Past Members of SBG

  • Angel Zhang,  MSc 2018, "Computational and Spectroscopic Studies in the Design of Tetrapyrrole Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells"
  • Dr. Gordon Irvine, PhD 2017, "Metalation and Structural Properties of apo-Metallothioneins"
  • Dr. Tyler Pinter, PhD 2015, "Reactions Between Zinc Metallothionein and Carbonic Anhydrase"
  • Dr. Duncan Ewan Keith Sutherland, PhD 2012,  "Structural motifs of metallothionein", went on to UWO Medicine after PhD
    Dr. Michael Tiedemann, PhD 2012, "Heme binding and transfer in the Isd heme scavenging pathway of Staphylococcus Aureus", went on to UWO Dentistry after PhD
  • Dr. Thanh Ngu, PhD 2009, “Arsenic binding to metallothioneins”
  • Amanda Senior, MSc 2007 “Electronic structures of low symmetry porphyrins”
  • Mark Pluym, MSc 2007, "S. aureus Isd heme Binding Properties"
  • Dr. Kelly Rigby, PhD 2007, “Kinetic studies of metal-induced protein folding”
  • Dr. Maria Salgado, PhD 2006, "Copper Binding Studies of Metallothioneins"
  • Dr. Jayna Chan,  PhD 2006, “A metallothionein biofunctionalized gold surface”
  • Dr. Maureen Elizabeth Merrifield, PhD 2005,  “Studies of human and F. vesiculosus metallothioneins”
  • Dr. Hal Du, PhD 1996, “Diagnostic Expert Systems in Instrumental Analysis”
  • Dr. QiWei Zhu, PhD 1996, “Expert System Development in Analytical Chemistry”
  • Dr. Anna Rae Green, PhD 1995, “Spectroscopic Properties of Copper Binding to Metallothionein”
  • Dr. Paul Anthony Presta, PhD 1995, “Spectroscopic Studies of Copper Binding to Metallothionein”. 
  • Dr. John Mack,  PhD 1994, “Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Phthalocyanine Anions”
  • Dr. Sharbari Lahiri, PhD 1994, “Design and Implementation of Expert Systems in Trace Metal Analysis”
  • Dr. Edward-Alvin Ough, PhD 1992, “Spectroscopic Studies of Metallophthalocyanines”
  • Dr. Wuhua Lu, PhD  1990, “Spectroscopic Studies of Mercury Binding to Metallothionein”
  • Dr. Tebello Malikhetla Nyokong, PhD 1986, “Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Studies of Metallophthalocyanines”
  • Dr. Annie Yiu Chu Law, PhD 1984, “Spectroscopic Studies of Metal Binding to Metallothionein”
  • Dr. William Robert Browett, PhD 1981, “MCD of Catalase and Porphyrin Model Compounds”
  • Katherine Atkin Martin, MSc l979, “A Spectroscopic Study of Non transition Metal Phthalocyanines”
Thanh Ngu is now an Application Scientist Team Lead at Sciex located in Toronto (LinkedIn)
Jayna Paik (formerly Chan) is now a Technical Analyst at Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. located in Windsor (LinkedIn)

Melissa Santolini, a past undergraduate student, is now working in the cannabis industry (LinkedIn)
  • Anne-Lena Ostertag, MSc, Germany, 2019-2020
  • Dorothee Ott, MSc, Germany, 2017-2018
  • Lina Heinlein, MSc, Germany, Sept. 2016 - April 2017
  • Judith Scheller, MSc, Germany, February to December 2016
  • Akiko Takashina, PhD, Ibaraki University; Mito, Japan, "Spectroscopic study of cytochrome c", July 2012
    • Also visited in June 2011
  • Thandekile Mthethwa PhD,  Canadian Commonwealth Scholar, Rhodes University; South Africa, "Linking phthalocyanines with sulphur-rich proteins",January - August 2012
  • Takahide Yamaguchi PhD, Ibaraki University; Mito, Japan, Member of prof. Taka Kohzuma’s laboratory; collaborator with MJS, "Effects of pH and temperature on the copper binding site in Pseudoazurin, June 2011
  • Tomonori Muroya PhD, Ibaraki University; Mito, Japan, Member of prof. Taka Kohzuma’s laboratory; collaborator with MJS, "Alkaline transitions of Japanese laccase", June 2011
  • Nkosiphile Masilela PhD,  Canadian Commonwealth Scholar, Rhodes University; South Africa, "Biotechnology of sulphur-rich proteins", February to August 2010
  • Elyse Hudson, summer research student (April to August 2020), 4th year research student, 2020
  • Cong Yang (Jason) Zhang, 4th year research student, "Study of the Binding Mechanism between Human Metallothionein and Metallodrugs", went on to pursue an MSc with Prof. Zhifeng Ding at UWO
  • Alice Jin, 4th year research student, "Computationally guided synthesis of chlorophyll analogues for use in solar cells"
  • Riley Hooper, Undergraduate research from Sept 2017 to April 2019, went on to pursue a PhD degree at the University of Alberta
  • Patti Scarrow, 4th year research student, 2019
Prior to 2016 (inclusive), in alphabetical order:

  • Alexander Easton  (2007-8)  Time- and Temperature-resolved ESI-MS studies of As(III) binding to metallothionein.
  • Andrew Akaleitis  (2001-2)  Metal binding to glutathione using ESI-MS techniques
  • Angel Zhang (2015-2016) The electronic basis for strong red absorption: how to mimic chlorophyll
  • Anjan Mahrok (May – Aug. 2011) "Counting cysteines – metal-induced protein folding" (ICE scholar; USRA; U/G U of Calgary) [posters & publication - 2012]
  • Brad Reed (May-Aug. 2013) Role of metallothioneins in zinc homeostasis. (Dept. of Biology).
  • Brandy Moran  (May – Aug 2005) USRA “Development of techniques for making recombinant metalloproteins”
  • Brent Windsor  (2008-9)  Experimental support for theoretical predictions of MCD spectra.
  • Brittany Lewis (2013-2014) Metal thiolate cluster stabilities in metallothioneins
    •  (April- Aug. 2013) Cadmium binding to metallothioneins [poster-CanBIC-4-2013].
  • Carly Hewson  (May – Aug 2009) USRA “Metal selectivity of Isd proteins”
  • Christie Magee  (2006-7)  Theoretical analysis of the spectral properties of very large ring compounds
  • Colin Kowalchuk  (1998-99)  Modelling Metallothionein
  • Colleen Trevithick  (1998-99)  Kinetics-Metallothionein
  • Daisy Wong (2013-2014) Metallothionein and metallodrug interactions
    • (May – Aug, 2014) Metallodrug interactions with metallothionein. The Western Science Undergraduate Pre-thesis Award Graduate at UWO.  [Talk at Graduate Student Research Conference; U. Buffalo, May, 2014; Poster at the CSC National Conference, Vancouver, 2014 June 3; Talk at the Inorganic Discussion Weekend, Montreal, 2014 Nov 14-16]
    • (May, 2011 – April, 2012) "Drug interactions with MT" (U/G UWO.). 
  • Darcy Burns  (1997-98)  Spectroscopy of Metallothionein
  • David Ward  (1998-99)  Peptide Synthesis
  • Derek Hunter  (Sept. 1998-April 1999) MT-Data analysis
  • Donald Thomas  (1998-99)  Metallothionein - Recombinant Prep
  • Duncan Sutherland  (2006-7)  Metal binding structures in a novel algal metallothionein from NMR measurements.
    •   (May – Aug, 2007) USRA “Structures in metallothioneins by NMR spectroscopy”.
  • Elizabeth Kost  (Sept. 1998-April 2000) MT-Isolation
  • Fowzia Musa  (Sep 2001- April 2002) Preparation of recombinant Metallothioneins
  • Helen Cai  (Sept. 2002 - April, 2003) Research assistant “Computational aspects of protein research”
  • Janice Lee  (November 2008 – Aug, 2009) Research assistant. “Kinetics of arsenic binding to metallothioneins”
  • Jasjit Singh (May-Aug. 2013) Understanding metallation of metallothioneins by proteolysis and ESI-MS (USRA funded; ICE scholar; U/G Ryerson University).  [poster-Inorganic Discussion Weekend, Nov, 2014, York U; Talk: ICE Workshop, Aug., 2014, U   Calgary].
  • Jayna Chan  (1999-2000)  Surface studies of protein-modified gold
  • Jess Uzonyi (2014-2015) Detoxification of ginseng extracts, Biology 4999E - supervisor prof E. Lui (Pharmacology & Toxicology; MJS Advisory Committee member from dept. of Biology).
  • Jordan Rostowsky (2015-2016) Copper binding to metallothioneins
  • Joseph Le Faive (2014-2015) Solution structures of metallothionein
  • Josephine Lo (2005-6)  Mechanism of copper binding to mammalian metallothionein.
  • Justin Norris  (1999-2000)  Development of techniques for recombinant protein production
  • Karen Au (2005-6)  Mercury binding to mammalian proteins.
  • Kelly Rigby  (2001-2)  Metal binding kinetics of metallothionein
  • Kristen King  (2009-10)  Binding As(III) to wheat metallothionein where domains are separated by long linkers.
  • Kyle Jeffs  (2011-2012)  Understanding the colour in nonsymmetric porphyrins
  • Laurel Ryan  (May – Aug 2005) USRA “Theoretical analysis of porphyrin spectral data”
  • Lauren Vysohlid (May - Aug. 2014) Topological effects to cysteines when As(III) binds to metallothioneins.
  • Linda Forrester  (1996-97)  Kinetics of Metallothionein
  • Lindsay Jackson  (Sept 2009 – July, 2010) research assistant. “Metal binding to proteins”.
  • Lisa Cameron  (1996-97)  NMR of Metallothionein
  • Lydia Kwan  (2010-2011)  Electronic structures of novel porphyrins
  • Maria Salgado  (1999-2000)  Metal binding kinetics of metallothionein
  • Mark Pluym  (2004-5)  Iron binding in Isd proteins of S. aureus.
  • Mark Pluym  (May – Aug 2005) USRA “Studies of bacterial heme proteins”
  • Matt Colbear (May - Aug. 2014) Metal binding studies in metallothioneins 
  • Maureen Merrifield  (1999-2000)  Mass spectrometry of proteins
  • Maysaa Assaf (2012-2013) Binding manganese to metallothioneins
  • Meiyen Lee  (May - July 2003) Research assistant “Preparation of recombinant protein”
  • Melissa Santolini (2015-2016) Solution structures of metallothioneins
  • Meredith Gullens  (2007-8)  Mechanism of Cd(II) binding to metallothionein through stopped-flow studies.
  • Michael Dryden (May - Aug, 2010) ICE scholar; USRA; "AsMT as an As(III) ligand" (U/G U of Saskatchewan) [publications: 2010 & 2012].
  • Mikayla Johnson (2015-2016) Metallation properties of 33 cysteiens in a chain.
  • Minh Pham  (Sep 2001- April 2002) Computational aspects of protein research
  • Moira Rushton (2006-7)  Mechanism of arsenic binding to an algal metallothionein.
  • Sandra Krecisz  (2009-10)  Finding metals that react slowly with metallothioneins.
  • Scott Hendriks (2014-2015) Comparison of cluster stabilities from the electronic structures
  • Sean Simpson  (1998-99)  Merrifield Synthesis of MT
  • Stephanie Dingwall  Sept. 1997-April 1998)  Studies of Metallothionein
  • Stephen Keizer  (1998-99)  Spectroscopy-Phthalocyanines
  • Tasha Jarisz (May - Aug., 2012) "Understanding long wavelength absorption in porphyrins using absorption, MCD and theoretical techniques" ICE scholar; USRA funded; U/G U of Victoria, BC. [poster-CanBIC-4 2013].
  • Thanh Ngu  (May - Aug, 2004) USRA “Arsenic binding to proteins using ESI-MS techniques”
    • (2003-4)  Arsenic binding to proteins using ESI-MS techniques.
  • Tiffany Jeen (May - Aug. 2014) Metal competition studies in metallothioneins.  ICE Scholar. University of Saskatchewan; USRA funded [poster-U. Buffalo, Graduate Student Research Conference; May, 2014; Talk at the ICE Workshop in St John’s, NF, Aug 2014; Poster at Summer Research Presentations, Dept of Chemistry, U. Saskatchewan (2nd prize & audience prize)]
  • Tyler Pinter (May – Aug, 2010)  "Heme-analogues for Isd transport" (U/G, UWO) [posters & publications]
    • (2009-10)  Determining the factors that allow protein-protein interactions that facilitate heme transfer.
    • (May - August, 2008; Sept. 2008 – August 2009); USRA (08) & research assistant (09): “Metallation properties of concatenated metallothionein domains”
  • Xiangyang Huang  (Sept 2001- April 2002) Computational aspects of protein research
  • Yifan Lu  (2009-10)  The sensitivity of Isd heme transfer to ring type.