News

When the University’s research labs shut down for quarantine, biology professor Brian Dixon pivoted some of his research away from blood testing in fish, into looking at blood testing in humans. Instead of sitting around and waiting for his labs to open again, Dixon wanted to use his time and knowledge of biology and immunology to contribute to the global need for understanding and overcoming COVID-19.

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs hosted the first ever virtual University of Waterloo Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Biologist Isabel Hilgendag and vision scientist Yara Mohiar both represented the Faculty of Science. Mohiar won second place, making her the fourth student from the School of Optometry and Vision Science to place/win at the university level competition.

COVID-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems around the world and left a devastating death toll in its path. The pandemic struck fear and panic in everyone. Knowing very little about the new virus and with no cure, COVID-19 encouraged the rapid spread of misinformation. Undergraduate Science student, Ridhi Patel, developed a game to fight COVID-19 misinformation.

Last week, this year's Vanier Scholarship award winners were announced. Among the prestigious group were Finnian Gray, Christian Ieritano, and Spencer Weinstein, three Faculty of Science graduate students.

The Faculty of Science will welcome 41 new graduates from Science PhD programs this week, including chemistry PhD student Abir Khaled, who developed the methodology to quantify hundreds of pharmaceutical drug residues in meat samples and foodstuffs.

Five years ago, Lydia Vermeer was graduating high school and decided to go to the University of Waterloo because of its co-op program – little did she know that co-op would influence her studies, personal growth and help her find a career she was passionate about.

Being a grad student is tough – there’s course work, comprehensive exams and research to balance on top of managing personal commitments and teaching duties. When you add working at a pharmacy during a global pandemic into the mix, the days only get busier.

But that’s precisely what Sadaf Faisal (pictured above), Waterloo PhD student and pharmacy owner, has been doing.

Accustomed to working in Waterloo’s Neufeld lab, Al-Ajeel, like many other science students, have pivoted their studies and research to adjust to this new work-from-home culture.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing a DNA-based vaccine that can be delivered through a nasal spray.

The vaccine will work by using engineered bacteriophage, a process that will allow the vaccine to stimulate an immune response in the nasal cavity and target tissues in the lower respiratory tract.