Martina Hausner
Martina completed her undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Toronto in 1987. She then worked as a research technician in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Toronto. She completed her M.Sc. degree in Biology at the University of Waterloo in 1991. She obtained her doctorate degree from the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich in 1997. She then worked as a postdoctoral research fellow and later as the coordinator of the microbiology group at the Institute of Water Quality Control and Waste Management at the Technical University of Munich. She was a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) from 2004 and 2007. She joined Ryerson University in 2007.
Farhana Shamsad
Farhana is a Ph.D. student in Molecular Science program working with Dr. Martina Hausner. She is investigating the effects of different factors on plasmid transfer and transconjugant formation in planktonically grown (batch cultures) cells and in biofilms. She is using microscopic methods, culture based quantification on selective agar plates, qPCR and RT-PCR to evaluate transconjugant formation and plasmid transfer frequency. Farhana completed her M.Sc. in Molecular Science from Ryerson University in 2012, worked under the supervision of Dr. Martina Hausner. During her M.Sc., she investigated the influence of glucose and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on biofilm architecture and transfer of plasmid pJP4 in soil-derived mixed culture biofilms, and also determined biodegradation of 2,4-D. Glucose and 2,4-D represented the absence and presence of selective pressure, respectively. Farhana also worked as a microbiologist from 2007 to 2009 at Maxxam Analytics Inc. in Mississauga, Ontario.
Spencer Crook
Spencer Crook is a fourth year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Biological Science at Ryerson University. Spencer completed an undergraduate thesis in 2014 under the supervision of Dr. Hausner, conducting research on Biofuel (ethanol) producing bacterial communities. Currently, Spencer holds a research assistant position in the Hausner lab, working toward creating a pathogen detection system for the food industry.
Hussein Hamam
Hussein Hamam is a fourth year undergraduate student. He is majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in Psychology. Since his second year at Ryerson University, he worked with graduate students to analyze the antibiotic sensitivity of planktonic cells and biofilms. Recently, he is working with Syed to investigate the efficacy of diverting portion of wastewater as a nutrient supplement to be used as a cellulose source for production of bioethanol. Hussein Has presented his project at conferences, including The Canadian Society of Microbiologists conference in 2016. He received the Biomedical Science Faculty Award in 2016.
Email: [email protected] |
Manaum Zain
Manaum is in her 4th year of Biomedical Sciences. In the past, she has worked with PhD candidate, Farhana, to determine the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration of antibiotics on Pseudomonas putida. Currently, she is doing her thesis under the co-supervision of Dr. Martina Hausner and Dr. Roberto Botelho. Her project focuses on studying the dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus mutans biofilms and their interactions with RAW macrophages. This research is significant because of the medical implications of P. aeruginosa and S. mutans in cystic fibrosis and dental caries, respectively.
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
Syed Ibrahim
Syed Ibrahim is a fourth year undergrad student in the Biomedical Sciences program at Ryerson University. Working with graduate students, he has examined the antibiotic sensitivity of planktonic cells and biofilms. Together with Hussein, he is currently investigating the use of a microbial consortium to produce bioethanol from Green Bin organics and waste water. By understanding antibiotic potency and diverting waste products, these projects aim to improve the health of humans and their environment. He has presented his work at conferences and received the Canadian Society of Microbiologists (CSM) Undergraduate Award in 2015.
Email [email protected]
Email [email protected]
Former Students/ Alumni
Nick Dimas, M.Sc. (April 2016)
Project: biofilm monitoring; characterize biofilms at different stages through the treatment process.
Paul Proios, M.Sc. (April 2016)
Project: bacterial growth and biofilm development in meat soaker pads.
Emma Brun-Hayn, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016).
Project: Vitamin D effect on the invasiveness of Adherent Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC).
Current: M.Sc. program, University of Toronto
Sujeev Sithamparanathan, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016)
Project: stability of the pJP4 plasmid in several Pseudomonas putida strains.
Current: M.D program, Saba University School of Medicine
Zuhra Omary, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016)
Project: bacterial plasmids and recipients.
Current: M.Sc. program, University of Toronto
Matthew Starek, M.Sc. (Sept. 2007- Jan. 2010)
Project: toluene degradation in lab scale microcosms simulating rock fracture aquifers.
Current position: MBA program, Concordia University.
Laura Berthiaume, M.Sc. (Jan. 2009 - July 2011)
Project: Characterization microbial electrolysis cell biofilms.
Heysin (Cindy) Rho, B.Sc (Sept. 2011 - Aug 2012)
Project: Evaluation of the cellulose-degrading capability of compost-derived microbial communities.
Borhan Uddin, M.Sc. Project: Conjugative transfer of plasmid pJP4 in biofilms and catabolic activity of transconjugant
Augustyna Dobosz, M.Sc.
Project: Characterizing and enriching a cellulose-degrading microbial consortia.
Floriana Postelnik, M.Sc.
Project: Examining Plasmid Transfer of pJP4 in a Mixed Community Biofilm Formed in a Microcosm Simulating a Porous Aquifer.
Patrick Ronan, M.Sc.
Project: Enriching and Characterizing an Aerotolerant Mired Community Capable of Cellulose Hydrolysis and Ethanol Production
Guy (Don) Nguyen, B.Sc.Project: NaDCC as an alternative method to prevent biofilm development in comparison to sodium hypochlorite.
Dmitry Lomovtsev, B.Sc.
Project: NaDCC as an alternative method to prevent biofilm development in comparison to sodium hypochlorite.
Alexandra Waskow, B.Sc.
Project: Effects of prebiotics on the microbiome, a collection of intestinal bacteria, before and after the administration of Citrobacter rodentium.
Project: biofilm monitoring; characterize biofilms at different stages through the treatment process.
Paul Proios, M.Sc. (April 2016)
Project: bacterial growth and biofilm development in meat soaker pads.
Emma Brun-Hayn, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016).
Project: Vitamin D effect on the invasiveness of Adherent Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC).
Current: M.Sc. program, University of Toronto
Sujeev Sithamparanathan, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016)
Project: stability of the pJP4 plasmid in several Pseudomonas putida strains.
Current: M.D program, Saba University School of Medicine
Zuhra Omary, B.Sc. (Sept. 2012 - April 2016)
Project: bacterial plasmids and recipients.
Current: M.Sc. program, University of Toronto
Matthew Starek, M.Sc. (Sept. 2007- Jan. 2010)
Project: toluene degradation in lab scale microcosms simulating rock fracture aquifers.
Current position: MBA program, Concordia University.
Laura Berthiaume, M.Sc. (Jan. 2009 - July 2011)
Project: Characterization microbial electrolysis cell biofilms.
Heysin (Cindy) Rho, B.Sc (Sept. 2011 - Aug 2012)
Project: Evaluation of the cellulose-degrading capability of compost-derived microbial communities.
Borhan Uddin, M.Sc. Project: Conjugative transfer of plasmid pJP4 in biofilms and catabolic activity of transconjugant
Augustyna Dobosz, M.Sc.
Project: Characterizing and enriching a cellulose-degrading microbial consortia.
Floriana Postelnik, M.Sc.
Project: Examining Plasmid Transfer of pJP4 in a Mixed Community Biofilm Formed in a Microcosm Simulating a Porous Aquifer.
Patrick Ronan, M.Sc.
Project: Enriching and Characterizing an Aerotolerant Mired Community Capable of Cellulose Hydrolysis and Ethanol Production
Guy (Don) Nguyen, B.Sc.Project: NaDCC as an alternative method to prevent biofilm development in comparison to sodium hypochlorite.
Dmitry Lomovtsev, B.Sc.
Project: NaDCC as an alternative method to prevent biofilm development in comparison to sodium hypochlorite.
Alexandra Waskow, B.Sc.
Project: Effects of prebiotics on the microbiome, a collection of intestinal bacteria, before and after the administration of Citrobacter rodentium.