{"id":195,"date":"2025-08-13T20:23:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T20:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/previous_members\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T16:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:17:25","slug":"previous_members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/previous_members\/","title":{"rendered":"The Vederas Group | Previous Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recent Previous Group Members<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Zijie (Oliver) Liu<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2025)
\nThesis: Design, synthesis, and evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 main protease i nhibitors<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong>TBA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nTBA<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tess Lamer<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2025)
\nThesis: Biochemical Tools for NMR Structural Elucidation of Peptides and Investigations of Cofactor-Independent Racemases and Epimerases<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong>Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. J\u00f6rn Piel , ETH Z\u00fcrich, Z\u00fcrich, Switzerland<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ntess.lamer@biol.ethz.ch<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yu-Ting (Riley) Hsiao<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2024)
\nThesis: Synthesis and applications of non-canonical amino acids for lasso peptide Microcin J25 and epimerase inhibitors<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof.\u00a0 Paul W. Harris, The University of Auckland, New Zealand<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nyhsi719@uoa.auckland.nz<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bethan Donnelly<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2023)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Senior Scientist (Process Development) AstraZeneca Macclesfield, UK
\nContact: <\/strong>
\nbethan.donnelly1
\n@astrazeneca.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kleinberg Fernandez<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2023)
\nThesis: Investigation of bioactive natural compounds for cardiovascular diseases and daqu<\/em> fermentation, and the exploration of Beauveria bassiana<\/em> as a bicontrol agent for the mountain pine beetle epidemic<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Karl Gademann, University of Z\u00fcrich Department of Chemistry Winterthurerstrasse 190 CH-8057 Z\u00fcrich Switzerland<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nkleinberg.fernandez@uzh.ch<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cherry Ibarra- Romero<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2023)
\nThesis: Bacteriocins: Identification, structural elucidation, and mechanisms of resistance<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong>Instructor at MacEwan University, Edmonton AB
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nibarraromeroc
\n@macewan.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cameron Pascoe<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2022)
\nThesis: Diamino Diacid Assisted Macrocyclizaton of Apein and Neopetrosiamide<\/p>\n

Previous Location: <\/strong>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Kyle Biegasiewicz, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Researcher
\nViking Therapeutics Inc
\nSan Diego, California 92121<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ncpascoe3@asu.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wayne Vuong<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2022)
\nThesis: Chemical Synthesis to Understand and Influence Biological Systems: Spin Labels, Drug Development, and Biosynthetic Investigations<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Bradley Pentelute, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nvuong@mit.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Daniel Engelhardt<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2022)
\nThesis: Development and Application of Protected Amino Acids for the Installation of Stable Post-translational Modifications Using Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Lara Malins, Australian National University – Research School of Chemistry, Canberra, AUS<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ndaniel.engelhardt
\n@anu.edu.au<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Albert Rosana<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2021)
\nThesis: Functional Genomics of Bacterial and Fungal BioControl Agents for Biotechnological Applications<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong> Science and Technology Fellow II, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Metro Manila, PH<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nalbertrosana@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Isaac Antwi<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2021)
\nThesis: Mechanistic Studies of Antimicrobial Peptides in Lipid Membranes<\/p>\n

Previous Location: <\/strong> Postdoral Fellow with Dr. Scott Miller, Yale University, CT, USA<\/p>\n

Research Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry, Vividion Therapeutics, San Diego CA<\/p>\n

Current Location:\u00a0<\/strong>Senior Scientist at Northern RNA Inc, Calgary<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\niantwi@northernrna.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ritesh Annadate<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2021)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Senior Research Executive, Syngenta, Goa, India<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nriteshannadate@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sorina Chiorean<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2021)Thesis: Investigating Structural Properties of Antibacterial Peptides<\/p>\n

Previous Location: <\/strong>NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Philip E. Dawson at Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA<\/p>\n

Current\u00a0 Location<\/strong>:Business Development Manager, WuXi TIDES, San Diego, CA<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nSorina.Chiorean
\n@wuxiapptec.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conrad Fischer<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2020)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong>
\nAssistant Professor, Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University,
\nMiami Shores, Fl<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ncfischer@barry.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jonathan Beadle<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2019)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Scientist, AstraZeneca, London, UK<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nJonathan.beadle1
\n@astrazeneca.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Randy Sanichar<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2018)Thesis: Syntheses of Probes for the Elucidation of Biosynthetic Pathways<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Senior Research Scientist (R&D), Eurofins CDMO (Alphora Research Inc), Mississauga, ON.<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Director Business Development, WuXi App Tech, La Jolla, CA, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nsanichar@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alex Yeong-Chan Ahn<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2018)Thesis: Mechanistic Studies of PLP-Independent Racemases<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr.
\nWalter
\nFast, University of Texas, Austin, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research scientist\u00a0ILJIN SNT, Seoul, Republic of Korea<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nbackin0405@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alireza Bakhtiary<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2018)Thesis: Mechanistic Studies on Antibiotic Peptides: Lantibiotics and Lipopeptides<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nabakhtia@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jeella Acedo<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2017)Thesis: Structure Elucidation and Biosynthetic Enzyme Characterization of Bacteriocins<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr. Wilfred van Der Donk, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Chemistry Dept, Mount Royal University Calgary, AB, CA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\njacedo@mtroyal.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sean Larade<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2017)Thesis: Biosynthetic Study of CcsA and a Polyketide Synthase with Homology to Carnitine Acyltransferase<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Pharmacist, Sunset Ridge Pharmacy, Cochrane, AB, CA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nlarade@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kaitlyn Towle<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2017)Thesis: Structural Studies of Bacteriocins, Peptide Virulence Factors & Antimetastatic Peptides<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Laboratory Coordinator & Instructor, Concordia University, Edmonton AB<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong>\u00a0Assistant Professor of Chemistry, MacEwan University, Edmonton AB<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ntowlek5@macewan.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christian Foerster<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2017)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Product Compliance Officer – Chemical Substances at Lumileds subsidiary of Phillips, Germany<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nchristian.foerster
\n@lumileds.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eva Rodriguez Lopez<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2017)Thesis: Inhibition Studies of DapL Enzymes Orthologs and Synthesis of Proposed Biosynthetic Intermediates of Tabtoxin and Synthesis of a Hexaketide as a Standard for Lovastatin Studies<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Chemistry Dept, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nemrodrig@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Amy Norquay<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2017)Thesis: Investigations of Fungal Highly Reducing Polyketide Synthases: The Biosyntheses of Lovastatin and Hypothemycin<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> MD, Internal Medicine Resident, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, CA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nanorquay@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shaun McKinnie<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2015)Thesis: Enhancing the Stability of Biologically Active Peptides Apelin and Lactocin S<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Bradley Moore, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California in San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Chemistry Dept, University of California at Santa Cruz<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nsmckinni@ucsc.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stephen Cochrane<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2015)Thesis: Structural and Mechanistic Studies on the Antimicrobial Lipopeptide Tridecaptin A1<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. Benjamin G. Davis, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> \u00a0Senior Lecturer, School of Chemistry and Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, UK<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\ns.cochrane
\n@qub.ac.uk<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rachel Cochrane<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2015)Thesis: Biochemical investigations of two polyketide synthase subclasses \u2013 highly reducing\/non-reducing pairs, and polyketide synthase non-ribosomal peptide synthetases<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> \u00a0Development Editor, RSC Publishing, Belfast, UK<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nragnew05@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Justin Thuss<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2015)Thesis: Investigation into lovastatin and cytochalasin E, two polyketides assembled by PKS-NRPS enzymes<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Patent Agent Nissen Patent Law, Edmonton, AB<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Patent Agent Trainee at Gowling WLG, Ottawa, ON<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\njustinthuss@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brandon Findlay<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2015)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Concordia University, Montreal, QC<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nbrandon.findlay
\n@concordia.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christopher Lohans<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2014)
\nThesis: Structural Characterization of Bacterial Antimicrobial Peptides<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> CIHR postdoc with Prof. Christopher J. Schofield, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Dept Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queens University, Kingston, ON<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nchristopher.lohans
\n@queensu.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Keyur Pandya<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2013)
\nThesis: Synthetic studies on novel facially amphiphilic sesquiterpenoid- and 11B-steroid-amino acid conjugates; and transition metal mediated steroid-amino acid derived biometallosurfactants<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Applications Chemist, Ascend Performance Materials, Decatur, AL, USA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nkpandya@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zhizeng Gao<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2013)
\nThesis: Biosynthetic Studies of Resorcylic Acid Lactones, Hypothemycin, Radicicol, and Dehydrocurvularin<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Withers S., Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia at Vancouver, BC<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, CN<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\ngaozhizeng
\n@mail.sysu.edu.cn<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dave Dietrich<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2013)<\/p>\n

Previous Location: <\/strong>University of British Columbia Business School, Vancouver, BC, CA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Vancouver BC<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nddietrich01@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jing Li<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2013)
\nThesis: Functional characterization of recombinant hyoscyamine 6-beta-hydroxylase and isolation of antimicrobial compounds<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Associate with Dr. Chang-Chun Ling, University of Calgary<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Instructor, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, CA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nli22@ucalgary.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zedu Huang<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2012)
\nThesis: Chemical Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Unusual Sulfur-Containing Peptides and Efforts Toward Chemical Synthesis of Crocin<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Wilfred A. van der Donk, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nhuangzedu
\n@fudan.edu.cn<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jennifer Chaytor<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2012)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor of Chemistry, Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI, USA<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\njchaytor@svsu.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chenguang Fan<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2012)
\nThesis: Structural and Inhibitory Studies of LL-Diaminopimelate Aminotransferase and Investigation of Methods for Small Peptide Crystallization<\/p>\n

Previous Position:<\/strong>Senior Research Chemist, Toronto Research Chemicals<\/p>\n

Current Position:<\/strong> Senior Director Process R&D Hutchinson MediPharma, Shanghai China
\nContact: <\/strong>
\nchenguang.fan1
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Avena Ross<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2011)
\nThesis: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Lantibiotic Peptide Lactocin S and its Analogues<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Bradley Moore, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California in San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor, Chemistry Department, Queens University, Kingston, ON<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nAvena.Ross
\n@chem.queensu.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clarissa Sit<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2011)
\nThesis: Structure Elucidation of Thuricin CD, Thurincin H and a Leucocin A Mutant<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Jon Clardy, Dept. of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor, Chemistry Department, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nclarissa.sit
\n@smu.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wei Liu <\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2009-2011)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Scientist, Johnson Matthey<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nwadeliu75
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jesse Li<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2011)
\nThesis: Investigation of Highly-Reducing Polyketide Synthase Enzymes that Produce the Fungal Polyketides Lovastatin, Fumonisin B1, and Hypothemycin<\/p>\n

Previous Position:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Craig Townsend, Dept. of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research Scientist at Gilead Sciences, Edmonton, AB<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\njwli@ualberta.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sabesan (Jay) Yoganathan<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2010)
\nThesis: Lantibiotic Conjugates Targeted at Gram-negative Bacteria and Studies Towards the Total Synthesis of 2-Aminovinyl-Cysteine Containing Peptides<\/p>\n

Previous Position:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Scott J. Miller, Dept. of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor at St. John’s University, New York, NY, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nsabesh2000@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hongqiang (Patrick) Liu<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2010)
\nThesis: Chemical synthesis and biological evaluation of naturally occurring cyclic peptides and their analogues: Lacticin 3147 A2 and Neopetrosiamides<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research Scientist, Gilead Sciences, Edmonton, AB
\nContact: <\/strong>
\nhongqiang19
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leah Martin-Visscher<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2010)
\nThesis: Examining the structure, function and mode of action of bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor of Chemistry, The King’s University College, Edmonton, AB<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nleah.martin-visscher@kingsu.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miyyapuram Venugopal Rao (Venu)<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2010)
\nThesis: Synthesis and Investigation of Viral Cysteine Protease Inhibitors and Biosynthetic Studies on Subtilosin A<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong>Clinical Scientist, Fischer Bio Services, Rockville, MD<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nm_venugopal72
\n@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Christine Otter <\/span>
\nAdministrative Assistant<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Retired – and travelling across North America with her husband.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matthew Clay <\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2006-2008)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Chair, Natural and Mathematical Sciences St. Mary’s University College, Calgary, AB<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nMatthew.Clay
\n@stmu.ab.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Viji Moorthie<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2006-2008)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Secondary school teacher, UK
\nContact:<\/strong>
\nvmoorthie
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marc Boudreau<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Nucleoside Dicarboxylates as Mimics of Diphosphate and Disulfide Bond Replacement in Pediocin PA-1<\/p>\n

Previous Position: <\/strong>Postdoc with Prof. Shahriar Mobashery, University of Notre Dame<\/p>\n

Current Position: <\/strong>Assistant Professor, Chemistry Department, University of New Hampshire<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nMarc.Boudreau@unh.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Darren Derksen <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Bacteriocin Analogs and the Analgesic Peptide Crotalphine<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> AHFMR Postdoc with Prof. Ian Paterson, Chemistry Dept, University of Cambridge, UK<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, Chemistry Dept, University of Calgary<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\ndderksen@ucalgary.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vijay Pattabiraman<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Chemical Synthesis of Lantibiotics and Their Analogues<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research Associate with Prof. Jeffrey Bode, Chemistry Dept, ETH Zurich<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\npvijayaraghavan
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jianmin Zhang <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Design, Synthesis and evaluation of SARS 3C-like Protease Inhibitors<\/p>\n

Previous Location: <\/strong>Apotex PharmaChem, Toronto, ON<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Jemicare Pharmaceuticals, Shanghai, China.
\n
\nContact:<\/strong>
\njianmin.zhang07
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marc Boudreau<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Nucleoside Dicarboxylates as Mimics of Diphosphates and Replacement of the Disulfide in Pediocin PA1<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof Hagan Bayley, Chemistry Dept, University of Oxford UK<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Steven Cobb <\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2007)<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, Chemistry Department, University of Durham UK<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\ns.l.cobb
\n@durham.ac.uk<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jamie Cote <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Alcohol Dehydrognase Catalyzed Diels Alder Reactions and Synthetic Studies Toward Putative Intermediates in the Post-PKS Transformations of Dihydromonacolin L<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoc with Prof. Michel Rohmer, University of Strasbourg France<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, Seneca College, Toronto, ON<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\njamie.cote
\n@senecacollege.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mitch Flegel <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2007)
\nThesis: Photodecarboxylation of Amino Acids and Synthesis of DAP Analogs to be Tested Against Enzymes Involved in Plant Lysine Biosynthesis<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nmflegel@hotmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lara Silkin<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2006)
\nThesis: Investigations of Bacteriocins from Lactococcus lactic<\/em> and Bacillus subtilis<\/em><\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Real Estate Agent, Edmonton, AB<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nlaranissen@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lucas Gursky <\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2006)<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Dr. Kevin O’Connor, University College Dublin, Department of Industrial Microbiology, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n

Current Location: <\/strong>Clinical Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nlgursky@ucalgary.ca<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Douglas Burr <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2006)
\nThesis: Studies of the in vitro<\/em> Activity of Lovastatin Nonaketide Synthase<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Prof. David Sherman, University of Michigan, Life Sciences Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research Scientist, Perkin Elmer, Boston, MA, USA<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\ndabber8@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dan Spantulescu<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2006)
\nThesis: Synthetic Methods for Diacyl Peroxides and Peresters Derived from Amino Acids and Hydroxy Acids<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Neil Branda, Simon Fraser University, B.C., Canada<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Lab Manager, Glustich Inc, Delta, BC<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\ndspant@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Andrew Scholte<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2006)
\nThesis: Chemical Biology Studies of Prenytransferase Enzymes<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Marc Snapper, Boston College USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research scientist at Sanofi (Boston, MA, USA)<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nandrew.scholte
\n@sanofi.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dr. Chris Diaper <\/span>
\nResearch Associate (2005)<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong>IP Analyst, TEC, Edmonton, AB<\/p>\n

Current Location:\u00a0<\/strong>CEO Canadian Accelerator\u00a0 & Incubator Network (CAIN)<\/p>\n


\nContact: <\/strong>
\nchrisdiaper@yahoo.co.uk<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Jake Stymiest<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2004)
\nThesis: Synthesis of Peptide Analogs with Replacement of Sulfur
\nby Carbon: Effects on Biological Activity and Stability<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong>Senior Manager R&D at Purdue Pharma (Coventry Site, Rhode Island)<\/p>\n

Deceased<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Karen Kawulka <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2004)
\nThesis: Investigations of Bacteriocins from Carnobacterium
\npiscicola<\/i>, Brocothrix campestris<\/i> and Bacillus subtilis<\/i><\/p>\n

2004-2006<\/strong>: Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nkaren.kawulka
\n@gmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Nathaniel I. Martin <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2004)
\nThesis: Pseudoxazolines as Hepatitis A Virus 3C Proteinase
\nInhibitors and Bacterially Derived Antimicrobial Peptides<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, Department of Biological Chemistry, Leiden University, The Netherlands<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nn.i.martin
\n@biology.leidenuniv.nl<\/a><\/p>\n

Webpage: <\/strong>Nathaniel Martin<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Dr. Hanna Pettersson (Wallentin)<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2004)<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Research Scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Research Scientist with Dr. Peter Mundel, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nhwallentin
\n@partners.org<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Kamaljit Kaur<\/span>
\nPostdoctoral Fellow (2004)<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Assistant\/Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Professor, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong>
\nkkaur@chapman.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Sylvie Garneau-<\/span>Tsodikova<\/strong><\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2003)
\nThesis: Inhibitors Acting on Bacterial Cell Walls<\/p>\n

2003-2006:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Christopher T. Walsh, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA<\/p>\n


\nContact:<\/strong><\/p>\n

sylviegtsodikova
\n@uky.edu<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mike Pollard <\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2003)
\nThesis: Synthetic Studies on Cytochrome P450 Mimics<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Ben L. Feringa, University of Groningen, The Netherlands<\/p>\n

Previous Location:<\/strong> Assistant Professor, Chemistry Department, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada<\/p>\n

Deceased<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n

<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

John Sorensen<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2003)
\nThesis: The Assembly and Elaboration of Lovastatin<\/p>\n

2003-2006:<\/strong> Postdoctoral Fellowship with Professor Christopher J. Schofield, Oxford University, UK<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Professor, Chemistry Department, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\njohn_sorensen
\n@umanitoba.ca<\/a><\/p>\n


\nWebpage:<\/strong> John Sorensen<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Yeeman Ramtohul<\/span>
\nGraduate Student (2002)
\nThesis: Design, Synthesis and Testing of Hepatitis A Virus 3C
\nProteinase Inhibitors<\/p>\n

Previous Locations:<\/strong> Research Scientist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Laval, QC, Canada<\/p>\n

Current Location:<\/strong> Associate Director, Paraza Pharma, Montreal, QC, Canada<\/p>\n

Contact:<\/strong>
\nramtohul@hotmail.com<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Fj<\/p>\n

Complete list of former graduate students and group members (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recent Previous Group Members   Zijie (Oliver) Liu Graduate Student (2025) Thesis: Design, synthesis, and evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 main protease i nhibitors Current Location: TBA Contact: TBA Tess Lamer Graduate Student (2025) Thesis: Biochemical Tools for NMR Structural Elucidation of Peptides and Investigations of Cofactor-Independent Racemases and Epimerases Current Location: Postdoctoral Fellow with Prof. J\u00f6rn … The Vederas Group | Previous Members<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/vederas2.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"wf_page_folders":[11],"class_list":["post-195","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195"}],"version-history":[{"count":80,"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2500,"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/195\/revisions\/2500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wf_page_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaces.facsci.ualberta.ca\/vederaslab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_page_folders?post=195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}