Joining the Parks Laboratory Research Team:

We are always looking for talented and motivated graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to join our research team. Please send your curriculum vitae and brief statement of research interest to rparks@ohri.ca.

CURRENT LAB MEMBERS

Dr. Robin Parks
Originally from North Gower, Ontario, Robin completed his B.Sc. in 1988 at the University of Guelph (Guelph, Ontario). His fourth year honors project involved the characterization of Drosophila superoxide dismutase in the laboratory of Dr. John Phillips. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, several summers were spent working at the Health Protection Branch of Health Canada (Ottawa, Ontario) as a laboratory animal technician and a research technician, under the guidance of Dr. Larry Whitehouse. Robin completed his M.Sc. degree in 1991 with Dr. David H. Evans (University of Guelph) with a thesis entitled "Genetic Studies of Poxvirus Recombination." From 1991 to 1993, he worked as a technician in the laboratories of Dr. Eva Nagy (Ontario Veterinary College) and Dr. David H. Evans. From 1993 to 1996, Robin pursued a Ph.D. degree with Dr. Evans, authoring a thesis entitled, "Biochemical and Genetic Studies of Poxvirus Recombination." Robin completed a three year postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Frank Graham (McMaster University), working on the development and characterization of helper-dependent Ad vectors. He established his laboratory at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in 1999. Robin spends most of his time "at the bench".

Kathy L. Poulin
Kathy was born and raised in Prescott, Ontario. She completed her degree in Biotechnology and General Arts and Science at St. Lawrence College in 1999. Kathy next spent two years as a Research Associate Scientist with Ecopia BioSciences Inc. (Montreal, Quebec), focusing on high-throughput sequencing for identification of genes and pathways directing the synthesis of known and unknown natural products. Kathy joined the Parks laboratory in 2001, and is Senior Research Technician and Laboratory Manager for the lab. Kathy is involved in all projects in the lab.

Morgan Jennings
Morgan was born in St. Albert, AB., moving to North Bay, ON. in 2004. Morgan completed his B.Sc. (Honours) in Biology at Nipissing University in 2018. While at Nipissing University, he worked on an undergraduate project under the supervision of Dr. Mukund Jha, testing the antibacterial properties of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) extracts. Morgan joined the Parks lab as a Master’s student in 2019, where he is working on advancing the knowledge of adenovirus biology.

Charlotte Rene
Charlotte is originally from Toronto, ON. She completed her B.Sc. in Biology - Health Sciences Concentration at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, QC in 2019. After leaving Bishop’s, she joined the Parks Lab as a summer student in June 2019 to investigate extracellular vesicles as a biotherapeutic for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Charlotte continued her research in the Parks Lab in Fall 2019 as a M.Sc. student in the Microbiology and Immunology program.

PAST LAB MEMBERS

Julia Verreault
Julia is originally from Montreal, QC. She studied Biopharmaceutical Sciences (genomics) at the University of Ottawa and joined the Parks lab in the fall of 2022 for her 4th year undergraduate research project. Her honours thesis explored biomarker identification for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). She now works in the gene therapy and rare disease division of a pharmaceutical company, where she continues to make remarkable strides in addressing the challenges posed by SMA.

Matthew S. Collard
Joining the Parks lab team as a Master’s student in 2019, Matthew researched extracellular vesicle-derived molecular biomarkers as they relate to spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Originally from small-town Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Matthew completed a B.Sc. in Biology with specialization in cell and molecular biology from Concordia University, which involved an undergraduate thesis project developing small molecule anti-cancer drugs in Dr. Alisa Piekny’s laboratory. Through the IRIC Next Generation Award program, Matthew was selected to complete an internship with Dr. Guy Sauvageau at the University of Montreal’s Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer. He was given a scholarship to research small molecule drugs and how they affected acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as developing CRISPR/Cas9 drug identification systems. Matt completed the 1 year MSc (with project) program in August 2020.

Charlotte Manser
An Ottawa native, Charlotte was raised in a close knit Canadian Forces family. After her father developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a result of his military service she enrolled at Carleton University, earning a Bachelor’s of Science, Honours in Neuroscience and graduated with distinction. She discovered her passion for research while working on her undergraduate research project in the lab of Dr. Johnny Ngsee. Her undergraduate project focused on the characterization of the Unfolded Protein Response in a cellular model of ALS8. Charlotte was inspired by her experience in Dr. Ngsee’s lab and sought out further opportunities for ALS research. Charlotte joined the Parks lab in May 2018 as a summer student and has since transitioned to begin a Master’s in the Biochemistry department. She worked on identifying exosome-derived protein biomarkers for patients with ALS. Charlotte defended her MSc thesis in August 2020.

Bratati Saha
Briti completed her B.Sc. in Biochemistry (Microbiology and Immunology option) at the University of Ottawa. During her undergraduate studies, Briti received her first exposure to research as an UROP student working with the hepatitis delta virus in Dr. Martin Pelchat’s lab at the University of Ottawa. She then completed an honours project under the supervision of Dr. Thien-Fah Mah, studying biofilm-specific gene expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Briti joined the Parks lab as a Master’s student in 2013 and fast-tracked to the Ph.D. program in 2015. Her research project involved the identification of small molecules inhibiting adenovirus replication and she was funded by the QEII-GSST.  Briti completed her PhD in August 2019.  

Josh Del Papa
Josh graduated from the University of Windsor in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science – Honours Biochemistry with Thesis (with distinction). His undergraduate research with Dr. Aaron Fisk focused on using next-generation ion-torrent sequencing to develop a novel method for detecting prey items in the stomachs of predatory fish in the Great Lakes. After graduation, he spent eight months working as a research assistant at the Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research to improve the methods developed in his undergraduate research. In the Parks lab, Josh focused his interests in increasing the efficiency of an oncolytic Adenovirus.  Josh’s studies were supported by a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Josh completed his PhD in August 2019.

Cassandra Lybeck
Originally from Dundurn, SK., Cassandra attended the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics and completed her apprenticeship as a Signal Operator. She worked across western Canada maintaining various radio, satellite and computer networks before being deployed as a digitalization specialist in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Upon returning, she enrolled at the University of Ottawa and to complete her degree in Biomedical Science. Cassandra joined the Parks Lab as an honours student in September 2015, and transitioned to an MSc student in September 2016, she worked on identifying novel proteins that interact with specific adenovirus proteins. In her spare time, she works with the Healthcare-Associated Infections branch of Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) where she assists in information management and analysis. Cassandra completed her MSc research in August 2018.

Leslie A. Nash
Leslie completed her B.Sc. (Honours) in Biotechnology at Brock University. Her honours thesis explored manipulating proteolytic enzymes to generate silicon polymers as means for ‘green technology’. Leslie also completed her M.Sc. at Brock University in Health Sciences, funded by an Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship. Her thesis examined the influence of tea polyphenols on bone culture systems, in an attempt to identify natural compounds that may deter the effects of osteoporosis. Leslie joined the Parks lab in January 2015 as a PhD student in the Biochemistry program examining novel therapeutics for treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and is funded by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Faculty of Medicine’s Destination 20/20 Graduate Scholarship.     

Ryan Clarkin 
Ryan received his BSc in Biopharmaceutical Science (Genomics) from the University of Ottawa in the spring of 2016. His undergraduate research project involved mapping mRNA termini and editing of the untranslated region of mitochondrial mRNAs in flowering plants. He also contributed to the development of pathogen risk assessments and pathogen safety data sheets during CO-OP and Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) work-terms at the Public Health Agency of Canada – Centre for Biosecurity. Ryan joined the Parks lab as a Master’s student in the Biochemistry program in September 2016; his research project focuses on enhancing adenovirus replication for the treatment of cancer. Ryan completed his studies in October 2018.

Amanda Perozzo 
Amanda is in her final year of studies at the University of Ottawa. She is completing a BSc in Biopharmaceutical Science with a Specialization in Genomics (CO-OP). During her undergraduate career, Amanda had the opportunity to delve into the world of scientific research on multiple occasions, both locally and internationally. She participated in research in such fields as neurodegeneration, organic synthesis, cancer drug discovery, and biotechnology. For her final CO-OP work term in the Summer of 2016, Amanda joined the Parks Lab as a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award recipient. During this time, she investigated the use of adenovirus vectors, exosomes, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. This project transformed into a curiosity to better understand if and how adenovirus exploits cellular exosome machinery to promote viral protein spread and infection, becoming the primary focus of her Honours Thesis Research Project.

Nicole Bond
Nicole is currently studying Biotechnology at the University of Ottawa in order to obtain her Honours B.Sc. in Biochemistry and her B.ASc. in Chemical Engineering. During her co-op terms, Nicole worked at Spartan Bioscience (Ottawa, ON) on the development of rapid, PCR-based genetic tests. She has also studied the cultivation of microalgae as a source of renewable biofuel in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Lan at the University of Ottawa, funded by an National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award. Nicole is now working in the Parks lab as an honours student, seeking to identify biomarkers for ALS.

Kalisa Campbell
Kalisa grew up in Cornwall, Ontario. She completed the Biotechnology Program from St. Lawrence College in Kingston Ontario in April 2012. As part of the Program, she completed a 4-month co-op term as a student technician in the laboratory of Dr. Antonio Colavita (OHRI) studying axon branching in the simple nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Kalisa joined the Parks lab in April 2012 as a research technician.  Kali left the Parks lab in January 2016 to pursue a career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Carmen Wong
Carmen completed her HBSc degree in Honours Biochemistry (Biotechnology specialization) at McMaster University. During her undergraduate studies, Carmen completed her Honours project in Dr. Jonathan Bramson’s lab, creating a chimeric antigen receptor specific for a melanoma associated surface protein. Carmen joined the Parks lab in September 2011 as a Masters student in the Microbiology and Immunology program. Carmen’s studies involve improving adenovirus as an oncolytic vector.  Carmen completed her studies in the Spring of 2015.

André Richard
Raised in Gatineau Québec, André completed his B.S.c in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa. During his undergraduate career, he held three co-op positions. He held two regulatory positions at Health Canada, as well as an 8 month term working in Dr. Jason Zhang’s laboratory at the University of Ottawa. There he worked on creating a novel recombinant enzyme production system in chlamydomonas reinhardtii (algae). He then continued on to do an undergraduate thesis in Dr. Zhang’s lab, working on discovering novel enzymes for industrial processes. André joined the Parks lab in the summer of 2013 as an MSc candidate in Biochemistry with a specialization in human and molecular genetics. André quit graduate school to attend medical school in the Spring of 2014.

Emily McFall
Born here in Ottawa, Emily completed her B.Sc. in Biopharmaceutical Science Program (Genomics option) at the University of Ottawa. During this time, she completed three 4-month laboratory co-op placements. Starting in the Winter of 2010, she worked with Dr. Alexandre Poulain at the University of Ottawa studying the affects of mercury on a bioreporter. She then join Spartan Biosciences and worked on genotyping through RT-PCR. In the Summer of 2011, Emily worked at Health Canada's Viral Vaccine Division to help develop new vaccine validation procedures through ELISA. She then ended her undergraduate education with an 8 month long Honours project with Dr. Andrew Makrigiannis (University of Ottawa) studying the interactions of natural killer (NK) cell Ly49 receptors and class I MHC molecules. Emily joined the Parks lab in the Summer of 2012 as a MSc candidate in Microbiology and Immunology.

Mélissa Geoffroy
Originally from Hammond, Ontario, Mélissa completed her B.Sc. in Applied Biotechnology at La Cité Collégiale in 2011. During her undergraduate studies, Mélissa worked at Paracel Laboratories as a Junior Asbestos Analyst (2008-2009), and at Measurement Canada (2009-2010) performing thermometer and volume kit calibration. During the last year of her undergraduate studies, Mélissa completed her Honors project in the laboratory of Dr. David J. Picketts (OHRI), examining the role of the chromatin remodeling protein Snf2H in cortex development in the brain of mice. In 2011, Mélissa spent 4 months working as a research technician in the Parks lab before joining Health Canada for a 10 month term. At Health Canada, Melissa performed quality control on several commercial vaccines (MMR, Varicella and HPV). In 2012, Mélissa re-joined the Parks laboratory as a research technician, and is involved in a number of projects in the lab.

Andrea Giberson
Andrea is a Franco-Ontarian born in Ottawa. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in Microbiology at the University of Guelph. While in Guelph, she worked as an NSERC-funded summer student in Dr. Chris Whitfield's lab researching the transport of bacterial LPS to the outer membrane. She worked on a fourth year thesis project in Dr. Sarah Wootton's laboratory studying proteins that interact with the Enzootic Nasal Tumor Virus envelope protein. Andrea joined the Parks lab in May 2010 to pursue a Masters degree in Microbiology and Immunology. Andrea's research is funded in part through an Ontario Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (OGSST) and a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII - GSST). Andrea is studying “chromatinization”: of the adenovirus genome and the impact this has on virus growth.

Benoit Goulet
An Edmonton native, Ben completed his B.Sc. in the Biopharmaceutical Science Program (with Genomics option) at the University of Ottawa. During his undergraduate training, he spent an 8-month co-op term at Environmental Microbiology and Agri-Food Canada (Ottawa, ON) studying the bacteria Arcobacter. Ben also spent just over a year as a co-op student and Honors Project student studying dietary carbohydrates and its influence on obesity in rats at Health Canada (Ottawa, ON). Ben joined the Parks lab in June 2010 as a Masters student in the Microbiology and Immunology Program, and is funded by an Ontario Graduate Scholarhip (OSG). Ben works on the development of novel therapies for treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Adam R. Davidson
Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Adam completed his HBSc in Applied Bio-Molecular Science at Lakehead University in May 2010. During his undergraduate education, Adam completed a research internship in ethnobotany under Dr. Lada Malek, and an Honors Project attempting to use a Lambda Red recombinase system to fluorescently label E. coli cells for studies on E. coli survival and persistence in the environment. In September 2010, Adam joined the Parks lab as an MSc candidate in Microbiology and Immunology. Adam's research is funded in part through an Ontario Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (OGSST) and a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII - GSST). Adam is studying host immune responses to adenovirus

Joe Burns
Originally from Sarnia, Ontario, Joe is in the last year of his B.Sc. studies in Biochemistry (Co-op) at the University of Ottawa. Joe completed a one year co-op term in 2009 at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre/OHRI under the guidance of Dr. John Bell, primarily developing methods for quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analysis of tissue samples to evaluate oncolytic virus efficacy. Joe also did a four month co-op term in the summer of 2010 at Spartan Biosciences (Ottawa, ON). Joe is currently completing his undergraduate thesis project in the Parks lab, evaluating methods to enhance protein secretion from mammalian cells. Joe joined the Parks lab as a M.Sc. student in September 2011, and is continuing the work an protein secretion. Joe’s research is funded in part by a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarships in Science and Technology (QEII - GSST).

Natacha Provost
Originally from Rockland, Ontario, Natacha completed her HB.Sc. in the Biopharmaceutical Science Program (with Medicinal Chemistry option) at the University of Ottawa in 2002. Natacha completed her M.Sc. degree with Dr. David J. Miller at Carleton University with a thesis entitled "Isolation, purification and characterization of proteins from indoor strains of Chaetomium globosum that are antigenic to humans." While completing her graduate degree, she worked as a MITACS intern for Paracel Laboratories to help develop a multiplex assay for pre-commercialization using a capture ELISA to quickly and efficiently measure exposure to Penicillium chrysogenum. Natacha did a three month contract with the National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, as a technologist. She collected, compiled and analyzed a variety of different components associated to wildlife. In September 2011, Natacha joined the Parks lab as a research technician; she is involved in determining the ability of pIX to retain function after certain modifications.

Olga Vorobyova
Born in Kharkov, Ukraine, Olga is an undergraduate student in the Biochemistry Program at the University of Ottawa. Olga spent the Winter 2010 semester studying as an international exchange student at the Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in Lyon, France. She joined the Parks lab in July 2010 as a summer student, and also stayed on to complete her fourth year honor's thesis. Prior to joining the Parks lab, Olga gained research experience as a summer student at La Ministere d'Agriculture, Pecheries et Alimentation (Quebec City, QC) and the National Research Council (Ottawa, ON). After completing her undergraduate thesis in the Parks lab, Olga entered into the Masters of Biotechnology (MBiotech) program at the University of Toronto (Mississauga).

Milagros Risco Quiroz
Originally from Peru, Milagros completed three years of Medical School before moving to Canada with her family in August 2000. She entered the University of Ottawa Biopharmaceutical Science with Medicinal Chemistry program in September 2002. As a fourth year student, Milagros studied the effect of SARS on GW bodies in Dr. Ken Dimock's laboratory. Milagros joined the Parks laboratory in May 2007 as a Master Student in the Microbiology and Immunology program at the University of Ottawa. Milagros' research focuses on the development of novel therapies for spinal muscular atrophy. Milagros completed her degree in January 2010, but remained in the Parks lab as a research technician until November 2010.

Carin Christou
Carin completed her B.Sc. in the Biopharmaceutical Science Program at the University of Ottawa. Working with Dr. John Bell, Carin completed her M.Sc. in 2009, having studied the influence of the humoral immune response on efficacy of oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Carin joined the Parks lab in April 2009 as a Research Technician and was involved in many projects in the lab. Carin left in August 2010 to further her academic career.

Grace Tong
Originally from Mississauga, ON, Grace completed her third year in the Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences Program at McMaster University (Hamilton, ON) and served an 8-month co-op term in the Parks lab (January-August 2010). While in the Parks lab, Grace worked on improving adenovirus efficacy as an oncolytic vector, and characterizing the role of adenovirus capsid protein IX (pIX) in the virus lifecycle.

Michael Kennedy
Mike grew up in Ladysmith, British Columbia, and completed his B.Sc in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC) in 1999. Michael completed his PhD in 2006 with Dr. C.B. Verchere at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, BC), where he studied dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells. Michael's PhD studies were supported by a studentship from the Canadian Diabetes Association and CIHR. Michael did a brief postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Michel Leroux at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC), and was supported by a fellowship from the Canadian Alstrom Society. Michael joined the Parks laboratory in August 2007 as a Postdoctoral Fellow, and his research focuses on the innate immune response to adenovirus and development of novel therapies for cystic fibrosis. Mike left the Parks lab in January 2010.

P. Joel Ross
Originally from Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Joel completed his B.Sc. in Biology at the University of New Brunswick in 2002. As a fourth year student, Joel studied the molecular systematics of red algae in Dr. Gary Saunders laboratory and his thesis was entitled "Molecular investigation of Mazzaella morphologically intermediate to M. splendens and M. linearis". While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Joel spent two summers working with Dr. Saunders. Joel joined the Parks laboratory in September 2002 and was a Ph.D. student in the Microbiology and Immunology program at the University of Ottawa. Joel was supported by studentships from the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and a Canada Graduate Scholarship from NSERC. Joel's research focused on transcriptional targeting of helper-dependent Ad vectors. Joel completed his degree in December 2008.

Adam Smith
Adam spent his early years in Bright's Grove, Ontario, and completed a B.Sc in Biochemistry at the University of Waterloo. As a Co-op student, he gained practical research experience in the laboratory of Dr. Steve Scherer while studying the imprinting status of the human Neurabin gene. Adam completed a M.Sc. degree in 2006 at the University of Toronto in the Medical and Molecular Genetics Program. As a member of Dr. John Brumell's research team at the Hospital for Sick Children, he studied the intracellular interactions between Salmonella Typhimurium and host cellular Rab GTPases. Adam joined the Parks laboratory in August 2006 as a research technician and left the lab in July 2008 to pursue a career in industry.

Kristin Willemsen
Originally from Stittsville, Ontario, Kristin recently completed a B.Sc. at the University of Toronto. As a fourth year student, Kristin studied the anabolic actions of androgens on myogenic stem cells in neonatal rats in Dr. Ashley Monks' laboratory. Kristin is working towards an M.Sc. degree in Microbiology and Immunology. Kristin's research was focused on using adenovirus as a gene therapy vector for treating muscle-related disorders. Kristin completed her degree in December 2008.

Karen Powell
Karen grew up in Ottawa and received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario) in 2003. While completing her undergraduate degree, she worked as a summer student in the Parathyroid Group at the National Research Council - Ottawa, developing a preventative treatment for osteoporosis. As a fourth year student, Karen studied genes involved in fungal non-self recognition in Dr. Myron Smith's laboratory at Carleton University. Following her undergraduate degree, Karen worked as a junior research technician for Carleton University in collaboration with Environment Canada, before enrolling in the M.Sc. program at the University of Ottawa. As a student in Dr. Fraser Scott's laboratory at OHRI, she studied the potential link between wheat consumption and type 1 diabetes, with a thesis entitled "Identification of type 1 diabetes-related proteins". Karen was a research technician in the Parks laboratory from July 2006 to August 2007, when she left to pursue a career in teaching.

Catherine Barrett
A native of Ottawa, Ontario, Catherine completed a B.MSc at the University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario) in 2006. As a fourth year honors student, she worked on a thesis project in Dr. Grant McFadden's laboratory studying the immunoregulatory properties of the Myxoma virus M141R protein. During her undergraduate years, Catherine spent two summers as a research assistant in the laboratory of Dr. McFadden at the Robarts Research Institute. Catherine was a junior research technician in the Parks laboratory from September 2006 to August 2007, and left to pursue a career in Medicine.

Robert M. Lanthier
Originally from Nepean, Ontario, Bobby completed his B.Sc. in Biochemistry (Co-op) at the University of Ottawa in 2004. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Bobby spent his Co-op terms working at iSTAT Canada (Ottawa, Ontario) in the R&D department evaluating novel cartridges for measuring blood gas levels, the Cosmetics Division of Health Canada (Ottawa Ontario) developing a comprehensive database of hazardous chemicals, and the Vaccines Division of Health Canada in the Smallpox Laboratory, developing a real-time PCR method for the identification of mycoplasma contamination in smallpox vaccines. Bobby joined the Parks Lab in 2003 as an undergraduate student and entered the Master's program in 2004. Bobby completed his Master's degree in April 2007. Bobby is currently employed at Health Canada.

Koralee Chaisson
Originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Koralee completed her B.Sc. in Biochemistry at Mount Allison University in 2004. In her fourth year at Mount Allison, as a member of Dr. Suzie Currie's laboratory, Koralee studied the effects of temperature on the susceptibility of juvenile rainbow trout to endocrine disruption by the estrogen mimic 4-nonylphenol. During the summers of her undergraduate degree, Koralee gained research experience in the laboratory of Dr. Rick Peters at the Charlottetown Crops and Livestock Research Center of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where she studied potato fungus Rhizoctonia solani and the effect of raw and composted seafood processing waste on nutrition and disease control of potatoes. Koralee joined the Parks laboratory in August 2004 and completed her degree in April 2007. Koralee was supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. Koralee is currently a clinical coordinator at the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.

Robert M. Meulenbroek
Rob was raised in Mountain, Ontario, and completed a B.Sc. at the University of Guelph, and the Medical Laboratory Technician Program at St. Lawrence College. Prior to joining the Parks lab as a Research Technician in 2001, Rob worked as a Medical Laboratory Para-Technician for MDS Laboratories (Ottawa, Ontario). Rob's research in the Parks lab involved development and characterization of fluorescently tagged adenovirus capsids through use of a pIX-GFP fusion protein, as well as assisting in various other projects. Rob left the Parks lab in 2005 to start his own business.

Lauren E. Smith
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Lauren completed her B.Sc. in 2002 at the University of Ottawa. During her undergraduate studies, she spent two summers gaining laboratory experience at the University of Ottawa, in addition to completing a fourth year honors project in the laboratory of Dr. David Parry. Lauren joined the Parks lab as an M.Sc. student in 2003, jointly supervised by Drs. Parks and Bernard J. Jasmin, focusing on gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. Lauren left the lab in 2004 to pursue a career in Medicine.

Marta Pavliv
Marta completed her B.Sc. at the University of Ottawa in 1998. During her undergraduate studies, Marta gained lab experience through summer positions at Agriculture Canada and University of Ottawa, as well as completing a fourth year honors project in the laboratory of Dr. Cheng Ng (Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre). Marta joined the Parks lab as a Research Technician in 1999, and focused upon characterization of adenovirus E1A as a cancer therapeutic and development of murine secreted alkaline phosphatase as a reporter gene. Marta left the Parks lab in 2001 to pursue a career in Teaching.