sun, NSERC USRA, 2009
- Stuart Macfie, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2008-2009
- Shelly McArthur, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2008-2009
- Leslie Young, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2008-2009
- King (Polly) Ho, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2007-2008
- Matthew Wathier, 4th year thesis and NSERC USRA, 2007-2008
- Mats Junek, NSERC USRA, 2007
- Elizabeth Wong, NSERC USRA, 2007
- Amelie Menard, 4th year thesis (joint with Prof. D. Pratt)
- Fu Yan, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2006-2007
- Young Chang, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2006
- Taila Hartley, NSERC USRA, 2005 and 2006
- Dianna Wang, NSERC USRA, 2005
- Karin Ho, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2005-2006
- Julia Kennedy, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2005-2006
- Shane Nagle, 4th year thesis in Chemistry, 2005-2006
- Allison Tsang, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2005-2006
- Christopher Yang, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2005
- Sam Molyneux, 4th year thesis in Biochemistry, 2005