A Waterloo student is conducting research on a complex cyclic peptide antibiotic on her co-op work term
By Sarah Fullerton
Digital Communications Specialist
According to the Government of Canada, it is estimated that over one-quarter of bacterial infections in 2018 were resistant to at least one antibiotic, making the development of new antibiotics more urgent than ever. This alarming statistic underscores the work of University of Waterloo student Lindsey Shivers, who is combatting antibiotic resistance through cutting-edge research during her co-op work term.
Under the guidance of professor Scott Taylor, Shivers is conducting research on a complex cyclic peptide antibiotic called LL-A0341Beta1. Her aims are to accomplish the first chemical synthesis of this molecule, establish its molecular target in the cell membrane of bacteria and determine how it exerts in antibacterial effects. These studies will set the groundwork for further development of this antibiotic into a clinically useful therapeutic that is effective against bacteria that have developed resistant to the antibiotics that are in common use today.
As a fourth-year Honours Biochemistry student, Shivers aims to become a professor in organic chemistry, with dreams of running her own research lab focused on microbial peptides and the synthesis of antibiotics. Her experience in Dr. Taylor’s lab is a crucial step toward achieving these goals.
"Professor Taylor’s lab is unique because it combines both organic synthesis and biochemistry —something you don’t often find," Shivers says. "In the lab, I am applying my biochemistry knowledge acquired from my coursework to the research I’m doing, which is enhancing my resume in preparation for applying for direct entry to a PhD with professorTaylor."
Her work with professor Taylor began through an email expressing her interest in his published work and her desire to learn from him. Her initiative paid off when he hired her as an undergraduate research assistant in his lab in the Spring of 2023, and thanks to funding from the Faculty of Science's summer research assistantship program, she was able to continue working in the lab for her eight-month co-op term starting in January 2024.
Before becoming a research assistant in Dr. Taylor’s lab, Shivers began her co-op journey as a medical assistant at an optometry clinic. She then moved on to professor Thorsten Dieckmann’s lab, where she discovered her passion for research by analyzing the biochemical characterization of nucleic acid aptamers.
“Looking back to where I started my co-op to where I am now, I am extremely proud of how much I have grown from these opportunities,” says Shivers. “I now enter the lab with confidence and the ability to approach problems critically and with innovative solutions.”
Shivers encourages incoming co-op students to stay resilient and seize every opportunity. "Never stop fighting for something you want," she adds. As she begins her final year of undergraduate studies this fall, she looks forward to continuing her growth as a researcher while working part-time in the lab and completing her degree.