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Graduate Studies
in Biochemistry
and Microbiology
web.uvic.ca/biochem/
Thinking at a higher level.
Contact Information
Department of Biochemistry
and Microbiology
location: Petch Building, Room 207
mailing address:
Department of Biochemistry
and Microbiology
University of Victoria
PO Box 3055, Stn CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 3P6 Canada
courier address:
Department of Biochemistry
and Microbiology
Petch Building, Room 207
University of Victoria
3800 Finnerty Rd
Victoria, BC V8W 3P6 Canada
Graduate Secretary
email: [email protected]
phone: 250-721-8861
fax: 250-721-8855
General Information
The Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology offers students the opportunity
to receive research training in a broad range of life science disciplines at the cellular,
subcellular and molecular levels. Students have access to the facilities and faculty expertise
necessary to allow them to use modern techniques such as genomics, proteomics,
bioinformatics, X-ray crystallography, cell culture and microscopy in their research.
Every student’s program is structured to help them learn how to engage in independent
research of the highest standards. In their first year, students select a set of advanced
graduate level courses that will put them at the forefront of biochemistry and microbiology.
Throughout their program, students participate in weekly departmental seminars, internal
seminars, posters, and symposia that hone their communication skills. Our graduate
students present their research at major conferences, publish in international scientific
journals, and graduate equipped to pursue a career in the life sciences.
Degrees and Specializations
The Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology offers courses leading to the degrees of
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry or Microbiology.
Facilities
ƒƒ $20 million in research instrumentation
ƒƒ Comprehensive in-house Technical Support Services
ƒƒ Aquatics Facility (fresh and salt)
ƒƒ University of Victoria/Genome B.C. Proteomics Facility
www.proteincentre.com
ƒƒ Imaging Facility (confocal, EM)
ƒƒ Flow Cytometry
ƒƒ X-ray crystallography
ƒƒ Bioinformatics
Financial Assistance
$18,000 per annum minimum from a combination of TA-ships, internal and external
scholarships and supervisor’s research grants. Applicants may be considered for admission
at any time; however, only applications received before February 15 are guaranteed to be
considered for UVic fellowships.
Faculty Members
and Areas of Research
Juan Ausió, PhD (Barcelona)
Biophysical and biochemical studies of DNA-protein
interactions involved in chromatin assembly and
transcription in somatic and germinal cells. An
important part of these studies focuses on the role
of chromatin in prostate cancer and Rett syndrome.
Alisdair Boraston, PhD (British Columbia)
Molecular basis of protein-carbohydrate
recognition using molecular biological,
biochemical, biophysical, and structural
methods to study plant cell-wall polysaccharide
degradation and host-bacterium interactions.
Christoph Borchers, PhD (Konstanz)
Application of mass spectrometry, proteomics,
photoaffinity labelling and molecular modelling to
determine structure-function relationships in proteins.
Director of the UVic-Genome BC Proteomics Centre.
Martin Boulanger, PhD (British Columbia)
Research is focused on i) characterizing the structural
and biophysical bases of host/pathogen interactions ii)
designing and developing small molecule therapeutics
to inhibit protein-protein interactions and iii) defining
novel structural paradigms in bioremediation.
Robert D. Burke, PhD (Alberta)
Cellular signaling in early embryonic development.
Many early developmental events are a consequence
of ligands interacting with cell surface receptors. We
use the approaches of cell biology, biochemistry, and
molecular biology to determine the precise functions
of receptors and signal transduction components
during early development of sea urchin embryos.
Caroline Cameron, PhD (Victoria)
Identification of molecules that are crucial to the
pathogenesis of the spirochetes Treponema pallidum
(causative agent of syphilis) and Leptospira sp.
(causative agent of leptospirosis); characterization of
attachment of Treponema pallidum to host cells and
host extracellular matrix components; development
of an improved syphilis diagnostic test; use of
bioinformatic, genomic and proteomic techniques
to enhance our understanding of spirochetes.
Stephen Evans, PhD (British Columbia)
Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we seek to
understand fundamental aspects of molecular
recognition in glycosyltransferase enzymes and
in proteins involved in the immune response.
Techniques include X-ray crystallography,
computational methods, scientific visualization,
molecular biology and protein biochemistry.
Caren C. Helbing, PhD (Western Ontario)
Mechanisms of hormone action and the effect of
environmental pollutants on hormone signalling
during development and disease (e.g. cancer).
Particular interest is in transcriptomic, proteomic,
epigenetic factors and the development of molecular
assays for determining the health status of wildlife.
Terry W. Pearson, PhD (British Columbia)
Molecular analysis of African trypanosomes (causative
agent of African sleeping sickness); identification
of molecular interactions between the parasites
and their tsetse fly vectors using antibody-based
technologies and protein microchemical techniques,
clinical diagnosis of cancer and infectious
diseases using antibody enrichment techniques
coupled with quantitative mass spectrometry.
Paul J. Romaniuk, PhD (McMaster)
Molecular basis of nucleic acid-protein
interactions involved in the regulation of gene
expression; structure-function relationships in
oncogenes and tumour suppressors; regulation
of virulence factor expression in bacteria.
Perry L. Howard, PhD (Toronto)
EphA2 and Ephrin A1 in cancer. The role of tissue
transglutaminase in soluble Ephrin oligomerization.
Characterization of Ars2 in mammals. Synthetic
biology: rewiring of tyrosine kinase pathways.
Christopher Upton, PhD (London)
Viral bioinformatics (www.virology.ca); specifically the
development of software tools and databases to help
automate the process of genome annotation, genomic
analysis and prediction of the function for viral proteins.
Julian J. Lum, PhD (Ottawa)
Investigating the role of cellular metabolism in cell
death/survival pathways; control of T cell function
by autophagy; immunotherapy approaches to
target cancer stem cells; Scientist, Trev & Joyce
Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency.
Peter Watson, BChir (Cambridge)
Identification of the molecular genetic alterations
underlying the development and progression of breast
cancer. Director of the Tumour Tissue Repository at the
Deeley Cancer Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency.
Francis E. Nano, PhD (Illinois)
Genetic and biochemical characterization of genes
and proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis;
particularly those in the pathogenicity island of
Francisella tularensis which encodes a novel type VI
secretion system. Substitution of essential genes from
sychrophilic (cold-loving) bacteria into pathogenic
bacteria to create live vaccines and therapies.
John Webb, PhD (British Columbia)
Various aspects of cellular immunity, particularly
(CD4 and CD8) immune responses against peptide
eptitopes containing the post-translational
modification 3-nitrotyrosine and the role these
responses play in infection, autoimmunity
and cancer. Therapeutic vaccine development
for cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer.
Brad Nelson, PhD (Berkeley)
Immune response to cancer, immunotherapy, T
cell biology, cytokines, signal transduction, cell
cycle regulation. Director of the Trev and Joyce
Deeley Research Centre, BC Cancer Agency.
Christopher J. Nelson, PhD (British Columbia)
Molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches are used
to study the epigenetic features of chromatin with
an emphasis on post-translational modifications of
histone proteins. Approaches in model eukaryotes
(yeasts) and human cells are combined to
understand how chromatin and gene expression is
controlled in health, and mis-regulated in disease.
September 2010