[Position Vacant](President)


Sylvain Lanouette (VP Academic)
slanouet(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology - Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Couture Lab
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry in the Couture laboratory at the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology. We use structural biology, protein biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology to study protein post-translational modification by methyltranferases. I came from Quebec City, where I completed bachelor degrees in chemistry and biochemistry and a master degree in biochemistry at Laval University. When I steal an hour or two from the lab, I like to bury myself in a heavy book, try to cook or bake something new or twist old recipes in new ways, step on the dance floor of a bar or a swing dance night floor, concoct a journalism project… My role as VP academics is to help you turn grad school in the richest period of opportunities, learning and experiences. Would the need arise, I also serve as a student ombudsman: feel free to contact me at any time if you have interrogations.

Martin Stahl (VP Finance)
mshstahl(at)hotmail(dot)com

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Stintzi Lab
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Stinzi lab at RGN. My research is focused on bacteria!!!! I like hiking, running, mountain climbing, travelling to far off lands, and modifying organisms at the genetic level. I’m from Regina, Saskatchewan, but now call Ottawa home! See you on the dodgeball court!






Jean-Paul Nadeau (VP External)
jnade057(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Mah Lab

Adam Koziol (VP Internal)
koziol(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Altosaar Lab
My goal as VP External is to facilitate communication with organizations external to BMI. Previously, I did my B.Sc at Carleton and my M.Sc at the University of New Brunswick. My Ph.D research in the Altosaar lab is focused on the production and subsequent tethering of recombinant proteins to starch granules in transgenic rice. Outside of my graduate studies, I enjoy hockey and bacon.




Nicole Forbes (VP Communications)
nforb009(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Brown Lab
Nicole is originally from Issaquah, Washington but has long ago adopted Canada as her true home. She started her studies at Bishop's University and obtained a BA majoring in Liberal Arts, and minoring in Philosophy. After taking an elective in Microbiology she knew she needed to learn more. She then got a BSc in Microbiolgy and Immunology from Dalhousie University, in the lovely town of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She fell in love with the Maritimes, the homeland of her hubby, but decided to return to a larger city for her graduate studies. She started her MSc in Earl Brown's lab in the winter of 2008, and recently transferred to PhD. She currently is enthralled in the study of adaptive mutations in the evolution of Influenza A virus. In her spare time, she throws a stick for her dog Chloe to catch.

Tonya Ward (VP Social)
tonyaward4(at)gmail(dot)com

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Altosaar Lab
I'm currently a member at large, volunteering my time to make your time here at uOttawa better! I did my B.Sc at Western, and I am currently working towards my M.Sc in the Altosaar lab. I study immunologically relevant proteins in human milk and how they play a role in the colonization of the infant gut. Other than in the lab, you can usually find me at the gym, outdoors or down in the market :)








Alphonse Chu (Webmaster)
achu069(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Ottawa Institute of Sytems Biology - Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Blais Lab
I'm from Gatineau and I've lived in the Ottawa region for over 20 years. I did my undergrad in Biochemsitry at the University of Ottawa. I also joined the COOP program and did three different coop placements. My first one was a complete surprise, I got a job at GeminX Biotechnologies Inc. in Montreal to do bioanalysis and analytical chemistry with LC-MS. My second placement was at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute with Dr. Burgon, who investigates early cardiac development. My final coop placement was with Dr. Blais at the Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, who does research in transcriptional regulation of skeletal myogenesis using microarray technology. Now continuing the same research I am now a MSc candidate in the lab. Other than the lab I enjoy spending time with my friends in the market and listening to music (U2, Led Zeppelin, The Police, The Killers... well you get the theme).

Adrianna Douvris (Member-at-large)

Location: University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Lab: McPherson Lab

Anastassia Voronova (Member-at-large)

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Skerjanc Lab
I am a Ph.D. student in Dr. Skerjanc’s lab, where I work on muscle and neuronal developmental programs in stem cells. Outside of science, I am involved in professional ballroom dancing, I love to play music, admire the movement of impressionism and thinking outside the box. My overall goal as part of the BMIGSA is to improve the quality and experiences of all BMI grad students. I’m originally from Estonia.




James Lawless (Former VP Social)

James Lawless grew up on the east coast of Canada near Fredericton, New Brunswick in a small town whose name is relatively unknown. He did his first two years of a Bachelor of Science program at Memorial University of Newfoundland. In his third year he transferred to Mount Allison University to finish is degree. He graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biology and a minor in Psychology. It was in his final years at Mount Allison after taking a couple courses in microbiology that he discovered his fascination with bacteria and their ability to cause disease in all manners of organisms. Following completion of his degree he moved to Ottawa to start his Master’s in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Ottawa in order to pursue his interests in bacterial pathogenesis. He found his niche as a member of Dr. Thien-Fah Mah’s lab working on a project aimed at describing the function of PA0084, a gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in biofilm-specific antibiotic resistance. When he is not doing lab work James participates in many hobbies and activities including his favorite: picketing people who picket.

Josh Raizman (Member-at-large)
jraizman(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Lab:

Laura McDonell (Member-at-large)
mcdonell(dot)laura(at)gmail(dot)com

Location: OHRI - Cancer Center
Lab:

Michelle Bamji-Mirza (Member-at-large)

Location: Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Yao Lab
Michelle Bamji-Mirza grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Carleton University with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry-Biotechnology. She then obtained an M.Sc. at McGill University in Human Genetics. She is presently pursuing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa, under the supervision of Dr. Yao, studying a novel role of hepatic lipase in the lipoprotein metabolism. She started her PhD studies at the Heart Institute and is now at the General Campus (Roger Guidon) where she feels she can make positive contributions to the graduate student experience through the BMIGSA!



Mike Wall (Former VP Internal)

I am currently doing a PhD in the Altosaar lab. I am developing a process that will localize biopharmaceuticals to the surface of starch granules, easing the purification of IGF-1 and CD14. I like science fiction literature, hot food and fermented drink I’m originally from Cape Breton.






Ted Sewell (Member-at-large)
sewell(dot)ted(at)gmail(dot)com

Location: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology - Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Baetz

Rice Honneywell (Member-at-large)
rhone040(at)uottawa(dot)ca

Location: Cancer Center - OHRI
Lab:

Tina Nguyen (Member-at-large)
nguyentinaa(at)gmail(dot)com

Location: National Research Council
Lab: Sad Lab

Vanja Avdic(Member-at-large)

Location: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology - Roger-Guindon Hall
Lab: Couture Lab

I am currently in the first year of my Master's working with Dr. Jean-Francois Couture. We utilize X-ray crystallography to characterize histone modifying enzymes. My non-science interests include traveling, sea creatures, crosswords and pretty much any game involving words!







Past Council Members