{"id":1015,"date":"2019-10-05T18:59:33","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T18:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/?page_id=1015"},"modified":"2025-09-29T17:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T17:06:10","slug":"graduate-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/?page_id=1015","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Graduate Students<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mina Basiri, PhD Candidate<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisor<\/b>: Chris Yost<\/p>

My research involves the plant-microbe interactions, with a specific emphasis on deciphering the functions and importance of genes in rhizosphere and root microorganisms particularly the Rhizobium. Through my research, I employ techniques such as INSeq and RNA-Seq.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Rafa Grajales, MSc Student<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisor: <\/strong>Chris Yost<\/p>

I am Rafa, Biotech Engineer with a passion for biological sciences, currently pursuing a MSc in Biology. My work relays on researching the interaction between microorganisms potentially inhibiting the growth of fungi-like pathogens that affect pulse crops along the region.
In my free time, I am passionate about sports and really enjoy sci-fi series.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Ashton Sies, PhD Candidate<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisor: <\/strong>Andrew Cameron<\/p>

My research involves the study of bacterial plasmids in coastal marine ecosystems, with a focus on microbes associated with marine animals like shellfish and finfish. I aim to discover what genes are transferred between marine bacteria on plasmids, and if these pose potential threats to animal health and human health.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Bere Mondragon, MSc Student<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisors: <\/strong>Carly Graham & Tzu-Chiao Chao<\/p>

My research is directed to developing and improving detection methods for emerging pathogens and plasmids that carry antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater. Currently, my goal is to develop an on-site, reliable test for influenza by implementing genetic techniques that allow a high specificity and sensitivity without the need for complex lab equipment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Laura Schnell, PhD Candidate<\/strong><\/p>

Supervisors: <\/b>Andrew Cameron & Jordyn Broadbent (ECCC)<\/p>

I study aquatic microbes. Currently, I am focused on early-detection of cyanobacterial toxin genes in dugouts. This project focuses on using RT-qPCR and isothermal amplification to detect toxin transcript levels. These will then be compared to toxin quantities over time to validate the predictive ability of transcript measurements.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Megan Zak, PhD Student<\/span><\/p>

Supervisor: <\/span>Andrew Cameron<\/span><\/p>

I study the role of\u00a0nucleoid-structuring proteins (NAPs) on regulating DNA transcription. Using techniques such as RNA-seq and qPCR, my work examines how environmental stressors and NAP silencing networks influence the expression on plasmid-borne genes, including those for horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Gracie Farago, MSc Student<\/strong><\/p>\n

Supervisor: <\/b>Chris Yost<\/p>\n

My research focuses on increasing our understanding of the genetic mechanisms that allow Rhizobium<\/i> to survive in the rhizosphere and colonize host plant roots. I aim to characterize genes that are differentially regulated by the root exudate erythritol or changes in soil pH, which are both factors that impact root colonization success.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Graduate Students Mina Basiri, PhD Candidate Supervisor: Chris Yost My research involves the plant-microbe interactions, with a specific emphasis on deciphering the functions and importance of genes in rhizosphere and root microorganisms particularly the Rhizobium. Through my research, I employ techniques such as INSeq and RNA-Seq. Rafa Grajales, MSc Student Supervisor: Chris Yost I am […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1015","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1015"}],"version-history":[{"count":113,"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188,"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015\/revisions\/2188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urimss.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}