New Students-Welcome
Heather Cheadle-Yamamoto, Graduate Program Coordinator
Amirhossein Behreyni
PhD
Supervisor: Honglin Luo
Short bio:
Since I remember, I have always been enthusiastic about biology even as a student in high school. This spark of interest led me to choose the major of molecular and cellular biology for bachelor degree as well as clinical biochemistry for my master degree. Being eager to start a journey in the world of research as a master student, I have been intrigued by the idea of developing some state-of-the-art procedures for both diagnostic tools and therapeutic cures so as to improve the lives of patients. To lay the foundation for efficient diagnosis of malignancies and treatment, I have been involved in several projects with regards to designing various aptasensors for different biomarkers and targeted drug and gene delivery system aimed at targeting cancer cells. It is evident that UBC is ranked among the best universities throughout the world. Possessing the innovative teaching and learning as well as the quality of scientific research, in addition to widespread support for international students make this university the right destination for students who wish to experience excellent education. Therefore, after thorough inspection and contemplation of the appropriate universities, I was convinced that UBC would be the best choice for me to fulfil my ambition and would help me to get one step closer to my career goal.
Loic Caloren
MSc
Supervisor: Hélène Côté
Short bio:
After having completed my BSc in biology in the spring of 2019 at UBC, I am now looking forward to continuing here and studying pathology and laboratory medicine. I will be working in Dr. Hélène Côté’s Lab, researching effects of HIV antiretroviral therapy on mitochondrial health and function. I am excited to see where my education and research experiences in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine graduate program will take me down the line. I enjoy playing sports and generally making the most of the amazing “outdoor playground” of Vancouver, cross-country skiing in the winter and cycling in the summer.
Brett Collinge
MSc
Supervisor(s): David Scott/Christian Steidl
Short bio:
I was born and raised in Vancouver but spent most of my years living in Seattle prior to attending University. I returned to Vancouver to study at the University of British Columbia where I graduated with an honors degree in Biochemistry in 2018. I have spent the last year traveling throughout Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, but will be returning to UBC to continue my research under the supervision of Dr. David Scott. My main research interest focuses on elucidating the molecular determinants of treatment failure in lymphoid neoplasms to guide development of novel therapeutics and clinical assays that can be used to dictate treatment management. I primarily chose to attend UBC for graduate school to work with Dr. Scott, who was also my supervisor for my undergraduate honors project. However, I have also chosen UBC to continue living in the amazing city of Vancouver. Outside of research I enjoy traveling, playing soccer, surfing, and skiing. I am excited to be back in Vancouver and look forward to being a part of the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program.
Raelyn Gallant
MSc
Supervisor: Bruce Verchere
Short bio:
Hi, my name is Raelyn Gallant after earning my Bachelor of Science degree from MacEwan University in Alberta I relocated to British Columbia to study under Dr. Bruce Verchere. More specifically my degree is comprised of a Biology major and a Chemistry minor which allowed me to undertake some research experience in Flow Chemistry. During my off time I founded the Diabetes Club MacEwan to support individuals affected by the disease. Some of my interests include; coaching gymnastics, being active and cooking. As you may know or can probably imagine, Alberta winters are very cold and thus I am very grateful and consider myself fortunate for gaining the opportunity to relocate to the West Coast and be a part of this team. I specifically chose UBC because it is a world-renowned research institute with a large diabetes group always making headway for the disease. I am excited to be working alongside Dr. Bruce Verchere and his lab. My research will be focusing on the role the immune system plays in the development and or protection from diabetes and the damage of islet cells that accompanies the disease.
Kevin Gonzalez
MSc
Supervisor(s): Ed Conway/Jay Kizhakkedathu
Short bio:
Hi everyone, Kevin here – entering the Department of Pathology, my research area is centered around the development of anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory coatings for use on medical devices under the supervision of Dr. Edward Conway and Dr. Jayachandran Kizhakkedathu. Prior to entering graduate studies, I majored in Biology at UBC and in the last couple years in the program, I went on co-op working in a phosphoproteomics lab under Dr. Steven Pelech, where I started to develop an interest in research. That said, the potential of improving the quality of life through breakthroughs and discoveries is fascinating. Outside of the lab, I enjoy things like cycling and kayaking, so hopefully I can go on a trip doing either some time in the future. Drawing from my undergraduate years, I also enjoyed things that involved community building and student development. I chose UBC to pursue graduate studies because there is a bunch of talented people here and having the opportunity to learn from them and work with them is something special and with Vancouver being amazing, I couldn’t leave just yet.
Forouh Kalantari
PhD
Supervisor: David Huntsman
Short bio:
Prior my graduate training in Canada I did my BSc studies in Medical Laboratory Science, in Iran University of Medical Science, and I worked as a laboratory technologist for almost 3 years while I was preparing to move to Canada. I moved to Canada in January 2015 and I got my master’s degree from University of Manitoba in September 2017, department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science. The title of my thesis was “ The role of HMGA2 on PARP1 activity in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. After my master’s I decided to move to Vancouver and do my PhD at UBC because UBC is a world-renowned university and consistently highly ranked as a premier learning institution and of course because of the weather. I started my PhD in May 2019 in Dr. Huntsman’s lab. In my PhD project I will be using Organoid culture from human endometrium and genetically engineered mouse models to models events in clear cell ovarian carcinoma tumor initiation. Besides my academic work I enjoy playing soccer, cooking, watching movies and spending quality time with my family and friends.
Theodore Lam
MSc
Supervisor: Chinten James Lim
Short bio:
I am a master’s student under the supervision of Dr. James Lim at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. My research focuses on the mechanism of chemoresistance in childhood leukemia. Using gene knockout cell models, I aim to investigate the processes that drive the prolonged survival of tumour cells. Prior to starting graduate school, I graduated from the Bachelor’s of Medical Laboratory Science program (BMLSc) in the Department of Pathology. During my undergraduate studies, I have developed a strong interest toward the field of hematology. For this reason, I chose to complete my directed studies under Dr. Peter Schubert, studying the effects of FasR-mediated apoptosis in human platelets. This experience led me to become fascinated with the research process, and motivated me to pursue further research in hematopathology. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking, learning new languages, listening to podcasts and playing chess. I chose UBC because of its world-class research facilities, strong support system for students, and beautiful campus!
Lindsay Pallo
MSc
Supervisor: Bruce Verchere
Short bio:
Hi there! My name is Lindsay Pallo and I am very pleased to be part of the incoming class of students within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine graduate program here at UBC. I am currently performing research under the supervision of Dr. Bruce Verchere and will be studying the role and characteristics of pancreatic islet cells in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Prior to beginning my graduate degree at UBC, I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario where I majored in Biology and developed a strong interest in immunology. Compounded with my experience as someone living with Type 1, the Verchere Lab presented as my ideal location to pursue and continue my academic career. Outside of my work to better understand diabetes, I enjoy being on the water as a canoeing and kayaking instructor, volunteering in the community, embarking on difficult hikes, and simply enjoying all that Vancouver has to offer. I am looking forward to meeting you all and wish everyone success in their endeavours!
Elyn Rowe
MSc
Supervisor: Cheryl Wellington
Short bio:
I came to UBC to pursue Alzheimer’s research in Dr. Cheryl Wellington’s lab for my graduate studies. I recently graduated from Carleton University with a BSc in Neuroscience, where I first did some research on novel treatment avenues for Parkinson’s disease in a mouse model, but found that I was more interested in cell culture models and biochemistry. I then switched labs and started a project investigating the functional role of a lysine methyltransferase called SMYD3, which ultimately became my undergraduate thesis. My main academic interest has always been Alzheimer’s disease, honestly because I find it such a terrifying enigma. Apart from the science stuff, I love road biking, hiking, reading Kurt Vonnegut novels, and exploring art galleries. The main reason I chose UBC was because of the fascinating work coming out of Dr. Cheryl Wellington’s lab, but the ocean/mountains are giant bonuses. Coming from a small town in Ontario (extreme cold, extreme heat, extreme bugs), I am elated to finally be out West where I have wanted to live since I first visited when I was younger.
Farnaz Sahragard
MSc
Supervisor(s): Brian Kwon/Babak Shadgan/David Granville
Short bio:
I studied cellular and molecular biology and finished my BSc degree at Shiraz University in Iran, July 2017. I put passion and effort into Rooyesh Scientific Journal as a managing editor and I experienced management and teamwork at the same time. I participated in a research project entitled "Purification and Identification of Thermophile Bacteria of Busher's Hot Springs" which involved sampling, culturing, sub-culturing, gram testing, gel electrophoresis, and sequencing. My personal interest includes swimming, hiking, travelling, and reading about novel achievements in medicine. I would like to further educate myself in the area of pathology and laboratory medicine in order to be able to contribute towards the evolution of medicine and thus the welfare of society. My future research area will focus on "Optical Monitoring of the Spinal Cord" which involves using near Infrared Spectroscopy sensors for continuous monitoring of spinal cord hemodynamics and oxygenation in people with acute Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and "The Histopathological Studies of the Spinal Cord Tissue". I chose UBC as it is universally acknowledged and it is a place of mind. UBC is one of the front runners in the area of medicine.
Tianna Sihota
MSc
Supervisor: Will Lockwood
Short bio:
I've always loved problem solving in order to learn and experience new things. During my undergraduate studies in microbiology and immunology at UBC, I had the opportunity to participate in various lab-oriented courses, a directed studies research project and co-op placements in several academic labs. It was during these experiences that I learned to appreciate the scientific process and developed a passion for research. In particular, the never-ending web of questions and hypotheses that can be derived from previous scientific findings is what interests me most. The focus put on interdisciplinary research that is complemented by the extensive research facilities at UBC is what attracted me to pursue graduate studies here. It also helps that BC is a beautiful and diverse place where I can participate in a multitude of activities that I enjoy, such as exploring the outdoors or trying out a new restaurant! I am very excited to start my master's project in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with Dr. William Lockwood at the BCCRC, where I will be combining genetics and molecular biology to study lung cancer development and progression!
Darcy Sutherland
MSc
Supervisor(s): Mel Krajden/Inanc Birol
Short bio:
My name is Darcy Sutherland, and I am a microbiology researcher working out of the BC Centre for Disease Control. My research aims to characterize antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their capacity to substitute classical antibiotics. Additionally, I hope to investigate the rate in which AMPs may induce antimicrobial resistance. I obtained my BSc in microbiology from the University of Victoria in 2017; following graduation I have been fortunate to work in the fields of vaccine development and computational biology. I enjoy studying the complex interaction between infectious diseases and the human body. Recently, I have developed an interest in the evolving dynamic between basic discovery science and clinical application. I am excited to join UBC as it represents an internationally renowned university, and is a demonstrated leader in the biological sciences. UBC possesses strong intra- and international connections in the field, and I am excited to begin graduate studies here in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. When I am not in the lab, I can be found exploring the outdoors, practicing yoga, or slack-lining in the park.
Nancy Yang
MSc
Supervisor: Hélène Côté
Short bio:
Hello everyone! My name is Nancy and I am delighted to be joining the fabulous Côté lab this September. My research area is HIV. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto where I studied human biology and immunology. My professional interests lie in the health field, and I am particularly passionate about children’s health and development. I chose UBC because after spending a summer here as an undergraduate researcher, I came to love the green and spacious campus, accessible coffee, and my beautiful lab mates. Some personal interests of mine are ultimate frisbee and figure skating - primarily as an enthusiastic observer for the latter. Aside from career goals in health, I also have future aspirations to work (short-term only) in Disneyland, air traffic control, dog grooming, and Zamboni-driving. I am very excited for this opportunity to study at UBC and especially to meet my fellow Pathology members!