The Life Sciences Symposium Organizing Committee is led by graduate students from departments affiliated with the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia. Our diverse perspectives and scientific backgrounds are unified in our interest in developing a leading event for knowledge translation in the Life Sciences at UBC.
Organizing Committee Chairs
Biomedical Engineering
Ph.D. Candidate | Kizhakkedathu Lab
“I am a 2nd year PhD student studying cell surface engineering-based tools for promoting organ transplant tolerance. I’m taking part in the organizing committee because I’m passionate about finding and highlighting research topics that can bring fields as diverse as zoology and biomedical engineering together in their excitement for science.”
Microbiology & Immunology
Ph.D. Candidate | Kronstad Lab
“Hi! I’m Sara (She/Her), a third-year PhD student in the M&I department. I am studying how mitochondria respond to nutrient and environmental stress in fungi, with a focus on cell wall remodeling and mitophagy. I am excited to work with the committee this year to create a collaborative and inclusive event where we can share exciting new science!
Organizing Committee
Cellular and Physiological Sciences
Ph.D. Student | Haas Lab
“I am a 4th year Ph.D. student studying how genetic variations impact disease outcome. I joined the committee because I wanted to be a part of an event that promoted collaboration and exchange of ideas between departments!”
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ph.D. Candidate | Yip Lab
“I am a 4th year Ph.D. student studying protein complexes using structural biology and biochemistry. I joined the organizing committee because I loved the idea of having a symposium that allowed life sciences from different departments to collaborate and intermingle!”
Biomedical Engineering
Ph.D. Candidate | ShakibaLab
“I am studying human pluripotent stem cell differentiation into pancreatic beta cells. My research focuses on understanding the transcriptional and functional heterogeneity of pancreatic progenitors to improve scalable beta cell manufacturing for type 1 diabetes therapy. I wanted to help organize the Life Sciences Symposium because I’m passionate about fostering connections across UBC’s life sciences community.“
Genome Sciences and Technology
Ph.D. Student
“I’m studying the protective power of the gut microbiome, and how we can turn this into biotherapeutics against infection. Currently this means I’m working on ways to screen the microbiota for strains that exhibit protective phenotypes against model pathogens! I’m happy to return to the symposium and continue promoting the excellent science we do here.”
Microbiology & Immunology
Ph.D. Student
“I am investigating how pollutants like microplastics can impact our microbiome and gastrointestinal health. I am organizing the LSS because I believe in making science accessible for everyone”
Microbiology & Immunology
Ph.D. Candidate
“I strongly believe that fostering connections between the different branches of the life sciences is important!”
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Ph.D. Student | Kizhakkedathu Lab
“I’m a 1st year PhD student studying the enzymatic conversion of red blood cell surface antigens to produce a truly universal blood type. I joined the organizing committee because I’m excited to plan and organize an event that promotes collaboration between different departments and scientific communication!”
Microbiology & Immunology
Ph.D. Candidate
“I study the protein-protein interactions required for Zika virus to replicate its RNA genome. I want to organize the LSS because I enjoy planning collaborative events and science exchange across disciplines. I am excited to learn about the cool science happening across the LSI!”
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ph.D. Candidate
“I am entering my third year as a PhD candidate in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology here at UBC. For a bit more than two years now, I have been studying cathepsins and their relevance to autoimmunity; especially, their potential role in the induction of rheumatoid arthritis. To me, helping organize the LSS is helping organize a great multidisciplinary research event, that can facilitate the exchange of new ideas and perspectives between students, peers, and researchers.”
Microbiology and Immunology
Ph.D. Student
“I study how +SS RNA viruses regulate translation of the viral genomic RNA, using Hepatitis C virus as a model. I wanted to help organize LSS as I love watching scientists and students engage with each others research and want to help foster more opportunities for collaboration and learning from each other.“
Zoology
Ph.D. Student
“I’m a PhD student in the Department of Zoology at UBC, working under Dr. Kevin Wei on meiosis in Drosophila. My research focuses on meiotic drivers—”selfish” genetic elements that cheat fair inheritance—exploring recombination plasticity, using CRISPR to study synaptonemal complex genes, and mapping drive alleles to understand speciation. I wanted to organize the Life Science Symposium to gain event coordination experience and connect with peers across disciplines, creating a platform where graduate students can share their work and build collaborative relationships within UBC’s research community.“
Zoology
Ph.D. Student
“I study the molecular and neural basis for acidic/sour taste in insects and how this sense of taste contributes to behaviours such as egg-laying and feeding. I hope to foster connections between departments at the trainee level through my involvement with the symposium.“
CPS
M.Sc. Student
“I’m a student in the Rideout lab studying sex differences in neuronal lipid metabolism, specifically lipid droplets, in Drosophila. I wanted to help organize the LSS, because I had a lot of fun attending last year and I think it’s such a cool symposium to bring together all the life science researchers at UBC.“
Microbiology and Immunology
Ph.D. Student
“I study an encapsulated fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, looking at the effects of carbon starvation and carbohydrate active enzymes on the cell wall and polysaccharide capsule. I joined the LSS committee to help support an event where all scientific disciplines can share and collaborate on their respective work.“
Cell and Developmental Biology
M.Sc. Student
“My research explores how prenatal maternal sleep disruption alters the development of different regions and cell types of the fetal hypothalamus in both male and female mouse embryos. I am excited to foster a collaborative community of scientists and promote the sharing of science across disciplines!“
Founding Organizers
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Ph.D. Candidate | Yip Lab
“I am a 4th year Ph.D. candidate studying the autophagy fusion process. I am passionate about creating a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and inclusive community for graduate students and scientists alike that allows us to grow as a community and share each others excitement about science!”
Cellular and Physiological Sciences
Ph.D. Student | Weidberg Lab
“I am a 3rd year Ph.D. student studying mitochondrial protein import dynamics and stress responses. I like to promote knowledge sharing and scientific communication without being bound by department and research field!”
