Derek S. Email & Phone Number

Conducting analyses to support evidence-based decision-making at CIHR and the Centre for Research on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergencies (CRPPHE) in topics related to research funding analytics.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow I was focused on understanding the development of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Specifically, I explored the link between biomolecular condensates and ALS disease progression by looking at ALS-associated proteins in differentiated motor neurons. I expressed these proteins using a third-generation lentiviral system with the goal of identifying their proximal interactors using a proteomics technique known as Bio-ID.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As a PhD Candidate in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto, I used a bacterial protein as a molecular probe to identify and functionally characterize essential components of plant immunity by using and developing the skills and experience listed below: Maintained a variety of different organisms for experiments including different species of bacteria (E. coli, Pseudomonas syringae, Agrobacterium tumafaciens), yeast, plants.Optimized in vitro… Show more As a PhD Candidate in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto, I used a bacterial protein as a molecular probe to identify and functionally characterize essential components of plant immunity by using and developing the skills and experience listed below: Maintained a variety of different organisms for experiments including different species of bacteria (E. coli, Pseudomonas syringae, Agrobacterium tumafaciens), yeast, plants.Optimized in vitro enzymatic assays to determine the impact of a bacterial pathogenesis protein on protein targets involved in plant immunity.Developed and optimized in vivo pathogenicity assays to identify components of plant immunity.Deleted immune-related genes to explore their influence on plant immunity using the genome-editing tool CRISPR/Cas9.Screened a chemical library and performed disease assays to identify a synthetic inducer of plant immunity.Functionally characterized a chemical inducer of plant immunity and verified that this compound likely acts as a functional mimic of a bacterial protein that elicits plant immunity through a specific pathway.Performed statistical analyses and plotted publication-quality quantitative data using MS Office software and R programming language.Presented and discussed results with an interdisciplinary group of scientists including topics such as bacterial plant pathology, bacterial human pathology, and bioinformatics.Trained personnel with varying levels of experience in both common and specialized techniques in molecular biology. Show less

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I supported the delivery of course material at the University of Toronto in the following ways:Aiding instructor during online webinars designed to teach general cell/molecular biology to first year students and students with minimal science background.Developing exam questions to test application and critical analysis of ideas presented in lecturesMarking and providing specific comments for improvement of scientific article summaries… Show more As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I supported the delivery of course material at the University of Toronto in the following ways:Aiding instructor during online webinars designed to teach general cell/molecular biology to first year students and students with minimal science background.Developing exam questions to test application and critical analysis of ideas presented in lecturesMarking and providing specific comments for improvement of scientific article summaries and final reports written by fourth year students focused on pathogenic effector biology.Marking of assignments, midterms, and exams for third year students focused on the molecular biology of plant-microbe interactions.Supervision and training of first and second year students through wet and dry labs focused on essential techniques used in molecular biology. Show less

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I examined effects of heat stress on pollen viability in corn plants and determined the stages at which pollen development was compromised. I also analyzed how heat stress can lead to higher levels of oxidative damage on pollen proteins using immunoprecipitation experiments.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I explored the genetic biodiversity of about 60 bean cultivars by screening immune responses elicited by a family of immune-eliciting proteins from the bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. I observed qualitative differences in cell death development among different bean cultivars and quantified bacterial growth which act as indicators for the plant immune response.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Plant Molecular Biology

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biochemistry And Molecular Biology