Welcome new faculty members in Biology and Chemistry

Bui’s research aims to better understand the mechanisms behind immune activation and cancer progression by observing how molecules interact. Using biophysical techniques, including native mass spectrometry, she identifies key molecular interactions in disease progression, which may allow treatments to target those interactions. Blocking interactions that contribute to cancer, for example, could aid in cancer treatments.

Before coming to Waterloo, Bui lived and studied in many different countries. She grew up in Vietnam, completed her undergraduate work in Russia at Belgorod State University, and pursued her master’s in analytical chemistry at Tartu University in Estonia and Uppsala University in Sweden. She completed her PhD in chemistry at the University of Alberta, where she stayed to complete a postdoctoral fellowship.

Bui was drawn to Waterloo’s reputation for innovation. As a technology and research hub, Bui believes Waterloo is an excellent environment to continue her innovative work and is excited to begin building her research program. She’s already setting up equipment and working with the Science machine shop to modify instruments. “We’ve started generating some data, and I’m looking forward to developing those findings further and using them to support grant applications and future research,” says Bui.

She’s also very much looking forward to teaching in the coming academic year. “I’m really interested in helping students understand the mechanisms of molecular interactions in the body,” says Bui.

While she jokingly insists that research is her main hobby, you can find Bui outside the lab spending time with her seven-year-old daughter or reading Dan Brown books.

Meyer’s research focuses on microbial cell biology, with her most recent work addressing antimicrobial resistance. Originally from New Zealand, Meyer grew up in Bangladesh and India. During her undergraduate degree in biomedical science, she found herself drawn to studying infectious diseases, partly because of her awareness of these health concerns during her childhood in South Asia. This led her to Johns Hopkins University, where she completed a PhD in pharmacology and molecular science with a focus on parasites that cause infectious disease, such as the malaria parasite and Trypanosoma brucei, which causes African sleeping sickness.

At the end of her PhD, Meyer chose to shift her focus from parasites to antimicrobial resistance. Her postdoctoral work at Northeastern University and the University of Toronto explored novel antimicrobials that are produced naturally by bacteria, ultimately focusing on how extracellular vesicles can change how antimicrobials behave.

Her work at Waterloo will focus on these extracellular vesicles. “This is a relatively underexplored area, so there’s a lot of fundamental biology to uncover,” says Meyer. “At the same time, we’re interested in applying those insights to design bio-inspired nanoparticle therapeutics, particularly to help combat antimicrobial resistance.”

Meyer is also looking forward to working with students in the biochemistry and biomedical sciences programs. “I’m eager to share my experience in pharmacology and drug development with students interested in research or industry careers,” she says.

When she’s not researching infectious diseases, you can find Meyer reading a novel by Terry Pratchett or taking in the “cloud of the day” as a member of the Cloud Appreciation Society. “It’s a nice reminder to appreciate the sky, as a source of beauty that surrounds us all” she reflects.