GROUP MEMBERS

Siavash Vahidi

PhD (University of Western Ontario, 2010-2015). PDF (University of Toronto & The Hospital for Sick Children, 2015-2020) Google Scholar

As a teenager in high school, my main goal was… to play basketball in the NBA! A combination of a knee injury and inadequate basketball skills made me re-evaluate my life choices. Less time on the basketball court allowed me to focus on school and finish close to the top of my class as an undergrad. My interest in biophysical mass spectrometry lured me to the laboratory of Prof. Lars Konermann at Western for a PhD, where I developed and applied biomolecular mass spectrometry methods to study protein folding, structure, and dynamics. After struggling for the first two years of my doctoral studies, during which I strongly considered quitting, I managed to be productive and won the Paul de Mayo award for the best PhD thesis in the department. My fascination with biomolecular machines set me on a path for a career in academia and to a CIHR postdoctoral fellowship with Prof. Lewis Kay at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Through my postdoctoral research, I broadened my scientific horizons and learned to use biomolecular nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the Clp protein degradation machinery. I also worked closely with the Rubinstein group at SickKids to complement our studies with electron cryomicroscopy. My research group at University of Guelph takes advantage of an integrative approach in structural biology by combining various methods, including mass spectrometry and NMR, which can provide a detailed picture of the functions and dysfunctions of mega Dalton-sized biomolecular machines in health and disease.

svahidi -at- uoguelph.ca

Algirdas “the Wizard“ Velyvis

BSc (Vilnius University, 1993-1997); PhD (Case Western Reserve University, 1997-2003). PDF (University of Toronto & The Hospital for Sick Children, 2003-2010)

As an undergraduate I studied chemistry and biochemistry at Vilnius University. When an opportunity arose to pursue protein NMR spectroscopy for my Ph.D. at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, I was glad to dive in. More protein NMR work followed in Lewis Kay's lab at the University of Toronto, first as postdoc, then as a staff scientist. Subsequently, I worked in early stage agrochemical discovery (especially focusing on mode of action elucidation) for Syngenta UK at the beautiful Jealott's Hill site in southeast England, before joining the Vahidi lab back in Canada.

avelyvis -at- uoguelph.ca

Madison Turner

BSc (University of Guelph, 2013-2017). MSc (University of Guelph, 2017-2020).

In 2013, I moved from Ottawa and started my studies in biochemistry at the University of Guelph. I was lucky enough to get a summer position after second year in the lab of Dr. Rod Merrill, where I was introduced to the world of protein biochemistry. I continued to work in the Merrill lab throughout my undergraduate degree and eventually completed my MSc focused on bacterial exotoxins in 2020. I’m excited to be moving forward with my PhD in the Vahidi lab and continue to explore protein structure and function.

mturne09 -at- uoguelph.ca

Monica Goncalves

BSc (University of Guelph, 2017-2021).

Growing up in the farmlands of Portugal made me develop a deep appreciation and curiosity for the basis of life on earth. Since then, my passion for science only strengthened, leading me to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of Guelph. Here, I recognized my fascination for science from a molecular-level perspective, particularly surrounding the mechanistic details of biomolecular machines involved in metabolism and protein degradation. Additionally, my interest for scientific research and technology advancements led me to a research assistant position at the Vahidi Lab, providing me the opportunity to express and practice my enthusiasm for biochemical research

mgonca06 -at- uoguelph.ca

Jacquelyn Ogata-Bean

From a young age I had a keen interest in the life sciences. In my last year of high school, I was fortunate to participate in a coop program where I gained my first exposure to an academic research environment, and I absolutely loved it. This experience pushed me towards pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry here at the University of Guelph. As I near the end of my degree, I am thrilled to be to able exercise my passion for research and expand my knowledge of protein biochemistry as an undergraduate researcher in the Vahidi lab.

jogatabe -at- uoguelph.ca

Quinn Currie

I began my undergraduate studies in biochemistry here at the University of Guelph in 2019. During my first few years of study, I developed my interest in protein biochemistry and my curiosity of research began. In 2023, I was fortunate to join the Vahidi lab in conducting research about biomolecular machines involved in metabolism and protein degradation as an Undergraduate Research Assistant.  

scurri06 -at- uoguelph.ca

Brad Davis

BSc (University of Guelph, 2017-2021).

My mom’s career as a nurse gave me an early interest in science and the interactions between humans and disease. I chose to study microbiology at the University of Guelph because it encompasses many other disciplines such as biochemistry and molecular biology. The subject of antibiotic resistance and the development of novel therapeutics to combat highly resistant pathogens has interested me throughout my studies. I am looking forward to the opportunity to use cutting-edge technology and methodology to study the pathogenic mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, almost as much as I’m looking forward to the Toronto Raptors repeating as 2020 NBA Champions!

bdavis09 -at- uoguelph.ca

Alicia Plourde

My fascination with pathogenic microbes brought me to the University of Guelph in 2018. I was fortunate to join the Vahidi Lab as I entered the third year of my undergrad. Here, I began to investigate the role of conformational dynamics in the substrate selection mechanism of the Pup-proteasome pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This work led me to a direct-entry PhD position in the Vahidi Lab where I continue to use state-of-the-art biological mass spectrometry to further probe these questions of importance.

plourdea -at- uoguelph.ca

Kent Vosper

As a Guelphite, it has always been a dream of mine to study and contribute to the research done at the University of Guelph. This aspiration led me to start my biochemistry studies here in 2019. In my fourth year of studies, I was fortunate to obtain a position as an NSERC USRA-funded undergraduate researcher in the Vahidi Lab, where I have been able to explore protein biochemistry hands-on. I am excited to continue making use of the technology and experience found in the Vahidi Lab to investigate protein interactions.

kvosper -at- uoguelph.ca