PERSONNEL

Tuan Bui, PhD

Lab Head – Tuan obtained a BScE in Mathematics and Engineering at Queen’s University. This was followed by a MSc and PhD under the supervision of Dr. Ken Rose in Physiology at Queen’s University. He then spent several years as a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Rob Brownstone at Dalhousie University before moving to uOttawa for his present position. (Photo provided courtesy of uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute)


Alex Laliberte, PhD

Postdoctoral fellow – Alex completed his PhD in the lab of Michael Fehlings at the University of Toronto where he studied mechanisms of recovery of spinal circuits following spinal cord injury. In the Neural Motor Circuits laboratory, Alex will focus on two research projects: 1. The dysregulation of circuits linking the thalamus and the cortex in Parkinson’s Disease (thanks to generous funding from the Krembil Foundation). 2. The role of dI3 interneurons in facilitating recovery of locomotor function following spinal cord injury. (Photo provided courtesy of uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute)


Sara Goltash, MSc

PhD candidate – Sara Goltash completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto. Afterwards she completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Copenhagen under the supervision of Dr. Claire Meehan. Sara is studying changes in dI3 IN circuitry following spinal cord injury. (Photo provided courtesy of uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute)


Stephanie Gaudreau, BSc

PhD candidate – Stephanie Gaudreau completed her undegraduate degree in the Biomedical Sciences program at uOttawa. Next September, she will be studying the function of the neuromuscular junction in zebrafish models of congenital myopathy thanks to the STaR award from the Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, as well as the development of spinal locomotor networks in larval zebrafish. (Photo provided courtesy of uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute)


Shea Keil, BSc

MSc candidate – Shea Keil completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Ottawa. He is currently pursuing his MSc degree under the co-supervision of Dr. Marie-Andree Akimenko. Shea is studying the transcriptional control of MsxC genes in the developing and the adult zebrafish using molecular techniques as well as in-situ hybridization.


Emine Topcu, BSc

MSc candidate – Emine Topcu completed a Combined Honors degree in Neuroscience and Biology at Carleton University. She also has a BSc in Computer Engineering from Bogazici Univerisity, Turkey. Emine is working on computational modelling of spinal control of zebrafish swimming.


Lauren Couvrette, BSc

MSc candidate – Lauren completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Ottawa. She is working on evaluating biocompatible scaffolds for the repair of the spinal cord after injury. Her main supervisor is Dr. Andrew Pelling in the Department of Physics.


Sarah Chiasson, BSc

MSc candidate – Sarah completed a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Ottawa. She is studying the involvement of dI3 INs in specific sensorimotor reflexes of the hindlimb in collaboration with Dr. Turgay Akay at Dalhousie University


Amena Ahmad

Honours student – Amena is completing an Honours thesis studying the distribution of potassium channels in the spinal cord of developing zebrafish


Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis

Honours student – Anthaea-Grace is completing an Honours thesis using computational modelling to study cerebellar function


Matthew Redmond

Honours student – Matthew is an Honours student who is studying the possible interactions of dI3 interneurons with neuromodulation after spinal cord injury


Shahriar Nasiri

UROP student – Shahriar is a third-year Research Focus student who will study the presence of serotonergic receptors in the spinal cord