Current Trainees

Mawra Gohar

Mawra Gohar is a Ph.D. candidate in the Niu lab at the University of Calgary, where she began her studies in September 2021. Her research focuses on using bacteriophage therapy to treat Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC) infections, as well as investigating phage resistance mechanisms and host immunity. Mawra completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Pakistan, where she also served as a Lecturer at Lahore Garrison University.

Sidra Moqaddes

Sidra Moqaddes is a Ph.D. candidate who joined Niu’s lab in September 2021. Her research focuses on exploring the role of bacteriophages and phage-derived endolysins as potential antimicrobial agents against bacterial bovine respiratory disease. She also investigates the anti-viral defense systems present in BRD pathogens. Professionally, she is a microbiologist and completed her under graduation and Masters, in “Microbiology” from Pakistan. In her career, she served as a Lecturer of Microbiology at Lahore Garrison University, Pakistan for a period of 7 years.

Yiran Ding

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Kansas State University and moved to Canada in 2015. After that, I completed a Master’s in Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba, focusing on food safety and controlling Shiga-toxin E. coli in fresh produce. I then gained valuable industry experience as a Quality Control Supervisor, where I honed my leadership and quality assurance skills. Over a decade of studying abroad has taught me independence and the ability to adapt quickly to new environments. Currently, I’m in my third year of a Ph.D. program at the University of Calgary, researching strategies to reduce E. coli O157 shedding in cattle using direct-fed microbial candidates. Through my Ph.D., I hope to apply my knowledge to real-world challenges in food safety and animal health while enjoying the opportunity to work on something I’m truly passionate about.

Jenny (Jaeeun) Hyun

Jenny holds a BSc in Immunology and Infection from the University of Alberta and an MSc in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Calgary. She currently works as a research assistant in Dr. Niu’s lab, where her research is centered on isolating, identifying, and characterizing phages that target multidrug-resistant ST131 E. coli. Throughout her academic career, Jenny has contributed to a wide range of projects, from microbiome research using colitis models to animal infection studies, and participated in testing a COVID-19 biosensor in collaboration with an engineering team. She has coauthored several scientific publications, including one as a co-first author. Outside of the lab, Jenny enjoys camping and kayaking with friends and her cherished dog, Toby.

Undergraduate Students

Anna

Anna recently finished her first year of a BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Calgary and is currently working on a project which aims to isolate and characterize phages to formulate effective phage cocktails capable of lysing pathogenic enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Katie

Katie recently completed her BSc in Integrative Biology at the University of Alberta. This summer, she will be working on a project that seeks to identify and characterize transcriptomic changes in Escherichia coli O157:H7 at various stages of bacteriophage infection. She will also be assisting with a project that focuses on evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial peptides at treating bovine respiratory disease using a mouse model.

Paige

Paige is going into her 4 th year of the Honours Biochemistry (Biomedical Research Specialization) program at McMaster University. She is currently working in Dr. Niu’s lab on a summer research project investigating how bacteriophages affect Escherichia coli ST131, a multidrug-resistant strain associated with global infections.

Bondie

Hello, I’m Bondie! I’ve just finished my second year of a BSc in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology at the University of Calgary. This summer I’ll be working in Dr. Niu’s lab on a project that focuses on quantifying resistance and assessing fitness of Escherichia coli ST131 phage-resistant mutants in comparison to ancestral strains and identifying the genetic changes associated with phage-resistance in these mutants. In my free time, I enjoy reading, painting, playing piano, and gaming.

Vincent

Hello, I’m Vincent! I just finished my first year of a Neuroscience and Physiology double major at the University of Toronto. I will be working in Dr. Niu’s lab this summer to continue my exploration into the use of bacteriophages as a method of eliminating antimicrobial resistant strains of Escherichia coli. I have a passion for research especially related to healthcare and I am excited to use my experiences to further my understanding.

Emma

Emma has recently completed her second year of a BSc in Honours Zoology at the University of Calgary. She is currently working on a summer research project investigating the interactions between Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli (APEC) O78 and bacteriophages to determine whether bacteriophages can be used as an alternative for antibiotics. With connections to the rural poultry farming industry, Emma hopes to use the experience gained in Dr. Niu’s Lab to strengthen her application to the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

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