Postdoctoral Fellows
Sean Workman, PhD
Sean earned his PhD in Biochemistry in 2019 while under the supervision of Dr. Natalie Strynadka at the University of British Columbia. Sean’s doctoral research focused on the structural and functional characterization of enzymes involved in the synthesis and recycling of bacterial cell wall carrier lipid, with a particular focus on membrane proteins. At the IMSS, Sean will be focusing on the development and application of transposon insertion sequencing techniques to investigate genetic interaction networks in bacterial pathogens.
Research Associates
Danae Suchan, MSc
Danae is a research associate in the IMSS CL2 lab who earned her Master of Biology degree in 2021 under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Cameron. Her research involves the application of advanced genetic sequencing techniques to diverse fields of microbiology: zoonotic disease, agricultural plant-microbe interactions, bioremediation, and bacterial community geochemistry.
Tayah Farquhar, BSc Biochemistry
Tayah is a research associate in the IMSS lab under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Cameron. She is involved in a myriad of projects but is currently working on microbial genetic systems (such as antimicrobial genes) and microbial ecology. She graduated in 2024 with a B.Sc in Biochemistry.
Daniel Kos, MSc
Daniel is a research associate in the IMSS lab under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Cameron. He earned his Master of Science in Large Animal Clinical Sciences in 2023 from USask, writing his thesis on antimicrobial resistance surveillance within beef production facilities. His research focuses on bioinformatic analysis of the bacterial community directly and indirectly interacting with animals.
Edgar Mangwende, PhD
I joined the Institute of Microbial Systems and Society (IMSS) in July 2024. My research focuses on addressing emerging plant diseases impacting quinoa production in Canada. I integrate traditional cultivation techniques and advanced molecular tools to study the biology and ecology of plant pathogens. Leveraging whole-genome sequencing, I aim to identify key virulence factors associated with these pathogens and develop pathogen-specific molecular detection tools for use in agricultural systems. Additionally, I employ transcriptomics to investigate quinoa’s molecular responses to pathogen attacks to identify differentially expressed genes linked to disease resistance. These insights are essential for breeding programs focused on developing quinoa cultivars with enhanced resistance. My research also applies metagenomics to explore the quinoa pathobiome, examining how microbial communities shift during pathogen attack. This knowledge could help formulate beneficial microbial consortia useful in plant disease management. Ultimately, my work seeks to equip Canadian agriculture with effective tools to manage evolving disease challenges, ensuring sustainable and resilient quinoa production.
Zoé Lepage
Ashlyn Kirk, MSc
Ashlyn is the current Lab Manager at IMSS. In 2024, she earned her Master of Science in Biology from the University of Regina, where her thesis focused on investigating the antimicrobial properties of Pantoea using functional genomics and bioinformatics techniques. Her current research centers on utilizing probe capture techniques to monitor for antimicrobial resistance and emerging bacterial and viral pathogens in humans, animals, and the environment.
