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Our Team

Team photo 11 students and Dr. Gilbride outdoors
Daniel Gómez Avín

Dr. Hassan Waseem, PhD

May 2023 – Present

Postdoctoral Researcher

Dr. Hassan Waseem earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology in 2019. As a research scholar/ assistant at Michigan State University, he conducted research on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Water-Borne Pathogens, and the design of cost-effective amplification assays. Currently, he serves as a Senior Research Fellow, delving into the dynamics of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other Respiratory Viruses.

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Karl Cruz, MSc

July 2023 – Present

Lab Manager & Research Associate

Karl obtained his MSc in Molecular Science in 2023 at Toronto Metropolitan University. Prior to joining the team, he was involved in cell biology research delving into the biology of centrioles and primary cilium in mammalian cells. Currently, Karl oversees the day-to-day operation of the lab both technical and administrative to ensure timely processing of wastewater samples. He also plays a vital role in optimizing qPCR and ddPCR assays for better detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. Karl hopes to continue his career in the research and development industry.

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Moiz Syed, MSc

March 2023 – Present

Research Associate 

Moiz earned his MSc in Molecular Sciences in 2023, with a focus on the impacts of logging on mercury methylation in boreal forests using advanced molecular techniques. Currently, he plays a crucial role in the detection of COVID-19, Influenza A and B, and Pepper virus from various wastewater sources in the Gilbride Lab. Eager to broaden his skill set, he is now delving into the field of bioinformatics to complement his extensive experience in molecular laboratory practices.

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Racha Asaad, MSc

September 2023 – Present

Research Assistant

Racha earned her MSc in Genomic Medicine in 2020 at Imperial College London. Presently, she plays a vital role in the Gilbride lab where she processes wastewater samples for RNA extraction. Racha aims to pursue a career in genetics research and analysis.

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Arnold Au

September 2023 – Present

Research Assistant

Arnold is currently an MSc student at Toronto Metropolitan University focusing on research on the protein interactions of actin. Alongside the completion of his MSc, he also plays a vital role in the Gilbride lab with processing of wastewater samples and RNA extraction. In the future, Arnold aspires to continue his work in the biotechnology industry.

Past Members

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Samantha Hernandez

May 2021-Present

BSc. Biology

Samantha is a Biology undergraduate student at Ryerson University. Samantha specializes in the COVID-19 Project where she processes passive samples for RNA extraction and detection for Pepper Virus and COVID-19 from various water treatment facilities. Samantha is passionate about her work under the Dr. Gilbride research lab and aspires to continue her research and professional work in the sector of microbiology. 

samantha.hernandez@torontomu.ca 

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Isabella Taskiran

September 2021 - Current

Junior Lab Coordinator 

Biology HBSc. Ryerson University Conferred 2021                          Currently Pursuing Public Health BASc. Ryerson University

Isabella became the Junior Lab Coordinator in September 2021. Isabella oversees the day-to-day technical and administrative operations of a laboratory including inventory maintenance, ordering of supplies, and assisting with the administration of laboratory personnel. She hopes to continue her career in health care after completing her studies at Ryerson.

isabella.taskiran@torontomu.ca

 

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Nora Dannah

September 2021 - Current 

Nora Dannah completed a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in 2021. She now manages the day-to-day running of the Gilbride Lab. As well, she oversees the lab's research operations to ensure they are running smoothly.  

 

Daniel Gómez Avín

Babneet Channa 

September 2022 - Present

 

 

 

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Farnaz Farahbakhsh

September 2021 - Current

Farnaz Farahbakhsh received her Master’s of Clinical Sciences at the University of Western Ontario. For several years she has been involved as a leader in stem cell donor recruitment in Canada, advocating for patients from diverse ethnic groups who need a blood stem cell transplantation. She is currently leading the Stem Cell Club’s Iranian Donors Save Lives Campaign alongside an engaging team of volunteers to recruit Iranians as potential stem cell donors.

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Adam Varghese

May 2020 - May 2021

Junior Lab Coordinator
Biomedical Science BSc. 2nd year. Ryerson University

Adam became the Junior Lab Coordinator in May 2020. Adam oversees the day-to-day technical and administrative operations of a laboratory including inventory maintenance, ordering of supplies, and assisting with administration of laboratory personnel. He hopes to continue his career in health care after completing his studies at Ryerson.

avarghese@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) 

Daniel Gómez Avín

Daniel Gómez Avín

May 2019 - August 2019

Biotechnology Engineering IBT. 4th year, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education

Daniel joined the lab as Mitacs intern from Mexico in May 2019. He worked with a PCR-based detection method to identify different incompatibility groups in bacterial communities and isolates from wastewater treatment plants and the natural aquatic environment. He also sequenced some of the PCR products to determine possible plasmids carried by these microorganisms. His research provided results on the prevalence of incompatibility groups and their host-range.

daniel.gomezavin@torontomu.ca

Katrina Mekhail

Katrina Mekhail

September 2018 - April 2019

Biomedical Science BSc. 3rd year, Ryerson University 

Katrina started working in the lab as a Research Assistant with Farhan in September 2018. She is contributing to the ciprofloxacin project in exploring ciprofloxacin resistance in bacteria isolated from urban and rural water sources. Specifically, she is researching quinolone-resistance (Qnr) gene differences in resistant and sensitive isolates that confer possible increased ciprofloxacin resistance and dessimination processes.

kmekhail@torontomu.ca

Maverick Aradanas

Maverick Aradanas

September 2017 - April 2019

SCI 999- Research Practicum Student
Biology BSc. 4th year Ryerson University

Involved in making media, microbial culture work and helping with making antibiotic profiles and PCR. Maverick has great interest towards microbiology, in particular interactions between microorganisms within extreme environments such as waste water treatment plants. Maverick aspires work within sectors involving microbiology, either as a researcher or professional work.

maverick.aradanas@torontomu.ca 

Hina Anwar

Hina Anwar 

September 2018 - December 2018

UK Intern - Masters in Pharmacy, UCL

Hina is doing her Masters in pharmacy and joined the lab for the Fall 2018 semester to work on a research project as part of her degree. Her project for the fall term was on characterizing Archaea clones with the amoA gene isolated from wastewater treatment plants. She focused on the ammonia oxidation step of nitrification carried out by archaea and looked at phylogenetic differences within archael WWTP isolates. She is currently finishing up her degree and looking to start her career as a pharmacist. 

Danica Dy

Danica Dy

May 2017 - August 2017, May 2018 - August 2018

US Intern – Biological Sciences BS. 3rd year, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Danica joined the Gilbride Lab as a research intern in the Summer of 2017, working on a project identifying ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates in urban and rural water sources in the GTA alongside Farhan and the Summer 2017 Berkeley Intern, Katherine Baney. She returned the following summer as a research assistant to continue the project on identifying quinolone resistance genes and their frequency as a mehcanism for ciprofloxacin resistance. Danica hopes to integrate her passion for science and public health as a researcher and in a future profession.    

Kate Davies

Kate Davies

September 2017 - April 2018

Biology BSc. 4th year, Ryerson University 

Kate was junior lab manager during her time in the Gilbride lab and will be graduating Ryerson in the Spring of 2019 from the Biology program. She will be starting a Master’s at the University of Toronto in Scarborough in fall 2019 in the Environmental Science program.

Past Research Assistants: Perter Vi, Hooman Sarvi, Katherine Baney, Jaerok Kim, Sharmay Cu, Tung Nguyen, Zohreh Kianfard, Nadine Paul, Chak Chan, Alexandra Cordner, Pranavan Selvananthan, Fatima Sotoudehfar, Sameer Khan