Principal Investigator
Research Associates
Dr. Higor Pereira
Research Associate
May 2025 - Present
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Clément Mazeaud
Postdoctoral Researcher
Oct 2025 - Present
Gunjan Vasudeva
Postdoctoral Researcher
RNA Innovation NSERC CREATE Fellowship (2023 – 2025), Alberta Innovates Postdoctoral Fellowship (2025-2027)
Sep 2022 - Present
Graduate Students
Carmen Agenbacht (MSc)
Graduate Student
Jan 2025 - Present
Michael Veltri (MSc, co-supervisor with Dr. Wade Abbott)
Graduate Student
School of Graduate Student scholarship
Sep 2024 - Present
Naomi Hannah Nobes (MSc, co-supervisor with Dr. Wade Abbott)
Graduate Student
Sep 2024 - Present
Kelly Liland (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student
Sep 2024 - Present
Anna Shearer (MSc, co-supervisor with Dr. Wade Abbott)
Graduate Student
Sep 2023 - Present
Michael D'Souza (Supervisor, PhD)
Graduate Student
School of Graduate Student scholarship, CIHR-CGS scholarship
Jan 2023 - Present
Kenning Tran (co-supervisor with Dr. Nariman Shahhosseini)
Graduate Student
May 2023 - Present
Scott Tersteeg (Supervisor, PhD)
Graduate Student
School of Graduate Student scholarship
Jan 2022 - Present
Jessica Manalasay (PhD candidate, co-supervisor with Dr. Nariman Shahhosseini)
Graduate Student
School of Graduate Student scholarship
Sep 2022 - Present
Mitchell Geeraert (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student
RiboWest 2022 Travel Award, First place poster prize at the 14th annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry (2022)
Sep 2021 - Present
Dong Ju Kim (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student
MITACS Accelerate Scholarship (2020-2021)
Jan 2020 - Present
Simmone D'souza (co-supervisor with Dr. Carla Coffin)
Graduate Student, UofCalgary
CIHR PhD scholarship (2023), Eyes High Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship (2021), Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Canadian Network on Hepatitis C Graduate Student Fellowships (2020), University of Calgary Graduate Student Fellowship, Henry Koopmans Entrance Award (2019), First place poster prize at the Canadian Liver Meeting (2021)
Sep 2019 - Present
Jeff Tingley (co-supervisor with Dr. Wade Abbott)
Graduate Student
Sep 2019 - Present
Undergraduate Research Students
Fatima Sadiq
Undergraduate Student
Sep 2025 – Apr 2026
Charles Abdelmessih
Undergraduate Student
Jan 2024 – Aug 2025, Sep 2024 – Apr 2025
Priyanshi Patel
Undergraduate Student
NSERC USRA Award May, 2025 to Aug 2025
Sep 2024 – Apr 2026
Ashkan Mosabeb-Omran
Undergraduate Student
Chinook Undergraduate Award, May 2025 to Aug 2025
Jan 2025 – Apr 2026, Sep 2022 – Aug 2024
SarahAnn Walker
Undergraduate Student
Chinook Undergraduate Award (May 2023-Aug 2023, May 2024-Aug 2024), NSERC USRA Award (May 2025-Aug 2025)
May 2024 – Apr 2026, Jan 2022 – Dec 2023
Zane Schroh
Undergraduate Student
Jan 2024 – Aug 2025, Sep 2024 – Apr 2025
Previous Postdoctoral Researchers
Govi Veerareddygari
Chemical Safety Officer, George Washington University, USA
May 2021 – Apr 2025
Higor Pereira
Central Stores Administrator, ULethbridge
Alberta Innovates Fellowship (2024-2026), RNA Innovation NSERC CREATE Fellowship (2022 – 2024), RiboWest 2022 Travel Award (2022)
Jun 2021 – May 2025
M. Quadir Siddiqui
Research Associate, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
Oct 2019 - Sep 2024
Maulik Badmalia
Research Associate, UofAlberta
MITACS Accelerate Scholarship (2020 - 2021)
Mar 2019 - July 2022
Vanessa Meier-Stephenson
Assistant Professor (tenure-track), UofAlberta
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Canadian Network on Hepatitis C, Travel awards for International Hepatitis B Virus Meetings (2019, Australia and 2018, Italy), and Canadian Society for Virology Conference (2018)
May 2017 – Apr 2021
Previous Graduate Students
Aysha Demeler (Supervisor, MSc)
N/A
Sep 2023 - Oct 2025
Daniella Gemmill (Supervisor, PhD)
Graduate Student
Canadian Society for Virology travel award (2022), First place poster prize at the 14th annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry (2022), Second place poster prize at the 25th annual Analytical Ultracentrifugation and Workshop (2022)
Sep 2018 - Aug 2025
Liam Kerr (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student, University of Saskatchewan/VIDO
Sep 2023 - Aug 2025
Jenna Sullivan (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student
MITACS Accelerate Scholarship (2022 - 2024), First place poster prize at the 14th annual Chinook Symposium for Chemistry and Biochemistry (2022)
Sep 2022 – May 2025
Dong Ju Kim (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
MITACS Accelerate Scholarship (2020-2021)
Jan 2020 – Withdrawn
Gerardo Balderas Figueroa (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student, UofCalgary
Canadian Society for Virology travel award (2022), First place poster prize at the 25th annual Analytical Ultracentrifugation and Workshop (2022)
Jan 2021 - Dec 2023
Curtis Claassen (Supervisor, Msc, withdrew)
Graduate Student
RNA Innovation NSERC CREATE Fellowship (2022 – 2024)
May 2023 – Dec 2023
Jessica Semmelrock (co-supervisor with Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden)
Graduate Student
Winner of the RNA Canada ARN Design Contest
Aug 2021 – Jul 2023
Tyler Mrozowich (Supervisor, PhD)
Postdoctoral fellow, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
NSERC PGS-D Scholarship (2020 - 2023), Winner of the Best Student Presentation for RiboClub Web-conference (2019), Travel awards for RNA Society Meeting (2020), RiboWest Conference Travel Awards (2019, 2022), Canadian Society for Virology Conference (2018), RiboClub Travel Award (2022)
Jan 2018 – Sep 2023
Luc Roberts (co-supervisor with Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden)
Blue Sky Analytics and AUC Solutions Canada LLP
Aug 2021 – May 2023
Mehar Gayatri Namala (co-supervisor with Dr. Ute Kothe)
Scientist, Precision NanoSystems Inc
Aug 2021 – Jan 2023
Kristi Turton (co-supervisor with Dr. HJ Wieden)
Research Associate I-Synthetic Biology, Northern RNA, Canada
RNA Innovation NSERC CREATE Fellowship (2021 – 2023)
Aug 2021 – Jan 2023
Sydnee Calhoun (co-supervisor with Dr. HJ Wieden)
Laboratory Technician, UofCalgary
Aug 2021 – Dec 2022
Taylor Sheahan (co-supervisor with Dr. HJ Wieden)
Process Development Scientist, BIOVECTRA, Canada
Aug 2021 – Aug 2022
Marissa King (co-supervisor with Dr. Wade Abbott)
Research Technician, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada, Canada
May 2020 – Sep 2022
Michael D'souza (Supervisor, MSc)
Graduate Student, ULethbridge and Sargent, King's Own Calgary Regiment, Canada
Canadian Armed Forces Individual Learning Program, South Alberta Light Horse Association, The King's Own Regiment Funds Foundation Bursary, Alex Decoteau Award and Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Post-Secondary Bursaries (2019-2021), Canadian Society for Virology 2022 Trainee Progress Award (2022)
Sep 2019 – Dec 2021
Corey Nelson (supervisor, MSc)
MD Student, UofCalgary
Alberta Innovates Technology Future Graduate Student Fellowship
May 2019 – Apr 2021
Yubo Cheng (co-supervisor with Dr. Athan Zovoilios)
Graduate Student
Sep 2017 – Aug 2021
Previous Undergraduate Research Students
Meshva Patel
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2024 – Apr 2025
Tahiat Rehman
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2024 – Dec 2024
Temi Agunlejika
Undergraduate Student
May 2024 – Aug 2024
Jason Laddu
PhD student, UCSD, USA, Research Technician, ULethbridge
NSERC USRA Award May, 2024 to Aug 2024
May 2024 – Aug 2025
Sierra Mazurek
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2023 – Apr 2024
Kelly Liland
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2023 – Aug 2024
Zachary Robinson
PhD Student, University of Oxford, UK
NSERC USRA Award (May 2022-Aug 2022, May 2023-Aug 2023, May 2024-Aug 2024), George Ellis Scholarship (2022, 2023), NSERC CREATE undergraduate scholarship (2022, 2023), Canadian Society for Virology travel award (2022)
Jan 2021 – Dec 2021, May 2022 – Aug 2024
Anneke De Klerk
Nursing Student, ULethbridge
NSERC USRA Award, May 2023 to Aug 2023
Sep 2022 – Apr 2024
Sophia Bird
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2023 – Dec 2023
Liam Kerr
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2022 – Aug 2023
Curtis Claassen
Undergraduate Student
Jan 2022 – Apr 2022, Sep 2022 – Apr 2023
Rex Asis
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Jan 2023 – Apr 2023
Carmen Agenbacht
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Jan 2023 – Apr 2023
Angela Fredrickson
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Women in STEM Scholarship, April 2022
Jan 2021 – Aug 2022
Sara Balderas
Laboratory Technician, Richardson Oilseed, Canada
Canadian Society for Virology Travel Award (2022)
Sep 2021 – May 2022
Sean Park
Medicine Student, UofCalgary
Winner of the Undergraduate Poster Competition Award, 2022 Biophysical Society Conference, USA, NSERC USRA Award (May 2022-Aug 2022)
Jan 2020 – Aug 2022
Christy Bore
Research Technologist, NOVA Chemicals
Jan 2022 – Apr 2022
Aikina Peralta Rosie
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2021 – Apr 2022
Kieran Meadows
Graduate Student, UofCalgary
Sep 2021 – Apr 2022
Brodin Fryzuk
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2021 – Dec 2021
Jamieson Peacock
Nucleic Acid Developer, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada
Sep 2021 – Dec 2021
Scott Tersteeg
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Sep 2021 – Dec 2021
Elijus Slamas
Undergraduate Student, ULethbridge
May 2021 - Aug 2021
Nic Jujihara
Medical Student, Australia
Jan 2021 – Apr 2022
Mitchell Geeraert
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Jan 2020 – Apr 2020, Sep 2020 – Aug 2021
Chantel Plumb
Undergraduate Student
Jan 2020 – Apr 2020
Gerardo Balderas Figueroa
Graduate Student, UofCalgary
Sep 2019 – Dec 2020
Rutu Prajapati
Pharmacy student, UofSaskatchewan
Sep 2019 – April 2021
Marcel Michailides (formerly Dia Michailidou-Koupan)
Research Associate, Northern RNA
Alberta Innovates undergraduate student research award
Jan 2020 – Aug 2020
Nina Takahashi
Senior Associate, Amgen
Sep 2019 – Apr 2020
Simmone D'souza
Graduate Student, UofCalgary
Oral Presentation Awards (two) at RiboWest conference (2019), NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (2019), NSERC and Chinook Undergraduate Student Research Award (2018, declined)
Jan 2018 – Aug 2019
Dong Ju Kim
Graduate Student, ULethbridge
Jan 2019 – Dec 2019
Kristi Turton
Research Associate, Northern RNA
Jan 2019 – Apr 2019
Corey Nelson
MD student, UofCalgary
Sep 2018 – Apr 2019
Joseph Sopal
Undergraduate Student
Jan 2018 – Apr 2018
Jason Schacher
Regional Clinical Lead - eHealth, Vancouver Island
Jan 2018 – Apr 2018
Alisha Merchant
Staff Accountant, KPMG Canada
Jan 2018 – Apr 2018
Corbyn Pilling
CPA Articling Student, Lethbridge
Jan 2018 – Apr 2018
Brina Clark
Science Teacher, Portage Collegiate Institute
Sep 2017 - Dec 2017
Sarah Schultz
Postdoctoral Fellow, UofManitoba
May 2017 - Aug 2017
Mimi Pham
Genetics Assistant at Alberta Health Services
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (declined)
May 2017 - Aug 2017
Sunil Stephenson
Production Planning Engineering Intern, Suncore
Jan 2017 - Apr 2017
Jeremy Quiroga
Undergraduate Student
Travel award for RiboWest 2017 Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Jan 2017 - Apr 2017
Tyler Mrozowich
Postdoctoral Researcher, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
Jan 2017 - Dec 2017
High School Students
Sophie Metherala
Jul 2025 - Aug 2025
Anastasiia Chaika
Jul 2024 - Aug 2024
Sophia Henke
Jul 2024 - Aug 2024
Brady Cutforth
Jul 2023 - Aug 2023
Carson Mallow
Jul 2022 - Aug 2022
Amber Quo
Jul 2021 - Aug 2021
Joel Jansen
Jul 2019 - Aug 2019
Justin Pitcher
Jul 2018 - Aug 2018
Monica Simpson
Jul 2017 - Aug 2017
