University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Dr. Brenda Yasie Lee

Research Interests:
- Study of antimicrobial peptide daptomycin and its interaction with pulmonary surfactant and model bacterial membranes
- Study of amyloid-beta interactions with model membranes in relation to Alzheimer's Disease
- Use of atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, Langmuir-Blodgett trough, fluorescence spectroscopy and black lipid membrane techniques
Leonenko Lab History:
- May 2011 - Aug 2011: NSERC USRA Summer Student (Physics)
* Working with atomic force microscopy imaging of amyloid-beta interactions with SG1 inhibitors - Sep 2011 - Dec 2012: Undergraduate Research Volunteer (Biology)
* Atomic force microscopy imaging of DHA (omega-3) and its effect on amyloid-beta fibril formation - Jan 2013 - Apr 2017: PhD Candidate in Biology (Nanotechnology)
- May 2017 - Aug 2019: Research Associate
- Sep 2019 - Current: Volunteer Research Associate
Dr. Liz Drolle

Current Position:
- Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Waterloo's Centre for Contact Lens Research
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2010 - Jun 2015: PhD Student (Biology)
- Jan 2008 - Apr 2010: Undergraduate Research Assistant (Biology)
Research Interests:
- Investigation of steroid's effect on phospholipid membranes
- Effect of cholesterol on amyloid fibril formation
- Study of lipid-protein films found in lens deposits
- Atomic force microscopy and Langmuir-Blodgett studies
Dr. Robert Henderson

Current Position:
- MD/MBA Student at University of Saskatchewan
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2011 - Dec 2015: PhD Student (Physics)
* Frequency modulated Kelvin probe force microscopy to study electrostatics in lipid-protein assemblies
Morgan Robinson

Research Interests:
- Effect of inhibitors and melatonin on amyloid toxicity
- Atomic force spectroscopy, cell viability studies, surface plasmon resonance
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2017 - Current: PhD (Pharmacy) Student
- May 2015 - Aug 2017: MSc (Biology) Student
- May 2014 - Apr 2015: BSc (Physics) Volunteer
* Atomic force spectroscopy of amyloid beta, SERS lipid biosensing
Carina Filice

Research Interests:
- Antimicrobial peptides in relation to Alzheimer's Disease
- Effect of melatonin on amyloid and model monolayers in relation to Alzheimer's disease
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2018 - Current: PhD Student (Biology)
- May 2017 - Apr 2018: Undergraduate Honours Student (Biology)
Nanqin (Nancy) Mei

Research Interests:
- Studying the effect of melatonin on Alzheimer's disease using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
Leonenko Lab History:
- May 2016 - Apr 2017: Undergraduate Honours Student (Physics)
* Studying the effect of melatonin on Alzheimer's disease using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
Yue Xu

Research Interests:
- Studying the effect of trehalose and lithium isotopes on lipid model membrane in the background of Alzheimer’s Disease by Black lipid membrane (BLM)
- Studying the effect of trehalose and lithium isotopes on lipid model membrane in the background of Alzheimer’s Disease by Black lipid membrane (BLM)
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2019 - Current: PhD Student (Physics - Nanotechnology)
- Sep 2018 - Aug 2019: Undergraduate Honours Student (Physics)
Irina Bukhteeva

Research Interests:
- Quantum neuroscience
- Experimental and theoretical study of Posner molecules as Bio-Qubit candidates
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: PhD Student (Physics - Nanotechnology)
Stephen Turnbull

Research Interests:
- The effect of melatonin on Alzheimer's disease using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and surface enhanced raman scattering (SERS)
James Livingstone

Research Interests:
- Effect of amyloid and melatonin on neuronal plasticity
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2018 - Current: MSc Student (Biology)
- Sep 2016 - May 2017: Undergraduate Honours Student (Biomedical Sciences)
Kartar Singh

Research Interests:
- Molecular neuroscience and mechanisms of neuroprotection in Alzheimer's Disease
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: MSc Student (Biology)
- May 2020 - Aug 2020: NSERC Undergraduate Student (Biology)
- May 2019 - Dec 2019: Undergraduate Honours Student (Biology)
Duale Mohamed Omar

Research Interests:
- Quantum Neuroscience: Effect of Li isotopes on electrical activity in neuronal brain tissues
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: NSERC USRA Undergraduate Student (Life Physics)
Erik Herz

Research Interests:
- AFM and force spectroscopy studies of the effect of melatonin in model lipid membranes
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Co-op Student (Physics)
Harry Kumbhani

Research Interests:
- Quantum neuroscience studies on connected cellular networks in relation to neuronal communication mechanisms
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Co-op Student (Biology)
Lunlun Guan

Research Interests:
- Biophysics: BLM study of the effect of Li in model lipid membranes in amyloid toxicity in realtion to Alzheimer's Disease
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Honours Student (Materials & Nanosciences)
Jingwen Liang

Research Interests:
- Biophysics: Localized surface plasmon resonance study in relation to the effect of melatonin in neuronal model membranes
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Honours Student (Materials & Nanosciences)
Gexu (Leila) Liu

Research Interests:
- Biophysics: BLM study of the effect of melatonin in DPPC/POPC/Cholesterol model membranes in amyloid toxicity in relation to Alzheimer's Disease
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Honours Student (Materials & Nanosciences)
Joseph Brent Lamarre

Research Interests:
- Quantum Biology: Literature review on kinetic effect of Li isotopes
Leonenko Lab History:
- Sep 2020 - Current: Undergraduate Honours Student (Physics)