Program Highlights

Ariane Briegel began her training in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) in the laboratory of Wolfgang Baumeister at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, a pioneering center in the application and development of cryo-ET for prokaryotic cells. During her doctoral work, she applied cryo-ET to diverse cellular projects, including revealing the in vivo structure of bacterial chemoreceptor clusters and the flagellar motor, determining structures of novel extracellular bacterial attachments, and visualizing parasitic interactions between archaeal species. She pursued postdoctoral research with Grant Jensen at the California Institute of Technology, continuing her investigations into prokaryotic ultrastructure. In 2015, she established her own laboratory at Leiden University, where she became full professor and co-director of the Dutch national Center for Electron Nanoscopy.
Since 2024, she has served as Professor and Head of the “Integrative Structural Cell Biology” unit at Institut Pasteur. Her research focuses on understanding how microbes interact with their environment at the structural level. Her group investigates how bacteria locate ecological niches, evade toxins and predators, interact with phages, other microbes, and host tissues, and adapt to changing conditions. To address these questions, her lab employs cryo-electron microscopy, cryo-ET, and correlative light and electron microscopy to visualize molecular complexes in situ at near-protein resolution.
With over 20 years of experience in cryo-ET, Briegel has made significant contributions to understanding prokaryotic ultrastructure and advancing cryo-EM methodologies. Her future work aims to extend cryo-EM approaches to study biological processes within complex environments, including host tissues.

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Dr. Edel Pérez-López is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Canada Research Chair in Insect Vector Invasions and Emerging Plant Diseases at Université Laval. With training in biochemistry from the University of Havana, a PhD from Universidad Veracruzana, and postdoctoral work at Auburn University and the University of Saskatchewan, his career has focused on understanding how plant pathogens and their insect vectors evolve, spread, and interact. At Université Laval, he leads the EdeLab, where his team combines field ecology, molecular plant pathology, and genomics to reduce pesticide use, strengthen sustainable agriculture, and uncover the mechanisms that underpin emerging plant diseases under a changing climate. 

Dr. Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi is an accomplished scientist, social entrepreneur, and education advocate. He earned his PhD from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, a master’s degree from Daejeon University in South Korea, and a bachelor’s degree from Ekiti State University in Nigeria, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of British Columbia (UBC) on capsule biosynthesis in the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Over his academic career, he has received prestigious scholarships totaling more than $1 million across four continents, experiences that inspired him to establish Scholarships Cafe—a global platform that equips students with resources to secure funding opportunities. With more than 1 million members from over 200 countries and territories, Scholarships Cafe has helped more than 60,000 students obtain over $3 billion in scholarships worldwide. Dr. Igbalajobi is currently a lecturer at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Dr. Sheldon is a microbiologist specializing in nutritional immunity and the molecular determinants of bacterial fitness. She earned her PhD from Western University (London, Ontario) and completed postdoctoral research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she investigated how hosts and pathogens compete for essential nutrient metals. In April 2022, she joined the University of Saskatchewan as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology. Her laboratory now focuses on understanding the nutritional factors that shape the survival and pathogenic potential of emerging Gram-negative bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Morganella morganii.

Dr. Sameeh M. Salama is a microbiologist, inventor, and business development leader with more than 30 years of experience in anti-infective drug discovery and development. He serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Brass Dome Ventures Ltd., where he leads scientific strategy and pipeline development focused on novel antibiotics. Dr. Salama holds several national leadership and advisory roles spanning academia, government, and non-profit sectors, including the co-founding of the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Coalition (CAIC), the External Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at Public Health Agency of Canada, and BioAlberta. He played a key advisory role in shaping Canada’s Pan-Canadian Framework and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. He has authored over 70 publications, is named on multiple patents, and helped secure a US$750 million licensing deal with Roche, advancing global antimicrobial innovation.

Dr. Denice Bay is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of Graduate Studies in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. She is a microbiologist whose research focuses on antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, with an emphasis on mechanisms such as efflux, membrane lipid remodeling, biofilm formation, and outer membrane vesicle production. Her laboratory integrates fundamental bacterial physiology with translational research, partnering with life science companies across Winnipeg and Canada to co-develop innovative diagnostic tools and assays. Dr. Bay earned both her BSc and PhD at the University of Manitoba, completed postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary in the Turner Lab, and joined the University of Manitoba faculty in 2015. Her current program aims to uncover resistance pathways that can inform new strategies for antimicrobial stewardship and technology development.

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Dr. Bruno Soares is a quantitative environmental scientist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Regina. In addition to studying the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, Bruno's lab is committed to serving the broader global community through equitable partnerships, accessible science communication, and advocacy for community leadership in research.

Dr. Mark Louie Lopez is a postdoctoral fellow in the Helbing Laboratory at the University of Victoria. He is a molecular ecologist who leads collaborative monitoring initiatives that partner with Indigenous communities, integrating Indigenous Knowledge with molecular and sedimentary DNA analysis to support community-driven environmental stewardship.

Marina Taskovic is a PhD candidate in the Land-Ocean Biogeochemistry research group at the University of Alberta, studying the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of thawing landscapes. Through her research in the Northwest Territories, she has gained insights into the importance of community engagement, relationship-building, and communicating science.