Name Sora Lee
Email leesoralee@gmail.com
Born in Seoul, Korea
Training
2004-2009 B.Sc.(Honours) Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University
Current Project Structure-Function studies of prokaryotic voltage gated sodium channel.
Likes Learning languages, any kind of chicken dish, lasagna, swimming, beautiful sunset, classical music, contemporary-instrumental music, travelling.
Dislikes Needles.
Name Sam Goodchild
Email sjgoodch@interchange.ubc.ca
Born in England, UK
Training
1996-2000 – MSci Chemistry, University College London, UK
2000-2001 – MSc Philosophy of Science, London School of Economics, UK
2004-2005 – MSc Neuroscience, Imperial College London, UK
2005-2009 – PhD Ion Channel Structure/Function and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, UK
Project Late sodium current modulation and unnatural amino acid mutagenesis.
Likes Mountains/sea and associated activities, science, photography, thinking...
Dislikes Cycling in torrential rain.
Name Jason D. Galpin
Born in Vancouver, Canada
Email galpin@interchange.ubc.ca
Training
1992 – B.Sc. Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
1996 - M.Sc. Chemistry (Organic Synthesis w. Saul Wolfe), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
2001 - Ph.D. Chemistry (Bio-organic Chemistry w. Martin Tanner/Brian Ellis), University of British Columbia, BC
2001-2003 - Post-Doctoral Fellow (Chemistry w. Craig Townsend), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md, USA
2003-2006 – Post-Doctoral Fellow (Biological Sciences w. Allison Kermode), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
2006-2009 - Research Associate (Pharmaceutical Sciences w. Adam Frankel), University of British Columbia, BC
Project Synthesis of unnatural amino-acids for incorporation into ion channels via the technique of nonsense suppression.
Likes Biking, running, astronomy, Wreck Beach, fine dining and great beer.
Dislikes Lack of dry ice, acid spills, dead oocytes.
Name Fayeza Islam
Born in Bangladesh
Email fayeza@interchange.ubc.ca
Training 3rd year UBC Biology Co-op student
Project Genetic factors that regulate sodium channel expression.
Likes Dancing, arts and crafts, collecting random things, scrapbooking, candles, pictures, art films.
Dislikes Most Bollywood films, techno.
Name Ma'en Sarhan
Email maenss@gmail.com
Training
2003-2005 – Simon Fraser University, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
2005-2007 – University of Alberta, B.Sc. Pharmacology
Project Structural basis for sodium channel regulation by divalent cations.
Name Christopher A. Ahern
Email cahern@interchange.ubc.ca
Born in Minnesota, USA
Training
1992 – B.Sc. Chemistry and B.Sc. Molecular Biology, UW-Madison, USA
1992-1996 – QC chemist General Mills, road cyclist/domestique extraordinaire, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
2002 – Ph.D. Physiology, UW-Madison, USA
2002-2007 – Post-Doctoral Fellow, Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Adviser: Dr. Spike Horn
Current Project Sodium channels as regulators of electrical signaling in the cardiovascular and nervous systems.
Likes Funding (all kinds), patch-clamping (all configurations), non-natural amino acids, Spanish guitar, road and mountain biking, skate skiing, food (all kinds).
Dislikes No funding (all kinds), bad cells, flat tires, no snow, bad food (all kinds).
Name Ana Niciforovic
Email ananic@interchange.ubc.ca
Born in Kragujevac, Serbia
Training
1994 – B.Sc. Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia
2001 – M.Sc. Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinca" and University of Belgrade, Serbia
2006 – Ph.D. Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Institute of Nuclear Sciences "Vinca”"and University of Belgrade, Serbia
Project Managing all ongoing lab projects and jump in whenever my skills are necessary (basically a full time job).
Likes Cell culture, mutagenesis, biochemistry, Il Divo, lakes, camping, spicy food.
Dislikes Missing band on gel after PCR, unsuccessful cloning attempts, unorganised and messy people, Vancouver’s rain.
Name Stephan Pless
Email spless@interchange.ubc.ca
Born in Hamburg, Germany
Training
1997-2004 – Diploma in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Hamburg, Germany
2005-2008 – PhD in Neurobiology at the University of Queensland, Australia
Current project Incorporation of unnatural amino acids and voltage-clamp fluorometry on voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels.
Likes Fencing, hiking, Mt Barney, snowboarding, windsurfing, functional knees, well behaved Xenopus oocytes and Astra.
Dislikes Disfunctional knees, warm beer and rainy days.
