Mentoring and Outreach

Undergraduate Mentoring

The McMaster Mentoring Action Plan (MMAP) (2015- 2017)

  • In collaboration with Drs. Kim Dej, Ayesha Khan and Nikol Piskuric, we piloted this Forward With Integrity supported undergraduate mentoring program, which will provide students with positive and constructive support from a pool of interesting and engaging retired McMaster Faculty and staff.
  • The program pilot ran for a total of 4 academic terms (2 years). Each term included a series of workshops and student-mentor discussions which enabled students to be mentored on skills pertaining to time management and productivity, professional etiquette, networking and mapping of their professional development
  • At the end of each year, students were able to put into practice the skills that they have acquired at year-end networking event
  • We are currently in discussions on how the MMAP can be established as an annual resource for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science

Science in Hamilton Networking Event (2014- 2016)

  • This Academic Science Fund supported initiative began in the Fall of 2014 with the collaboration of Trystan Nault (an undergraduate student in the iSci Program). The inaugural event attracted almost 100 students in the Faculty of Science to attend a networking night with local business and not-for-profit organizations that were interested in recruiting McMaster Science students for various volunteer and placement opportunities.
  • Following the great success of the first networking event, I am currently planning this annual event to continue to be funded and organized by the McMaster Science Student Society in collaboration with other undergraduate science student organizations at McMaster. It is anticipated that this event can be one of the main networking events that can attended by the students enrolled in the McMaster Mentoring Action Plan (MMAP)

Supervisorships

2020-present        

  • Oana Birceanu (Wilson Lab)-McCall/MacBain Teaching and Learning Fellowship Program Horizontal Curriculum Integration in a Biology Program
  • Dennis Kolosov (O’Donnell Lab)-McCall/MacBain Teaching and Learning Fellowship Program Horizontal Curriculum Integration in a Biology Program
  • Solmaz Irani (Weretilnyk Lab)-McCall/MacBain Teaching and Learning Fellowship Program-Impact of Long-Term STEM Engagement Projects on Science Education

2019-present

  • Abdul Halim PhD Student Biology The Role of DIR1 and DIR1-like genes during Systemic Acquired Resistance in Arabidopsis- Primary Supervisor: Dr. Robin Cameron; Other committee members: Dr. Elizabeth Weretilnyk
  • Wantao (Noah) Xiao MSc Student Biology Biofilm Formation During PAMP-Triggered Immunity and Exploration of Systemic Acquired Resistance in Arabidopsis-Primary Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Weretilnyk; Other committee members: Dr. Robin Cameron
  • Christine West PhD Student Biology Characterizing the Functional Nature of Nervous Communication Between Gut and Brain- Primary Supervisor: Dr. Wolfgang Kunze; Other committee members: Dr. Paul Forsythe, Dr. Elyanne Ratcliffe

September 2019

  • MSc. Examination Chair, Soren Coulson (McClelland Lab, Biology) Changes in Metabolic Regulation of the Carbohydrate Oxidative Pathway in Exercising High Altitude Deer Mice

August 2019

  • MSc. to PhD Transfer Exam, Alana Tedeschi (Chow-Fraser Lab, Biology) Science and Volunteerism in Monitoring Soluble Reactive Phosphorous in the Grand River

2014-2017

  • Shamaila Fraz PhD Student Biology The Effect of Gemfibrozil and Carbamazepine on the Reproduction of Zebrafish (October 2014; Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Other committee members: Dr. Ana Campos, Dr. Rosa da Silva, Dr. Glenn Van Der Kraak

January 2014

  • MSc. Examination Chair, Jessica Knox (Gupta Lab, Department of Biology) Wnt Signaling in C. elegans

April 2014

  • MSc. Examination Chair, Dallas Taylor (Chow-Fraser Lab, Department of Biology) Long-term effects of impoundment on ecosystem functions of coastal wetlands in Georgian Bay

Undergraduate projects, theses, placement and volunteer students

2020

  • Kyle Amaral- BIO4C12 Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on the mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (Sept 2019-April 2020)
  • Marry Nissan-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2019-April 2020)
  • Hetta Patel-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2019-April 2020)

2019

  • Aakanx Panchal and Jonathan Zaslavsky- iSci2A18 Enrichment Project Attacking Chemotherapy Resistance Using DNA Nanotechnology (A systematic review). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Abhigyan Dwivedi and Maha Dogar- iSci2A18 Enrichment Project Investigating and Modeling Antibiotic Resistance using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Exploring Novel Antibiotic Discoveries (A systematic review). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Riddhi Bhatt and Alexander McGrath-Santowsi- iSci2A18 Enrichment Project Antimalarial Drug Resistance (A systematic review). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Caitlin Reintjes and Yona Tugg- iSci2A18 Enrichment Project Remodeling Chemotherapy with Individualized Cancer Treaments: An Integrated Approach (A systematic review). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Christy Au-Yeung and Maisha Ahmed- iSci2A18 Enrichment Project Alzeheimer’s Disease Causal Mechanisms: A Biochemical and Mathematical Perspective (A systematic review and a model simulation). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisors: Dr. Rosa da Silva and Dr. George Dragomir
  • Sarah Scott and Jalen Singh – iSci2A18 Enrichment Project The Techniques and Applications of Gene Therapy (A systematic review). (Feb-April 2019) Primary Advisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Sonia Jarvie- BIO4C12 Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on the metabolism of the brown marmorated stink bug (Sept 2018-April 2019) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu
  • Jake McNairn-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2018-present)
  • Raquel Deperasinski Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2018-present)
  • Faryal Zahir- BIO4C12 Efficacy of robotic-assisted gait training/body-weight support treadmill training for spinal cord injuries (Sept 2018-April 2019) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Agnes Chmiel; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Akanksha Arora-BIO4C12 Temperature effects on developmental phenotypes of whitefish (Sept 2018-April 2019) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva

2018

  • Faryal Zahir- LifeSci3EP3– Placement at Integrative Health Centre- Shadowing sports medicine physiotherapists (Jan-April 2018) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Jennifer Abbiss-Somerville
  • Simon Pollard- BIO4C09 Transgenerational effects of carbamazepine and gemfibrozil on the courtship and sperm morphology in the F4 generation of Danio rerio (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Jasmine Bhatti- BIO4C09 Startle response in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) following exposure to temperature stress during embryonic development (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Victoria Van Mierlo- BIO4C09 Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on the brown marmorated stink bug (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu
  • Sonia Jarvie-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2017-present)
  • Hibo Rijal-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2017-present)
  • Jake McNairn-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2018-present)
  • Raquel Deperasinski Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2018-present)
  • Sonia Jarvie- BIO4C12 Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on the metabolism of the brown marmorated stink bug (Sept 2018-April 2019) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu

2017

  • Manprit Kaur-LifeSci4EP6Placement at Department of Health Sciences-McMaster University, Education and Curriculum Development (Sept 2016-April 2017) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Elizabeth dos Santos
  • Wayne Yeung- Pharm4F09 Assessing the outcomes of Blended Learning in a Level I Biology Course (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Alastair Tracey
  • Victoria Giglio- BIO4C09 Experimental adaptation of P. destructrans to various temperature conditions (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. JP Xu; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Caitlin West- BIO4C09 Effects of temperature exposure on juvenile phenotypes (Sept 2016-April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Margaret Lu- BIO4C09 The effect of Cryptococcus neoformans on the immune response of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu
  • Victoria Radausakas- BIO4C09 Immune and cardiac challenges induced in the brown marmorated stink bug when infected with encapsulated fungi (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. Roger Jacobs
  • Victoria Van Mierlo- BIO3IR3 Immune and cardiac physiology of the brown marmorated stink bug (Jan-April 2017) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Tina Canto- LifeSci3RP3 Experimental design and implementation of Physiology Lab Modules for LifeSci3L03 (May-June 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Simon Pollard- BIO4C09 Transgenerational effects of carbamazepine and gemfibrozil on the courtship and sperm morphology in the F4 generation of Danio rerio (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Jasmine Bhatti- BIO4C09 Startle response in Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and Round Whitefish (Prosopium cylindraceum) following exposure to temperature stress during embryonic development (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Victoria Van Mierlo- BIO4C09 Effects of entomopathogenic fungi on the brown marmorated stink bug (Sept 2017-April 2018) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu
  • Sonia Jarvie-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2017-present)
  • Tina Canto-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (May 2017-present)

 2016

  • Nabil Hawwa-BIO3EP3Placement at Halton Famiy Health Centre-Physician Shadowing (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Frances Battaglia
  • Alisa Bozzo- LifeSci3EP3– Placement at Holy Name of Mary Elementary School- Teacher Assistant (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Irene Wilson
  • Elise Mac Lean- LifeSci3EP3– Placement at William Osler Health System- Shadowing doctors within Medicine/Nephrology Department (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Rosa Marticorena
  • Kimberly Dias-LifeSci3EP3– Placement in the Emergency Department at the Hospital for Sick Children- Paediatric Research Academic Initiative in SickKids Emergency (PRAISE) Volunteer (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Johanna Crudden
  • Manprit Kaur-LifeSci3EP3Placement at the Juravinski Hospital-Elder Life Program Volunteer (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Kelly Turner
  • Natasha Labana-LifeSci3EP3– Placement at Activ8 Clinic- Physiotherapist and Chiropractor Shadowing (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Amanda Scione
  • Wanyao (Yoyo) Chen-LifeSci3EP3Placement at McMaster Children’s Hospital- Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Shadowing (Jan-April 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Dr. Adam Fleming
  • Charandeep FarmaLifeSci3EP3-Curriculum Development Lab Assistant for BIO1A03 Cell and Molecular Biology (Sept-Dec 2016) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Alastair Tracey
  • Ryan Peters-BIO3IR3– Characterizing the immune response of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Jan-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • McMaster Genetically Engineered Machines (mGEM) Team Engineered Commensal Bacteria for the Treatment of GI Carcinomas (Spring-Summer 2016) Primary Lab Supervisor: Alison Cowie
  • Gabrielle Retta-LifeSci3RP3-Characterization of the immune system of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Sept- Dec 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Lauren Tabone-BIO4C09 Investigating the impact of the SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model on student learning when integrating social media and teaching technologies in the science classroom (Sept 2015-April 2016; MREB protocol in preparation) Primary Supervisor: Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. Kim Dej
  • Chloe Bair-Marshall-BIO4C09 Confocal imaging of developing excitatory circuitry (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Deda Gillespie; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Irtaza Tahir-LifeSci4C09 Nitric oxide regulation of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug cardiac activity (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Krishna Srinivasan-BIO4C09 The Effects of Pharmaceutical Exposures on the Development of Zebrafish (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Margaret Lu- BIO4C09 The effect of Cryptococcus neoformans on the immune response of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. JP Xu
  • Victoria Radausakas BIO4C09 Immune and cardiac challenges induced in the brown marmorated stink bug when infected with encapsulated fungi (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. Roger Jacobs
  • Victoria Van Mierlo Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (Sept-Dec 2016)
  • Wayne Yeung- Pharm4F09 Assessing the outcomes of Blended Learning in a Level I Biology Course (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Alastair Tracey
  • Victoria Giglio- BIO4C09 Experimental adaptation of P. destructrans to various temperature conditions (Sept 2016- April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. JP Xu; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Caitlin West- BIO4C09 Effects of temperature exposure on juvenile phenotypes (Sept 2016-April 2017) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Manprit Kaur-LifeSci4EP6Placement at Department of Health Sciences-McMaster University, Education and Curriculum Development (Sept 2016-April 2017) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Elizabeth dos Santos

 2015

  • Claude NassehBIO3EP3Placement at Smile Smile Dental Office (Sept-Dec 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Dr. Hyam Karam
  • Peter Mikhail-BIO3EP3Placement at Britannia Dental Centre (Sept-Dec 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Dr. Sherif Sorial
  • Wayne Yeung-BIO3EP3 Placement towards the implementation of the Learning Portfolio in BIO1A03 Cell and Molecular Biology (Sept-Dec 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Kim Dej; Placement Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Rupinder Chahal-LifeSci3EP3 Placement at Medical Care Centre-Physician Shadowing (Jan-April 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Dr. Jaskaran Singh
  • Phebe Li-LifeSci3EP3 Placement in Biological Illustration Suite at McMaster (Summer 2015) Academic Co-supervision with Dr. Kim Dej; Placement Supervisors: The Scientist Magazine Art Director, Lisa Modica
  • Irtaza Tahir-LifeSci3RP3 Characterizing the immune response of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Spring-Summer 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • McMaster Genetically Engineered Machines (mGEM) Team Multi-chromatic Light Controlled Protein Expression and Autolysis in E.coli (Spring-Summer 2015) Co-adviser with Dr. Kim Dej and Dr. Marie Elliot; Primary Lab Supervisor: Alison Cowie
  • Eli Jany-BIO4C09An identification of the localization of reactive oxygen species in plant roots (Summer 2015). Assisting student with the experimental design and microscopic imaging. Primary Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Weretilnyk
  • Rajesh Shah-LifeSci3RP3 Investigating the Cardiac Regulation of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Sept – Dec 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Lauren Tabone-BIO4C09 Investigating the impact of the SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) model on student learning when integrating social media in the science classroom (Sept 2015-April 2016; MREB protocol in preparation) Primary Supervisor: Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. Kim Dej
  • Chloe Bair-Marshall-BIO4C09 Confocal imaging of developing excitatory circuitry (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Deda Gillespie; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Irtaza Tahir-LifeSci4C09 The effect of plant-derived toxins on the immune system of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Krishna Srinivasan-BIO4C09 The Effects of Pharmaceutical Exposures on the Development of Zebrafish (Sept 2015-April 2016) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva

 2014

  • Seema Mehta-BIO3EP3 Placement at Team Maple Walk-in Clinic & Family Practice (Jan-April 2014) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisory: Dr. Mahreen Razzaq
  • Daniel Hsieh-BIO3EP3 Placement in Biological Illustration Suite at McMaster (Summer 2014) Co-supervision with Dr. Kim Dej
  • Yvette Kuo-LifeSci3EP3 Placement in Biological Illustration Suite at McMaster (Summer 2014) Co-supervision with Dr. Kim Dej
  • Ahmed Al-Shafayeen-BIO3IR3 Developmental Plasticity of Inhibitory Circuits (Sept-Dec 2014) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Deda Gillespie; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Ana Kovacevic-BIO3EP3 Disseminating Scientific Knowledge to Patients (Sept 2014-April 2015 by permission) Placement Supervisor: Dr. Kjetil Ask; Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Kamika Sylvester-LifeSci3EP3 Nursing Placement at Toronto General Hospital-General Surgery, Medical Surgery Day Unit and Gyne-Urology Units (Summer 2014) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva Placement Supervisors: Joseph (Nurse Educator) and Marcia (Nurse Manager)
  • Hojin Choi-LifeSci4EP6 Physiotherapy placement at AIM Health Group (Sept 2014-April 2015) Academic Supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva; Placement Supervisor: Julie Ratelle
  • Giuliana Guarna-BIO4F06 Social Media in the Science Classroom (Sept 2014-April 2015; MREB2014 166) Primary Supervisor: Rosa da Silva; Co-supervisor: Dr. Kim Dej
  • Dana Abu-Jazar-BIO4C09 Knowledge Translation to Patients with COPD (Sept 2014-April 2015) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Kjetil Ask; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Edwin Wong-BIO4C09 Effects of PAOPA on the cognitive deficits of Schizophrenia (Sept 2014-April 2015) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Ram Mishra; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Meha Bhatt-BIO4C09 Interpersonal Violence in Males (Sept 2014-April 2015) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Mohit Bhandari; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Natalie Richard-BIO4C09 The Effects of Chronic Analgesic Exposure on the Development of Zebrafish in Early Life Stages (Sept 2014-April 2015) Primary Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Wilson; Co-supervisor: Dr. Rosa da Silva
  • Irtaza Tahir-Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (Oct 2014-present)
  • Rajesh Shah- Volunteer Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Colony Care and Maintenance (Fall-Winter 2014)

Outreach

  • Attendance and Participation at:
    • Fall Previews I & II
    • Level 1 & 2 info nights
    • Molecular Biology and Genetics Program Welcome Night
    • McMaster Biology Society Experiential Learning and Thesis Information Night
    • Ontario University Fair
    • Faculty of Science Level II Programs Fair
  • Faculty Advisor, McMaster Genetically Engineered Machines Team (mGEM)
  • Member of Faculty Team coordinating, preparing and presenting engaging recruitment talks on behalf of the Department of Biology and Life Sciences program for new Science 1A03 course
  • Faculty Mentor, Science in Hamilton Networking initiative
  • Faculty Member, McMaster Science Society Academic Science Fund Committee
  • Member and Faculty Mentor, McMaster Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
  • Faculty Advisor Board Member for the Macmillan Publishing (How Life Works Textbook)
  • Faculty Panelist for McMaster Biology Society Open Forum
  • Co-organizer of the McMaster Online and Blended Learning Symposium
  • Presentations and Panelist on research and project opportunities at McMaster University at the Students Advancing Brain Cancer Research (SABCR) Research Info Night (together with Dr. Kim Dej)
  • Workshop Presenter for TEDx at McMaster University Workshop;  Topic: “The Next Generation Classroom”
  • Community liaison, presenting various workshops in the local Hamilton Area pertaining to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and other Arthropods.  Also coordinating cell and molecular biology workshops at McMaster University for local highschools