MitoMetabLab Alumni
Welcome to Dr. Dunham-Snary's favourite page of the lab's website! Talented trainees are added to this section of the lab website upon graduation from Team MitoMetabLab. A number of dedicated, bright trainees have already graduated once and have chosen MitoMetabLab for their graduate studies.
Dr. Dunham-Snary looks forward to adding these students to the Hall of Fame TWICE!
Graduate Alumni
Abhishek Shastry | 2022-2024 TMED MSc
Abhishek holds multiple distinct honors in the MitoMetabLab archives! He was one of KDS' first undergraduate students, helping assemble chairs in the lab on his first day, one of the two first-ever MSc students, winner of countless (inter)national awards, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship awardee, and FIRST-EVER MSc graduate! After a stint as a clinical research associate here at Queen's, we are thrilled to wish him Bon Voyage as he heads to Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue his DO in summer 2025.
Undergraduate Alumni
Megan Breau | 2024-2025 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of our second Discovery Research Team, Megan is considering multiple medical school offers, including Trinity College.
Mohona Talukder | 2024-2025 DISC 599
Guntaas Kaur | 2024-2025 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of our second Discovery Research Team, Guntaas is heading to the University of Saskatchewan to pursue Dental School.
Abigail Koshan | 2024-2025 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of our second Discovery Research Team, Abbie is considering multiple MSc offers, including the University of Edinburgh.
Kiana McCauley | 2024-2025 HSCI 599
Kiana mastered tissue histology as she explored morphometric differences in the liver of our MNX mouse model. After an incredibly successful undergraduate career, our resident writer is contemplating Law School!
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of our second Discovery Research Team, Mohona is taking a well-earned break while her graduate applications are adjudicated.
Jacob Wong | 2024-2025 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of our second Discovery Research Team, Jacob is heading to UBC-Okanagan to pursue an MSc.
Jamie Turner | 2024-2025 PATH 499
Jamie completed a validation study exploring differential gene expression between white adipose tissue depots in our MNX mouse model. Upon graduation, Jamie will pursue her MSc at the University of Toronto commencing Fall 2025.
​
Raymond Popescu | 2022-2024 HSCI 599
Jayne Kang | 2023-2025 HSCI 599
Jayne completed a successful investigation into mitochondrial dynamics and structure in the endothelial cells of our MNX mouse model. After two years of exceptionally hard work, Jayne is taking a well-earned break and assembling her medical school applications.
Sydney Pendleton | 2023-2024 LISC 595
After completing a very successful independent study of mitochondrial biology and optimizing an aconitase activity protocol for the lab, Sydney is taking her well-earned break and assembling her applications for graduate studies in occupational/physical therapy.
​
Aleksa Groen in 't Woud | 2023-2024 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of an inaugural Discovery Research Team, Aleksa is heading across the pond to pursue an MSc in Biotech & Pharmaceutical Management at University College London!
​
Michelle Kuriakose | 2023-2024 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of an inaugural Discovery Research Team, Michelle is (re-) joining Team MitoMetabLab as an MSc student in Experimental Medicine!
​
Frances Ford | 2023-2024 PATH 499
Frances explored changes in platelet activation between mice of different age, sex, and mtDNA signature. Upon graduation, Frances is heading down the road to UToronto to pursue a Master's degree in Physiology!
​
Cassandra Braccio | 2022-2023 PHGY 499
Cassie conducted a preliminary investigation of mtDNA damage and NLRP3 inflammasone activation in the mouse aorta. Upon graduation, Cassandra was accepted to the highly competitive Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Program at Mohawk College/McMaster University!
​
Dalia Miller | 2021-2023 LISC 595
Dalia joined the team as a volunteer, remained as a student technician, and then completed a research independent study! Upon graduation, Dalia is taking a short break before returning to MitoMetabLab to pursue her MSc in Translational Medicine.
​​
MitoMetabLab History Note: Dalia was the lab's first employee!​
Abhishek Shastry | 2021-2022 PHGY 499
Abhishek identified changes in key metabolic pathways in the skeletal muscle between strains of laboratory mouse and the implications for type II diabetes treatment. Abhi was accepted to the combined BScH/MSc program in Translational Medicine and is pursuing his Master's degree.
​
MitoMetabLab History Note: Abhi was one of the lab's first-ever graduates!
Raymond completed a comprehensive screen of mitochondrial nucleoid distribution in endothelial cells from db/db mice and was a vital member of the team exploring nucleoid biology in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Upon graduation, Raymond will pursue medicine as a member of the 2024 entering class at McMaster University.
​
Alex Choe | 2023-2024 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of an inaugural Discovery Research Team, Alex is taking a well-earned break to travel and explore his future in health sciences.
​
Ethan Morad | 2023-2024 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of an inaugural Discovery Research Team, Ethan is taking a well-earned break to travel and explore his future in health sciences.
​
Prusha Balaratnam | 2023-2024 DISC 599
After conducting an exploration of gene expression in different regions of the MNX mouse brain as a member of an inaugural Discovery Research Team, Prusha is (re-) joining Team MitoMetabLab as as a Work Study student as she finishes her undergraduate studies and explores graduate school options. Update - Prusha will be commencing MSc studies in Translational Medicine at Queen's under the mentorship of Dr. Charlie Hindmarch in Sept. 2025.
​
Naomi Loughlin | 2023-2024 PATH 499
Naomi conducted a screen of mitochondrial heterogeneity in the retina and optic nerve, identifying key changes in ETC-I and ETC-IV. Upon graduation, Naomi is heading to Waterloo to pursue a Master's degree in Systems Design Engineering! Update - Naomi is a 2025 NSERC CGS Scholar!
​
Samsara Boots | 2022-2023 Work Study
Sam has been a student employee of the lab since 2022 and upon graduation from Queen's with an undergraduate Biology degree, Sam has joined MitoMetabLab as a DBMS MSc student!
​
Jennifer Veeneman | 2022-2023 PATH 499
After a successful undergraduate member of "Team Mito-Eyeball" and tenure as a laboratory technician, Jennifer is commencing MSc studies at the University of Toronto in Fall 2024!
​
Mia Wilkinson | 2021-2022 PHGY 499
Mia determined tissue-specific changes in gene expression between white adipose tissue depots, and examined the complicated matrix of mitochondrial genetics, white adipose tissue location, and diet. Mia was accepted to the combined BScH/MSc program in Translational Medicine, completed a 'mini-MSc' and now pursuing her PhD!
​
MitoMetabLab History Note: Mia was one of the lab's first-ever graduates!
