Graduates

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.

Dr. Jieting Lin

Dr. Jieting Lin earned her PhD in Microbiology from South China University of Technology in 2021. In the same year, she joined Dr. Dongyan Niu’s lab at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, as a postdoctoral researcher. Supported by a Mitacs Elevate fellowship, her research focuses on innovative bacteriophage-based solutions to combat bacterial infections in livestock, particularly pathogens causing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

Jieting has worked on bacteriophage endolysins and antimicrobial peptides, addressing multidrug-resistant pathogens to improve animal health and enhance food safety. Her expertise spans bacteriophage applications, gene and protein function characterization, and microbial adaptations. Her PhD work has contributed to several peer-reviewed publications, and she is deeply committed to translating fundamental microbiology into practical applications to tackle global challenges in agriculture and public health.

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.

Akeel Faizal

Hello, I am Akeel. I’m a MSc student that is very interested in bacteriophage therapy and the effects to treat pathogenic bacteria such as STEC. My current research focuses on the effects and efficacy of STEC bacteriophages on the immunological system.