This year, we are thrilled to introduce five CSPB members who have successfully transitioned into roles within government, industry, and as entrepreneurs. They will serve as our panelists for the Plant Science Research Career Development discussion. We hope their diverse experiences and insights will provide valuable perspectives and inspire our young CSPB members to explore a wide range of career paths beyond academic research.
Elizabeth Brauer [Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada]
Elizabeth Mahon [Bryosphere Biotechnologies]
Ian Major [Canadian Forest Service]
Jacob Toth [Organigram Inc]
Marie-Claude Gagnon [Canadian Food Inspection Agency]
Elizabeth K. Brauer
Research Scientist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Brauer’s lab is focused on understanding how plants respond to their environment with the ultimate goal of improving cereal production. The lab uses molecular physiology, genetics and phenomics to study barley, wheat and corn and their diseases. Her work describes the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-pathogen interactions and leverages this information for variety improvement through molecular marker development and genome editing. Her lab also supports breeding by measuring physiological traits in the field using proximal imaging and sensors to predict yield and grain quality in wheat and barley.
Marie-Claude Gagnon
Head, Genotyping/Botany at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Marie-Claude Gagnon joined the CFIA Ottawa Plant Laboratory (OPL) in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow working in Plant Pathology, in the laboratory of Dr. Guillaume Bilodeau. At the time, the focus of her work was to develop molecular markers (genotyping assays) to identify and characterize important plant pests such as Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora ramorum and Synchytrium endobioticum.
Dr. Gagnon is head of the Genotyping/Botany and Seeds Units of the OPL since January 2016. Her experience in Genotyping/Botany and Seeds Units has allowed her to explore the important subjects of invasive plant identification, GMO detection and variety verification in a diagnostic and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited setting. A significant milestone in her career was leading the CFIA science response to the discovery of GM wheat in Canada in 2018.
Dr. Gagnon is also responsible for operating the Central Sequencing Service at the Ottawa Fallowfield Laboratory (OLF), and she is leading research projects to develop new molecular assays for variety verification (in rye and cannabis) that will add to the Genotyping/Botany Unit toolbox. Finally, Dr. Gagnon is the vice-chair of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) variety committee (VAR COM) since 2020 where she engages in international collaboration to advance various projects.
Elizabeth Mahon
BryoSphere Biotechnologies bryosphere.ca
Liz Mahon is the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of BryoSphere Biotechnologies, a Vancouver-based startup specializing in the genetic engineering of moss plants to produce active ingredients for skincare. She earned her PhD in Botany from the University of British Columbia in 2022 and co-founded BryoSphere with Hila Behar shortly thereafter. Since then, Liz has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, helping to secure funding from investors and government programs, while leading the scientific development of BryoSphere’s core intellectual property.
Ian Major
Genomics Research Scientist at the Canadian Forest Service
Ian has a background in genomics, biochemistry and physiology with an interest in plant stress resilience. He received his PhD in Forest Biology and was a post-doctoral fellow at Michigan State University. Since 2021, Ian is a research scientist in genomics with the Canadian Forest Service at the Laurentian Forestry Centre in Quebec City. His current research involves high-throughput field phenotyping by drone-based remote sensing and ground-penetrating radar for genomic selection of tree resilience in a changing climate.
Jacob Toth
Plant Science Manager at Organigram
Jacob Toth has extensive experience in plant breeding programs across academia, government, and industry. He earned his PhD from Cornell in Plant Breeding and Genetics and holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Philosophy from UBC. He currently manages the Plant Science division of Organigram, a Canadian licensed producer of cannabis. In this role, he focuses on breeding new cultivars for diverse markets, improving cultivation standards, and developing and utilizing biotechnological tools.
Submit your questions
Hi! If you have some questions for the panelists, please fill out this form so we can organize the questions ahead of the meeting. It would be great if you can submit your response by Dec 4, 2024. There will also be opportunities to ask questions during the conference. Thank you!
