Vanier Canada Graduate Scholars
13 October 2017
Elisabeth Richardson
Department of Cell Biology
Project: Eukaryotic microbial diversity and ciliate membrane trafficking adaptations in a tailings pond undergoing reclamation in northern Alberta, Canada
Supervisor: Joel Dacks, Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Cell Biology
"We're hoping that the work we're doing will be informative for reclamation, and to help maintain the natural environment."
Michael Laffin
Department of Surgery/ Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research
Project: Genetics, microbiology and immunology of post-operative Crohn's disease
Supervisors: Karen Madsen, Bryan Dicken, Eytan Wine and Richard Fedorak
"My project is great because it really is translational. I can see what happens on the clinical side, bring that experience back to the lab and bridge these areas together."
Megan Beggs
Department of Physiology
Project: Molecular mechanisms mediating a positive calcium balance during development
Supervisor: R. Todd Alexander, Canada Research Chair in Renal Epithelial Transport Physiology
"The U of A community is so collaborative and supportive, willing to make suggestions and make it a more far-reaching project. This isn't just a win for me-it reflects on my supervisor and the university as a whole."
Christen Klinger
Department of Cell Biology
Project: Bioinformatic, transcriptomic and functional characterization of novel membrane trafficking genes in apicomplexan parasites and elucidation of their potential role in host cell invasion
Supervisor: Joel Dacks, Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Cell Biology
"The Vanier has allowed me to do more than just the first stage of the project-it has also enabled me to work internationally."