Physiology and cell biology

Dr. Trevor Charles' work applies bacterial genetics to the study of bacteria in both pure culture and environmental communities. His research has focused on bacteria that form beneficial relationships with plants. Using comparative and functional genomics, he investigates the shared genetic factors underlying these interactions.

Research in the Dr. Simon Chuong’s lab focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the structure and function of single-cell C4 photosynthesis in two genera of terrestrial plants. In particular, his research group investigates factors that are involved in the movement of organelles and localization of macromolecules leading to the establishment of anatomical and biochemical polarity within two cytoplasmic regions of the cell.

Dr. Paul Craig's research focuses on integrative aquatic physiology, examining how environmental stressors such as temperature change, hypoxia and contaminants influence organismal performance through molecular, biochemical and mitochondrial mechanisms. His work bridges field and laboratory approaches and incorporates advanced tools including high-resolution respirometry, transcriptomics and microRNA analyses to understand how aquatic organisms respond and adapt to changing environments.

Dr. Brian Dixon’s research provides detailed knowledge of the molecules used as signals and receptors in the immune system. While this understanding in mammals has enabled effective disease control through vaccines and drugs, only a handful of immunologically important molecules have been isolated from fish, despite the growing need for vaccines and treatments in aquaculture.

Dr. Bernard Duncker is a Professor in the Department of Biology whose lab work focuses on using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in cancer-related studies of the cell cycle.

Dr. Barb Katzenback’s research focuses on examining aquatic vertebrate host-pathogen interactions and how anthropogenic changes alter their ability to defend against pathogens. Dr. Katzenback currently studies host-pathogen-environment interactions at skin barriers in anuran (frogs and toads) models within the context of different pathosystems (e.g. infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Frog Virus 3) and environmental conditions (e.g. exposure to microplastics) using in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Dr. Dale Martin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, program director for Medical and Biomedical Sciences, and a Graduate Studies faculty member in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He leads the NeurdyPhagy Lab, which investigates protein mislocalization and proteostasis dysfunction in Huntington disease (HD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).