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Antanas (Tony) Staskevicius - Scholarships and Training
Research Associate
University of Sherbrooke
tel: (819) 820-6868
tonys_cool@hotmail.com

I recently completed my Master’s degree at the University of Sherbrooke with Dr. Xavier Roucou, studying the biology of various prion protein mutants. I am now pursuing a research associate in this group. After having completed my undergraduate studies at McGill University in biochemistry, I gained considerable interest in studying the enigmatic  prion protein from a cell biologist’s perspective. Over the course of my Master’s studies, I earned the chance of a lifetime to work in Dr. Hubert Laude’s laboratory at the INRA at Jouy-en-Josas, France thanks to the PrioNet Canada-Europe reciprocal exchange program. There, I studied the deposition of messenger RNA (mRNA) in the brains of scrapie-infected mice.

Taking part in PrioNet’s exchange program to get involved with PrioNet’s SYPA association and to share my experience and enthusiasm with my peers. I am once again taking part in education committee meetings this year, and helping other students achieve their academic goals.

Rory Shott - Scholarships and Training
PhD Candidate
University of Alberta
tel: (780) 492-6606
rshott@ualberta.ca

My interest in scientific research led me to the University of Alberta where I am pursuing my PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Luis Schang. My research has focused on the development of kinomic assays to identify signaling pathways mediating prion disease pathogenesis by means of protein kinase disregulation.

My role with SYPA has involved acting as the liaison between PrioNet SYPA and the Advanced Foods and Materials Network (AFMnet). To this end, I promoted PrioNet’s involvement in AFMnet’s Professional Development School (PDS). The PDS was established by AFMnet to provide HQP with training in skills deemed necessary for success in any career, be it science-related or otherwise. It has been a pleasure to work with both SYPA and AFMNet and I look forward to continuing such work in the future. 

Anne Rainville - Communications and Governance
BSc Candidate
University of Calgary
tel: (403) 589-2850
amrainvi@ucalgary.ca

I am a 4th year undergraduate student in Science, Technology, and Society at the University of Calgary, extending graduation for one more year to complete an honours program on the knowledge transfer within Canada’s NCEs. I also hope to pursue internship opportunities in this final year. I currently work for Dr. Josephine Smart at the University of Calgary as a research assistant, examining from an Anthropological perspective the socio-economic impacts of BSE in Alberta. This has given me an exciting introduction into the social side of prion research and sparked an interest in the field.

My involvement with SYPA as a new member of the Communication and Governance Committee is a way to further this interest while increasing exposure through my involvement with the student network of PrioNet.

Julie Proft - Communications and Governance
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Calgary
tel: (403) 220-2190
jproft@ucalgary.ca

I am a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary in the lab of Jan Braun. We are working with protein misfolding diseases, including not only prion diseases, but also Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease. I earned my PhD in the lab of Martin Groschup at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute Federal Research Institute for Animal Health in Griefswald, Germany. Since then, I have been working at the University of Calgary.

I started working with SYPA last year and it has been interesting. I have enjoyed organizing the videoconference series between Edmonton, Lethbridge and Calgary, and being a part of the Prioneer Newsletter group. This year will again be busy with the videoconference series, as well as my involvement with the Communications and Governance Committee. I am very happy to be a part of the 2010 SYPA council.

Nishandan Yogasingam - Communications and Governance
Research Technician
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
tel: (613) 852 0570
yogasin@mcmaster.ca

As a graduate from McMaster University, I am currently working as a molecular biologist for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Dr. Balachandran's Ottawa TSE lab performing research and diagnostic work. I've been working with TSEs for 5 years now. I enjoy my work plenty. The thing with TSEs is that they aren't predictable, so every day in the lab is a new experience and surprises pop up all the time. I enjoy the little things like sampling tissue from an animal specimen's brain and discovering a bullet lodged deep inside the cerebellum.  It's like pouring yourself a bowl of cereal in the morning and the prize rolling out with your Frakenberries. You know that you're too old and mature to be excited by this revelation but you can't help screeching in delight. Besides, you're eating Frankenberries so you handed in your maturity card a long time ago.

This is my third year with the council and sitting on the Communications and Membership committee as chair. I lend a hand putting together the Prioneer, assembling surveys, mashing up some graphics and design work for the ASM, and other various delicious tidbits.

Deena Gendoo - Events
PhD Candidate
McGill University
tel: (514) 398-6175
deena.gendoo@mail.mcgill.ca

I am currently a PhD student at McGill University, pursuing bioinformatics and protein modeling on prions and amyloid-forming proteins. I have been fortunate to study and work as a Marie Curie Early Student Training Research Fellow at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, and later work as a Bioinformatician at the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. I like to travel and learn about new cultures, and pursuing PhD studies in Canada is a new and enjoyable experience for me.

I have enjoyed being part of the Events committee in the SYPA council this last year, working with other council members to facilitate large-scale social and academic events such as SYPA day. I am very happy to be part of a dynamic community of young researchers that not only pursues top science, but which also value and encourage interaction and communication within its members.

Irene Oviedo Landaverde - Events 
Technician
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
tel: (613) 228-6198 x 5429
irene.oviedolandaverde@inspection.gc.ca
 
I joined  the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Unit headed by Dr. Aru Balachandran at the Fallowfield branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ottawa in late 2008. I originally started working in the prion field in 2007 when I joined Dr. Gordon Hayward, Dr. Warren Stiver, and SYPA's Angela Catford and Nishandan Yogasingam at the University of Guelph after having finished my Master's degree at McGill University in the department of Biology.

I first joined the SYPA council in 2008 where I worked alongside Shannon Braithwaite in the Education and Training sub-commitee and then I moved to chair the Events sub-committee last year and that is where I will be working again this year. Please feel free to contact me or any of the council members as we would be more than happy to help.