Kenzie Arnott (MSc)
Graduated Sep 2022
Kenzie studied Golgi trafficking during secondary cell wall synthesis.
Next position:
Lecturer at UBC
Mendel Perkins (PhD)
Graduated March 2022
Mendel studied monolignol transport mechanisms in Arabidopsis.
Next position:
Biotech startup in Calgary, Alberta
Sam Livingston (PhD)
Graduated May 2021
Sam studied cannabinoid biosynthesis and cell wall characteristics of Cannabis glandular trichomes.
Next position:
Postdoc in Keeling Lab, UBC
Michal Pyc (Postdoc)
Finished 2019
Michal studied the cell biology of cannabinoid synthesis and trafficking in Cannabis sativa.
Next position:
Research Scientist at Willow Biosciences
Finished 2019
Michal studied the cell biology of cannabinoid synthesis and trafficking in Cannabis sativa.
Next position:
Research Scientist at Willow Biosciences
Natalie Hoffmann (MSc)
Graduated July 2019
Natalie investigated the localisation of numerous laccase and peroxidase proteins that are necessary for the polymerization of lignin in plant cell walls.
Next position:
PhD student at the University of Toronto
Miranda Meents (PhD)
Graduated November 2018
Miranda studied how the production of xylan is localized within the Golgi in addition to studying undergraduate biology education.
Next position:
Graduated July 2019
Natalie investigated the localisation of numerous laccase and peroxidase proteins that are necessary for the polymerization of lignin in plant cell walls.
Next position:
PhD student at the University of Toronto
Miranda Meents (PhD)
Graduated November 2018
Miranda studied how the production of xylan is localized within the Golgi in addition to studying undergraduate biology education.
Next position:
Lecturer at Simon Fraser University
Lan Tran (PhD)
Graduated Aug 2018
Lan investigated novel genes, identified from a poplar genetic association study, that influence secondary cell wall formation.
Next position:
Graduated Aug 2018
Lan investigated novel genes, identified from a poplar genetic association study, that influence secondary cell wall formation.
Next position:
Postdoc at AAFC
Yoichiro (Yoshi) Watanabe (PhD)
Graduated May 2018
Yoshi studied how the cell properly organizes and deposits cellulose fibres by tracking cellulose synthase (CESA) enzymes responsible for cellulose synthesis. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Assistant Professor
Institute for Research Initiatives
Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan
Shumin Wang (PhD)
Graduated May 2018
Shumin studied the function of OFP and KNOX2 transcription factors in plant growth and secondary cell wall development in Arabidopsis. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Scientist
Anandia Labs, Vancouver
Michelle von Loessl (MSc)
Graduated March 2017
Michelle studied the identification and characterization of a poplar acyltransferase that functions in the elongation of very long chain fatty acids for cuticular wax production. You can find her thesis here.
Eva Chou (MSc)
Graduated December 2016
Eva studied the localization of cell wall and plasma-membrane localized proteins and carbohydrates during secondary cell wall development, to better understand their mechanism of transport. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Plant and Lab Technician
Anandia Labs
Teagen Quilichini (PhD and Postdoc)
Finished September 2016
In 2014, Teagen completed her PhD under to co-supervision of Lacey Samuels and Carl Douglas. Her thesis explored sporopollenin biosynthesis and transport during pollen development. She went on to a postdoc position in the lab studying the processes that enable Cannabis to synthesize, transport and accumulate high levels of cannabinoids and terpenoids of interest by combining high resolution imaging techniques with genomic and transcriptomic resources.
Next position:
Research Associate
National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon
Mathias Schuetz (Postdoc and Research Associate)
Finished August 2016
Mathias studied the mechanism(s) involved in the targeted secretion of polysaccharides and proteins during tracheary element differentiation.
Next position:
Biology Instructor in the Department of Biology
Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia
Yoichiro (Yoshi) Watanabe (PhD)
Graduated May 2018
Yoshi studied how the cell properly organizes and deposits cellulose fibres by tracking cellulose synthase (CESA) enzymes responsible for cellulose synthesis. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Assistant Professor
Institute for Research Initiatives
Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan
Shumin Wang (PhD)
Graduated May 2018
Shumin studied the function of OFP and KNOX2 transcription factors in plant growth and secondary cell wall development in Arabidopsis. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Scientist
Anandia Labs, Vancouver
Michelle von Loessl (MSc)
Graduated March 2017
Michelle studied the identification and characterization of a poplar acyltransferase that functions in the elongation of very long chain fatty acids for cuticular wax production. You can find her thesis here.
Eva Chou (MSc)
Graduated December 2016
Eva studied the localization of cell wall and plasma-membrane localized proteins and carbohydrates during secondary cell wall development, to better understand their mechanism of transport. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Plant and Lab Technician
Anandia Labs
Teagen Quilichini (PhD and Postdoc)
Finished September 2016
In 2014, Teagen completed her PhD under to co-supervision of Lacey Samuels and Carl Douglas. Her thesis explored sporopollenin biosynthesis and transport during pollen development. She went on to a postdoc position in the lab studying the processes that enable Cannabis to synthesize, transport and accumulate high levels of cannabinoids and terpenoids of interest by combining high resolution imaging techniques with genomic and transcriptomic resources.
Next position:
Research Associate
National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon
Mathias Schuetz (Postdoc and Research Associate)
Finished August 2016
Mathias studied the mechanism(s) involved in the targeted secretion of polysaccharides and proteins during tracheary element differentiation.
Next position:
Biology Instructor in the Department of Biology
Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia
Vice president, Plant Science Willow Biosciences
Grant McNair (PhD)
Graduated December 2014
Grant studied the role of the GPI-anchored protein COBRA-like 4 in secondary cell wall biosynthesis. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Kermode LabDepartment of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC
Anika Benske (MSc)
Graduated August 2014
Anika studied the role of laccase proteins in the patterned deposition of lignin in secondary cell walls. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Research Technician in the Blumenthal Lab
Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rebecca A. Smith (PhD)
Graduated April 2014
Rebecca studied the development of tracheary elements, and the role of neighbouring cells in the deposition of lignin in their secondary cell walls. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in John Ralph's Lab
With the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) and Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI)
University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Li Xi (PhD)
Graduated April 2014
Li studied the role of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in secondary cell wall biosynthesis. You can find her thesis here.
Heather E. McFarlane (PhD)
Graduated in January 2013
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
Allan DeBono (PhD)
Graduated in December 2011
Allan studied the involvement of lipid transfer proteins in cuticular wax export to the plant surface. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Loren Rieseberg's Lab
Biodiversity Centre, UBC, Vancouver BC
Minako Kaneda (PhD)
Graduated in December 2008
Minako studied how trees produce wood in order to understand mechanisms of cell wall precursor flows at the subcellular level. Her work made a significant contribution to our understanding how trees export lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers on earth. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Anja Geitmann's lab
Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques
Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
Grant McNair (PhD)
Graduated December 2014
Grant studied the role of the GPI-anchored protein COBRA-like 4 in secondary cell wall biosynthesis. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in the Kermode LabDepartment of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC
Anika Benske (MSc)
Graduated August 2014
Anika studied the role of laccase proteins in the patterned deposition of lignin in secondary cell walls. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Research Technician in the Blumenthal Lab
Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rebecca A. Smith (PhD)
Graduated April 2014
Rebecca studied the development of tracheary elements, and the role of neighbouring cells in the deposition of lignin in their secondary cell walls. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in John Ralph's Lab
With the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) and Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI)
University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Li Xi (PhD)
Graduated April 2014
Li studied the role of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in secondary cell wall biosynthesis. You can find her thesis here.
Heather E. McFarlane (PhD)
Graduated in January 2013
Heather studied ways in which plants export lipids to the protective cuticle that coats their surface, to protect themselves against water loss and drought. She discovered that lipids are exported by certain combinations of transporters, which are closely related to chemotherapy resistance transporters in humans. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Staffan Persson's Lab Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam, Germany
Allan DeBono (PhD)
Graduated in December 2011
Allan studied the involvement of lipid transfer proteins in cuticular wax export to the plant surface. You can find his thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Loren Rieseberg's Lab
Biodiversity Centre, UBC, Vancouver BC
Robin Young (PhD)
Graduated in August 2009
Robin studied how plants make pectin. The plant cell uses the Golgi apparatus as the primary site of pectin production. Using Arabidopsis seed coat cells, Robin used advanced microscopic techniques to show that all of the scattered Golgi stacks work together to produce cell wall polysaccharides. You can find her thesis here.Graduated in August 2009
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Sherryl Bisgrove's Lab
Department of Biology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC
Minako Kaneda (PhD)
Graduated in December 2008
Minako studied how trees produce wood in order to understand mechanisms of cell wall precursor flows at the subcellular level. Her work made a significant contribution to our understanding how trees export lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers on earth. You can find her thesis here.
Next position:
Postdoctoral Fellow in Anja Geitmann's lab
Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques
Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC
David Bird (Postdoc)
Kim Rensing (Postdoc)
Jamie Pighin (MSc)
Graduated in April 2004
Jamie studied ABC transporters functioning in wax export in plant epidermal cells, and required for production of the plant cuticle. You can see her thesis here.
Graduated in April 2004
Jamie studied ABC transporters functioning in wax export in plant epidermal cells, and required for production of the plant cuticle. You can see her thesis here.
