Virtual Lab Tour
Welcome to the Synthusiasts’ Virtual Lab Tour! Check out the available professors below and click on the buttons to learn more about each professor and what they do.
Available Professors
Dr. Charlebois’ Lab
Their research at the interface of physics and biology aims to make fundamental advances in our understanding of genetic networks and to apply this knowledge to the growing problem of antimicrobial (drug) resistance. They develop quantitative models and perform experiments on genetically engineered and pathogenic yeasts.
The Charlebois biosafety level 2 biophysics-microbiology laboratory is located in the Centennial Center for Interdisciplinary Science at the University of Alberta in Canada.
Dr. Bressler’s Lab
Their lab focuses on using thermal, chemical and biological approaches to convert various feedstocks, including waste streams, to value-added products. This includes energy, materials, and platform chemicals.
In the area of synthetic biology, their lab has the infrastructure and expertise to facilitate modification of microorganisms, growth of cultures in flasks as well as in 5 L and 10 L fermentation units, downstream processing of cultures, and analysis of product streams.
Dr. Evans’ Lab
Their research is about Poxvirus-host interactions, Vaccinia virus replication and drug resistance mechanisms, Vaccinia recombination mechanisms, vaccine vectors, oncolytic viruses. They develop cloning & Infusion techniques. Dr Evans’ lab is currently working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Lemieux’s Lab
They work on enzymes and, in particular, proteases. They are interested in how these proteases play roles in disease and how this information could be used to develop therapeutics.
Their recent work includes the study of the SARS-CoV2 protease. They are currently examining if a drug used to treat a feline coronavirus could work in humans to treat COVID-19.
Dr. Macauley’s Lab
Through interdisciplinary research, the Macauley lab aims to further understand how glycans modulate our immune cells. They study sugar-binding receptors on immune cells which differentiate good from bad. Fundamental discoveries will naturally lead to new ways to modulate immune responses.
Dr. Stuart’s Lab
Research in their lab is directed toward metabolic engineering. They use synthetic biology to engineer yeast, bacteria and algae so that they will make or do useful things for us. In a technical sense, it involves using synthetic DNA and genes to add new pathways and functions to cells and delete existing genes. In an overall sense, it is about solving problems as well as learning about what is possible.
Dr. Yokota’s Lab
Dr. Yokota’s research goal is to discover, optimize, and translate novel therapies for devastating genetic disorders. In particular, his research aims to develop and apply new methods, including Precision Health and Personalized Genetic Medicine, to correct mutations in a precise and targeted manner.
Examples of technologies used in his research include genome editing and synthetic DNA-like molecules called antisense oligonucleotides.