Dr. John Paul Pezacki

 

Full Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences
​University of Ottawa
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Curriculum Vitae

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OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in joining the lab? 
Contact Dr. Pezacki for more details

CONTACT US

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GRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS

Spencer Uguccioni

Jason D. Josephson

PhD Candidate
HBSc Biochemistry (Microbiology and Immunology), University of Ottawa


Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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• Identifying and developing methods to increase the production of cytokines through innate antiviral immune signaling.
• Altering the levels of mature microRNAs and their downstream targets to affect cell signaling.
• Assessing the activity of metabolic enzymes during infection, and the differential binding of copper ions to cysteine residues to affect the functions of proteins.

Hobbies:

• Shotokan Karate
• Italian Cooking
• Distance Kayaking

PhD Candidate
HBSc Biochemistry, University of Ottawa

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Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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Parrish Evers

PhD Candidate
​HBSc Biochemistry (Chemical Biology), University of Ottawa


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​Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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• Applying chemical proteomics to study and develop novel inhibitors against various viruses and early onset Parkinson's disease
• Studying the role and regulation of non-coding RNAs (such as microRNAs) during pathological states
• Using non-canonical/unnatural amino acids to design synthetic proteins for study and enhanced improved therapeutic function

Hobbies:

• Cooking
• Traveling
• Writing and Performing Music

Eryn Lundrigan

PhD Candidate
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy and Cell Biology), McGill University

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​Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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• Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 protein Nsp9 involvement in viral evasion through interactions with innate immune pathways.
• Interaction mapping of SARS-CoV-2 protein Orf3a using genetic code expansion and the unnatural amino acid AzF.
• Engineering SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase to have endonuclease function towards viral RNA using genetic code expansion and the unnatural amino acid BpyAla.

Hobbies:

• Reading
• Cycling
• Gardening

Elexa Scott

Matthew O'Neill

PhD Candidate
​HBSc Biopharmaceutical Science (Medicinal Chemistry), University of Ottawa

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​Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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• Development of  bioorthogonal small molecule probes to investigate biological processes, such as viral entry through the endocytic pathway and oxidative stress in Parkinson's disease.
• Design and synthesis of activity-based protein profiling probes for orphan nuclear receptors to uncover novel ligand interactions.
• Synthesis of unnatural amino acids, 2,2'-bipyridal alanine and derivatives, for application in genetic code expansion and nucleic acid cleavage. 
• Investigation of novel bioorthogonal click reactions.

Hobbies:

• Cooking and Baking
• Crafting
• Yoga

MSc Student
​HBSc Biomedical Science (Cellular and Molecular Medicine), University of Ottawa


​Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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• ​Engineering viral proteins for unique therapeutic applications using the techniques of genetic code expansion and click-chemistry.

Hobbies:

• Hiking
• Playing Guitar
• Lots of Sports

William McLeish

MSc Student
HBSc Biochemistry (Microbiology and Immunology), University of Ottawa
MA Music, Royal Conservatoire The Hague
BA Music, Royal Conservatoire The
Hague
                                        
 Hometown: Waterloo, ON

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• Exploring DDX5 as a possible target of host-targeting broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics

Hobbies:

• Running
• Playing Cello
• Cuddling with My Dog

Alex Strople

MSc Student
​HBSc Biomedical Science, University of Ottawa

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Hometown: Oakville, ON

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Hobbies:

• ​Swimming
• Running
• Traveling

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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS

John Pereira

Honours Student
Student in HBSc Biochemistry (Chemical Biology)



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​Hometown: Ottawa, ON

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Hobbies:

• Backwoods Camping
• Collecting Vinyl Records

Manaal Ahmed

​Honours Student
Student in Biochemistry



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​Hometown: 

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Hobbies:

Anannya Islam

Honours Student
Student in Biopharmaceutical Science, Medicinal Chemistry



Hometown​: 

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Hobbies:

Jean Paul Kazzi

Unpaid Laborer
Student in HBSc Biochemistry and BASc Chemical Engineering



​Hometown​: Laval, QC

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• Exploring multi-fidelity transfer learning for COVID-19 Nsp13 helicase ligand discovery (co-supervised by Dr. Gentile).
• Studying effects of protein palmitoylation through molecular dynamics. 

Hobbies:

• Reading
• Traveling
• ​Learning languages

Emilia Wesolkowski

Christina MacLean

Undergraduate Student​





Hometown​: 

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• Synthesizing the unnatural amino acid Bpy-Ala.

Hobbies:

• Crocheting 
• Writing
  
• Going on Walks
  

Undergraduate Student​





Hometown​: 

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Ava Zidek

USRO Student Researcher





Hometown​: 

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Chloé Champion

USRO Student Researcher
Student in HBSc Biomedical Science (Cellular and Molecular Medicine)



Hometown​: Timmins, ON

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• Studying the development of drugs inhibiting viral production and their effects on the enzymatic pathways of the immune system.
  

Hobbies:

• ​Wakesurfing
• Hiking
• ​Playing Piano

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LAB MANAGERS

Jordan Pham

Lab Manager
​and PhD Student
MSc Chemistry, University of Ottawa
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Hometown: Ottawa

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ALUMNI

Research associates and Post-doctoral fellows: 
Megan Powdrill, PhD
Christopher Ablenas, PhD 
Dennis Özcelik, PhD
Mirka Strmiskova, PhD
Allison Sherratt, PhD
Caroline Toudic, PhD
Dave Prescott, PhD

Graduate students: 
Dana Foss, PhD
Matthew Lafrenière, PhD
Ragunath Singaravelu, PhD
Neda Nasheri, PhD
​Rodney Lyn, PhD
Geneviève Desrochers​, PhD
Nadine Ahmed, PhD
Noreen Ahmed, PhD
Roxana Filip, PhD
Tyler Shaw, PhD
Didier Bilodeau, PhD
Julie Delcorde, MSc
Doug MacKenzie, MSc
Kaitlyn Margison, MSc
David Lefebvre, MSc
Kaitlyn Morrill, MSc
Mariam Serhan, MSc
Varis Gupta, MSc
Gabriel Sullivan, MSc
Christine Hum, MSc
​​Tiffany Stern, MSc
Salmaan Chummun, MSc

Laboratory managers:
​Shifawn O'Hara, MSc
Mariya Chigrinova, MSc
Yanouchka Rouleau, MSc