Former Postdoctoral Researchers

Li Fu
2014 - 2017
Li completed her postdoc examining the immunotoxicity of oil sands. 

Former Graduate Students

Kareem Moghrabi
September 2021 - 2024
During his MSc, Kareem adapted and optimized microbial bioassays to screen oil sands process affected waters for toxicity, and worked in the lab afterwards as a research technician. He is currently working at Innovotech as a Microbiologist. 

Jacob (Jiahui) Wang
2018 - 2024 
For his PhD, Jacob investigated the immunoregulatory leukocyte immune-type receptors (LITRs) in fish which are known to play roles in controlling the activation and/or inhibition of innate immune effector responses. Jacob is currently working at 48 Hour Discovery. 

Kendra Woodall
2021 - 2024
Kendra completed her MSc examining pro-inflammatory gene upregulation of oil sands process affected waters.

Hussain Al-Rikabi 
2020 - 2024
Hussain's MSc examined signaling potential of goldfish leukocyte immune-type receptors (LITRs). 

Rikus Niemand
2019 - 2023
Rikus characterized the function of teleost LITRs. He currently works as a flow cytometry technologist at the University of Alberta. 

Yemaya Choo-Yin
2018 - 2021
​Yemaya completed her MSc identifying transcriptional regulation of pro-inflammatory genes using fractionated and unfractionated samples of oil sands process affected waters. She is currently employed at Innovotech Inc. 

Hima Gurupalli
2017 - 2020
​Hima characterized zebrafish LITRs during her MSc. She is currently working as a consultant.  

Chenjie (Harry) Fei
2014 - 2020 
Harry completed his PhD examining the crosstalk potential of teleost LITRs. 

Lena Jones
2014 - 2016
Lena's MSc employed imaging techniques to examine catfish LITR signaling. She currently works as a research technician in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. 

Myron Zwozdesky
2012 - 2019
Myron completed his PhD examining the phagocytosis pathways and crosstalk potential of catfish LITRs. He currently works as an instructor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta. 

Dustin Lillico 
2012 - 2018
2018 - 2023 (Postdoctoral researcher)
Dustin examined the phagocytic function of catfish LITRs during his PhD. Afterwards, he developed an immune cell bioassay framework for screening oil sands process water during postdoctoral research in the lab. Dustin is currently working at a biotechnology company. 

Jordan Hodgkinson
2010 - 2018
Jordan was co-supervised by Drs. James Stafford and Miodrag Belosevic during his PhD research, which focused on examining immune responses in goldish infections when challenged with Mycobacterium marinum. He currently works as a medical representative in Impres Pharma. 

Van Ortega 
2010 - 2017
Van was co-supervised by Drs. James Stafford and Greg Goss during his PhD examining the immunomodulation of metal nanomaterials.

James Ede
2008 - 2015
​James was co-supervised by Drs. James Stafford and Greg Goss during his PhD investigating immunotoxicity of high aspect ratio nanomaterials.

Herman Cortes
2010 - 2013
Herman completed his MSc examining immunoregulation of channel catfish LITRs. He currently works as a junior high science and math teacher.  

Jacqueline Mewes
2007 - 2010
Jacqueline completed her MSc investigating LITRs in channel catfish. She currently works at DOW Chemical.

Benjamin Montgomery
2007 - 2012
Ben completed his PhD identifying inhibitory immune-type receptors in channel catfish. He currently works as an environmental consultant.