
Our Team
We are a group of scientists from all around the world with a wide range of expertise from microbiology, host-pathogen interactions, microscopy, drug discovery and more. See our amazing current members and alumni.
What We Do





Dao Nguyen, MD, MSc
Associate Professor / Principal Investigator
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Karim Julien Malet, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Caffeine-beer double auxotrophic mutant and cell-culture lover since 1990. He #PhDidit in 2016 at the Institut Pasteur (Paris) in host-pathogen interactions and moved for his post-doctoral studies in Montreal. Come see him if you don’t want to mess up your western blot or if you want to check out the best wall climbing spots in town.

Jackie Rich, MSc
PhD Candidate
Jackie is a PhD student in the Nguyen Lab specifically focusing on gene regulation and molecular genetics. She is from Alberta but lived in San Francisco for 3 years working at a biotechnology startup before coming back to Canada for her PhD. When she is not in the lab, she can usually be found in the gym!

Sumaiya Jusab
MSc Candidate
Sumaiya is

Geoffrey McKay, PhD
Research Associate / Lab Manager
Geoff was born in Ottawa and did his PhD at McMaster University as a biochemist. He completed his postdoctoral studies at Queen's University where he also took a position as Assistant Professor Lecturer. He moved on to being the Senior Scientist for Targanta Therapeutics and later finally settled in the Nguyen lab. He is the best lab manager in the world and the Chuck Norris of microbiology. He can identify most bacteria by giving them a sniff. He specializes in pretending he’s not listening to and secretly enjoying the lab drama.

Kelly Kwong
PhD Candidate
Kelly is from Boston, but decided that she’d rather pursue her PhD at the Harvard of Canada than at the actual Harvard. She specializes in never taking a day off, being the only one able to find everything on her bench, and wasting money on overpriced hospital coffee. If she could have one wish, it would be that Chloe stay her undergrad for the rest of her PhD.

Shabnam Abbaszadeh Ahranjani, MD
MSc Candidate
After completing her Medical Degree in Iran, Shabnam successfully obtained her degree equivalency and LMCC from Canada. She is interested in research activities and is pursuing her MSc in McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Bourbeau and Dr. Nguyen. She studies the effect of Azithromycin on P. aeruginosa's interaction with airway epithelial cells. She loves children and toys and is keen on trying out new restaurants.

Daniella Serrador
Undergraduate Student
Daniella is currently a U3 MIMM honours student. She is really interested in bacterial interactions and communities. In her free time, she loves reading mystery novels and canoeing.

Annie Beauchamp, MSc
Animal Specialist
Annie is our animal health technician. She is a person who is reserved and shy. Having always felt more comfortable with animals than people, she has found her perfect job. It has been 33 years since she graduated from university and 24 years since she joined the RI-MUHC. She still loves her job! She enjoys observing the nature surrounding her home and taking nice long walks outside. It keeps her mind focused...

Lisa Hennemann
PhD Candidate
Lisa is a PhD student from Germany who has her own baking blog (Sucrose & Spice) and loves coming up with new recipes. In her spare time, Lisa can be found painting, teaching/learning different languages, and trying new food. She recently adopted a kitty and hopes to someday convince her partner to let her adopt another.

Eszter Farkas
PhD Candidate
Eszter is amazing.

Angela Nelson
BSc Student
Angela

Cactniss Evergreen
Honorary Laboratory Cactus
Cactniss comes from a McGill University plant giveaway event and has found her home in the Nguyen lab office room where she provides moral support to the undergraduate students and teaches them how to water a plant once per month. She specializes in being knocked over by schoolbags and laptops.
Photos of the Lab

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