DR. MARK BELMONTE
Dr. Mark Belmonte
Mark started his academic career at the University of Calgary where he received a BSc and MSc in Plant Biology with Dr. Ed Yeung in the Department of Biological Sciences. He then received his PhD in Plant Science with Dr. Claudio Stasolla and was an NSERC PDF Scholar with Dr. John Harada at the University of California Davis. Mark is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Belmonte has been recognized for his innovative research contributions by the University of Manitoba, the CBC, and the Rh Institute Foundation.
Check out Mark's Google Scholar, LinkedIn, and Research Gate profiles.
Mark started his academic career at the University of Calgary where he received a BSc and MSc in Plant Biology with Dr. Ed Yeung in the Department of Biological Sciences. He then received his PhD in Plant Science with Dr. Claudio Stasolla and was an NSERC PDF Scholar with Dr. John Harada at the University of California Davis. Mark is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Dr. Belmonte has been recognized for his innovative research contributions by the University of Manitoba, the CBC, and the Rh Institute Foundation.
Check out Mark's Google Scholar, LinkedIn, and Research Gate profiles.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS
Dr. Ayooluwa (Ayo) Bolaji
Ayo received her BSc from Queen's University and then obtained her PhD at Université de Sherbrooke in Québec under the supervision of Dr. Peter Moffett. Dr. Bolaji is currently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow. By using next generation sequencing and computational biology approaches, Ayo works on characterizing bacterial bio-control agents for their usage in integrated pest management and plant growth.
Check out Ayo's LinkedIn and ResearchGate profiles.
Ayo received her BSc from Queen's University and then obtained her PhD at Université de Sherbrooke in Québec under the supervision of Dr. Peter Moffett. Dr. Bolaji is currently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow. By using next generation sequencing and computational biology approaches, Ayo works on characterizing bacterial bio-control agents for their usage in integrated pest management and plant growth.
Check out Ayo's LinkedIn and ResearchGate profiles.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Ms. Deirdre Khan
Deirdre is a PhD student and NSERC Vanier Scholar interested in identifying genes essential for seed development in oilseeds like Arabidopsis and canola. Deirdre uses laser microdissection, RNA sequencing and computational tools to identify the genes responsible for cell and tissue specific development.
Check out Deirdre's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Deirdre is a PhD student and NSERC Vanier Scholar interested in identifying genes essential for seed development in oilseeds like Arabidopsis and canola. Deirdre uses laser microdissection, RNA sequencing and computational tools to identify the genes responsible for cell and tissue specific development.
Check out Deirdre's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Mr. Nick Wytinck
Nick is a PhD student and recipient of an NSERC CGS-M award working on the functional characterization of RNAi technology to protect canola against devastating fungal pathogens.
Check out Nick's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Nick is a PhD student and recipient of an NSERC CGS-M award working on the functional characterization of RNAi technology to protect canola against devastating fungal pathogens.
Check out Nick's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Mr. Philip Walker
Phil is a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences interested in the underlying cellular mechanisms of host induced gene silencing. Phil's project uses cutting edge molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches that dissect host-pathogen interactions.
Check out Phil's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Phil is a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences interested in the underlying cellular mechanisms of host induced gene silencing. Phil's project uses cutting edge molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches that dissect host-pathogen interactions.
Check out Phil's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Mr. Dylan Ziegler
Dylan is a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for plant biology. Dylan is a recipient of an NSERC CGS-M award, and is investigating the role of small RNAs in canola seed development using both anatomical and computational tools.
Check out Dylan's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Dylan is a PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for plant biology. Dylan is a recipient of an NSERC CGS-M award, and is investigating the role of small RNAs in canola seed development using both anatomical and computational tools.
Check out Dylan's LinkedIn, ResearchGate and Google Scholar profiles.
Ms. Vivian Li
Vivian is a MSc student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for plant biotechnology. She will be working with the RNAi team to investigate the off target effects of Sclerotinia RNAi molecules against other economically important pathogenic fungi, including Botrytis cinerea and Leptoshpaeria maculans.
Check out Vivian's LinkedIn profile.
Vivian is a MSc student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for plant biotechnology. She will be working with the RNAi team to investigate the off target effects of Sclerotinia RNAi molecules against other economically important pathogenic fungi, including Botrytis cinerea and Leptoshpaeria maculans.
Check out Vivian's LinkedIn profile.
Mr. Chris Manchur
Chris is a MSc student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for agriculture and researching new crop protection strategies. He is currently working to develop RNAi technologies to use against downy mildew in Arabidopsis and powdery mildew in barley as a foliar application.
Check out Chris's LinkedIn profile.
Chris is a MSc student in the Department of Biological Sciences with a passion for agriculture and researching new crop protection strategies. He is currently working to develop RNAi technologies to use against downy mildew in Arabidopsis and powdery mildew in barley as a foliar application.
Check out Chris's LinkedIn profile.
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
Ms. Rachel Robinson
Rachel is a 2018 BSc graduate in the Department of Biological Sciences and recipient of the 2017 Jack Prior Student Research Award. Rachel works with industry partners to develop novel products to enhance crop yield and assists in characterizing new biologicals for plant growth promoting activity, while keeping the lab organized and on track!
Check out Rachel's LinkedIn here.
Rachel is a 2018 BSc graduate in the Department of Biological Sciences and recipient of the 2017 Jack Prior Student Research Award. Rachel works with industry partners to develop novel products to enhance crop yield and assists in characterizing new biologicals for plant growth promoting activity, while keeping the lab organized and on track!
Check out Rachel's LinkedIn here.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Ms. Shayna Giesbrecht
Shayna is an undergraduate research student and recipient of a UofM Undergraduate Student Research Award and NSERC. Shayna is enthusiastic about plant-pathogen interactions, and hopes to utilize molecular biology to characterize genes involved in plant defense responses to a variety of fungal pathogens.
Shayna is an undergraduate research student and recipient of a UofM Undergraduate Student Research Award and NSERC. Shayna is enthusiastic about plant-pathogen interactions, and hopes to utilize molecular biology to characterize genes involved in plant defense responses to a variety of fungal pathogens.
Mr. Marco Scerbo
Marco joins us this summer as a co-op student in the Department of Microbiology. Marco is eager to assist in the screening and identification of novel biologicals for plant growth promotion and biocontrol!
Marco joins us this summer as a co-op student in the Department of Microbiology. Marco is eager to assist in the screening and identification of novel biologicals for plant growth promotion and biocontrol!
PAST STUDENTS
Mr. Joey Wan (MSc)
Dr. Michael Becker (PhD)
Mr. Austein McLoughlin (MSc)
Mr. Ian Girard (MSc)
Ms. Jenna Millar (MSc)
Ms. Ainsley Chan (MSc)
Ms. Sherry Mao (MSc)
Ms. Anjelica Bodnaryk
Mr. Daniel Sullivan
Ms. Josephine Payment
Mr. Alex Préfontaine
Ms. Kirsten Biggar
Ms. Brittany Forsberg
Ms. Vanessa Hoi
Ms. Nadege Pulgar-Vidal
Ms. Nina Huynh
Mr. Dennis Drewnik
Mr. Matt Granger
Mr. Parker Lachance
Ms. Hailey Spence
Ms. Kat Kratzer
Mr. Jake Cavers
Ms. Sara Kost
Mr. Oiza Atta
Ms. Samantha Lee
Mr. David Sytnik
Mr. David Liu
Mr. Shaun MacLean
PAST RESEARCH ASSOCIATES AND TECHNICIANS
Dr. Abolfazl Hajihasani
Dr. Sanjay Saikia
Ms. Nina Huynh
Ms. Valentyna Li
Mr. Joey Wan (MSc)
Dr. Michael Becker (PhD)
Mr. Austein McLoughlin (MSc)
Mr. Ian Girard (MSc)
Ms. Jenna Millar (MSc)
Ms. Ainsley Chan (MSc)
Ms. Sherry Mao (MSc)
Ms. Anjelica Bodnaryk
Mr. Daniel Sullivan
Ms. Josephine Payment
Mr. Alex Préfontaine
Ms. Kirsten Biggar
Ms. Brittany Forsberg
Ms. Vanessa Hoi
Ms. Nadege Pulgar-Vidal
Ms. Nina Huynh
Mr. Dennis Drewnik
Mr. Matt Granger
Mr. Parker Lachance
Ms. Hailey Spence
Ms. Kat Kratzer
Mr. Jake Cavers
Ms. Sara Kost
Mr. Oiza Atta
Ms. Samantha Lee
Mr. David Sytnik
Mr. David Liu
Mr. Shaun MacLean
PAST RESEARCH ASSOCIATES AND TECHNICIANS
Dr. Abolfazl Hajihasani
Dr. Sanjay Saikia
Ms. Nina Huynh
Ms. Valentyna Li
