Dr. Emery is one of the world’s leading experts in the study of plant hormones. In particular, he works on a family of hormones, the cytokinins, which are notoriously difficult to analyze and which are potent regulators of plant development even when present at extremely low concentrations. In his work with legumes he is studying how the plants biochemically pull themselves together as a means of determining how to create bigger, more stable yields. The end users of research findings would be breeders of plants who he could give direction for making better varieties of each plant.
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Anna Kisiala Bydgoszcz, Poland
Ph.D. Genetics and Plant Breeding, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Poland M.Sc. Agrobiology, University of Technology and Life Sciences, Poland Email: annakisiala@trentu.ca Website
Anna started working at Trent University in November, 2011. She is a Research Adjunct in the Environmental & Life Science Graduate Program and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biology at Trent University. With background in agrobiology, Anna’s research in the Emery Lab concentrates on the use of mass spectrometry for growth hormone profiling in plant, microbial and animal tissues. Anna has co-authored many successful research projects on the applications of beneficial Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria for crop quality and yield improvement that have been funded by Canadian government (NSERC, Genome Canada), provincial farmers organisations (GFO, SPG) and private industry partners (NutriAg Ltd., Noblegen, Acadian Seaplants Ltd.). She publishes in the area of plant physiology and biotechnology and is a co-author of over 25 peer-reviewed publications in international journals.
Ph.D. Students
Mark Seegobin Barrie, Ontario
Ph.D. Candidate. Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University Hons. B.Sc. Biology & Forensic Science, Trent University
Email: markseegobin@trentu.ca
Mark completed his undergraduate degree at Trent, where he majored in both Forensic Science and Biology. He completed a fourth year thesis characterizing effector proteins of the model corn smut Ustilago maydis. During this time, Mark also began working with Noble Inc. investigating potential uses of nanosilver particles in the treatment of cancer. Today Mark is still working with cancer, specifically investigating expression of endogenous hormones and their roles in cellular development. His goal is to understand how hormones can be used to better understand and treat cancer.
Megan Aoki Freedom, Wisconsin
Ph.D. Candidate. Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University Hons. B.Sc. Biology and Psychology (Specialization in Health Sciences), Trent University Associate's Degree - University of Wisconsin: Fox Valley Email:meganarnoldussen@trentu.ca
Megan completed her associate's degree at the University of Wisconsin: Fox Valley, where she started her research career working with the evolution of the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus for agricultural applications. Megan researched endogenous cytokinin biosynthesis in mammalian systems for her fourth year thesis. Her goal was to understand the biosynthesis pathways of recently identified signaling molecules. She is currently pursuing a post secondary Ph.D. Degree in the Environmental & Life Sciences program at Trent University. Megan is working with the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum, looking at specific cytokinin biosynthesis genes and localization of the gene products.
Daniel Palberg Caledon, Canada
Ph.D.Candidate. Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University Hons. B.Sc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Trent University
Email: danielpalberg@trentu.ca
Daniel completed his undergraduate degree at Trent University where he majored in biochemistry. He completed a fourth year thesis in the Department of Chemistry identifying and characterizing the phenomenon of adduct formation in electrospray ionization. During this time, he became well acquainted with the biochemistry of flavonoids and mass spectrometry. Currently, Daniel continues to work with flavonoid-like compounds and is focusing on the use of mass spectrometry for metabolite profiling in plant and microbial tissues to better understand the biochemical dynamics of plant-microbe interactions.
Zeynab Azimychetabi Tehran, Iran
Ph.D.Candidate. Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University M.Sc.Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University of Tehran
Email: zeynazimychetabi@trentu.ca
Zeynab has always been fascinatedby every aspect of nature, especially medicinal plants. She conductedresearch on the effects of some phytohormones on the two main genes that initiate the floweringof Damask Rose for her Master’s thesis in the University of Tehran. At the heart of her specific research enthusiasm lies an interest in improving plants for medicinal purposes focusing on the rules of plant hormones on this matter. For her Ph.D. thesis she will perform experiments regarding secondary metabolites and hormone relationships, genes involved in thebiosynthesis of these metabolites and elucidation of their pathway to improve their production in microbial hosts.
M.Sc. Students
Imesha Perera Negombo, Sri Lanka
M.Sc.Candidate, Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University B.Sc. Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Email: imeshadperera@gmail.com
Imesha completed her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and Plant Biotechnology at University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Her undergraduate research project was on plant growth promoting endophytic diazotrophic bacteria in Sri Lankan rice varieties and molecular methods. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Trent University and her new focus is on the effect of climate change and soil N availability on soil microbial communities and cytokinin levels.
Nguyen Ngoc Hai Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
M.Sc.Candidate, Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University B.Sc. Biotechnology, Ho Chi Minh National University, Vietnam
Email: hainguyen@trentu.ca
During undergraduate study, Hai conducted functional study of cytokinin metabolic genes in soybean, trying to better identify the function of cytokinin in abiotic stresses. Now, in his M.Sc. project in Emery Lab, he is focusing his research on the function of cytokinin and abscisic acid in heavy metal stress response as well as their potential application in bioremediation. When not at work, Hai likes traveling with his parents, playing League of Legends and going to the gym.
Undergraduate Students
Vedanti Ghatwala Surat, India
Hons. B.Sc. Candidate. Biology (Health Sciences Specialization), Trent University
Email: vedantighatwala@trentu.ca
Vedanti started her undergraduate studies in India in 2017 and completed one year pursuing the program of 5-year integrated M.Sc. in Biotechnology. She transferred to Trent to continue her undergraduate degree in 2018 with a Biotechnology focus in mind. She is currently pursuing a 4th year thesis project with Dr. Janet Yee and Dr. Neil Emery working on characterization and identification of cytokinins in Giardia intestinalis, a freshwater protozoan parasite that causes beaver fever. Her aim is to develop extraction methodology that helps mitigate matrix effects in Giardia medium to better analyse the cytokinin production by the parasite.
Peter Andreas Peterborough, Ontario Hons. B.Sc.Candidate. Biology, Trent University Biotechnology Advanced Diploma Program Fleming College
Email: peterandreas@trentu.ca
Currently, I am a Professor in the Biotechnology Advanced Diploma Program at Fleming College in Peterborough. This cross-disciplinary program combines elements from the life sciences, quality control and assurance through ISO17025 regulations, applied computing, forensic science, automation, policing, and business skills. This gives graduates the benefit of having the multiple, job-ready skills that employers are seeking. The program has been developed in response to identified industry needs and a skills shortage in this field.
Alumni
Dr. Thien Nguyen Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Ph.D. Trent University M.Sc. Horticulture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Japan B.Sc. Agricultural Biotechnology, University of Natural Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
M.Sc, Environmental and Life Sciences, Cell Biology and Genetics, Trent University Hons. B.Sc.Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Toronto Email: ibraheemalimi@trentu.ca