Dr. Jan Mennigen - Principal Investigator
Our research group is principally interested in the mechanistic basis underlying metabolic phenotypes in the diverse infraclass of teleost fishes. A current focus lies on the role of epigenetic determinants, particularly microRNAs. It is our goal to use basic research findings towards three relevant areas for translation. These are firstly to understand the molecular constraints of nutrient utilization in fish aquaculture species, secondly the investigation of ecotoxicological consequences of aquatic contaminant induced metabolic disruption in teleost fish, and thirdly the utilization of relevant fish models to study human metabolic disease. |
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Graduate students
Dinusha Rajapaksha - Ph.D. student 2023-present
My research will explore the comparative physiology of nonapeptides using zebrafish knock-out lines. A specific focus is placed on reproductive roles of these peptides. 
Lai Wei - MSc student - 2024-present (OGS)
I use a transgenic zebrafish reporter line labelling insulin in pancreatic beta cells to assess developmental beta-tell toxicity of PFAS compounds in zebrafish. Using histological and molecular techniques, my goal is to develop a screening tool to prioritize metabolically active PFAS compounds for subsequent testing in rodent and human model systems. 
Catherine Cao - MSc student 2024-present
I am intersted in hypoxia tolerance in fishes, and my project, co-supervised by Dr. Pamenter, will explore the interaction of hypoxia and immune system at the molecular level in tissues of several shark species. |
Nipu Niepukolie - Ph.D. student 2023-present
My research will look at the mechanisms behind intra-, inter- and transgenerational inheritance of metabolic phenotypes through germ cell epigenetic reprogramming in zebrafish, with a special focus on miRNAs. 
Liam Johnston - MSc student 2023-present (OGS)
My name is Liam Johnston and I am a Masters student working under Dr. Jan Mennigen and Dr. Jean-Michel Weber. My research is focused on the effects of moderate hypoxia on fuel use and metabolic signalling in rainbow trout. |
Undergraduate students
Sally Adil 2024-present
My work explores the oxygen responsiveness and role of histone modifications in the regulation of transcriptomic responses of the goldfish brain under chronic hypoxia. 
Matthew Damboise 2024-present
In my Honour's thesis, I will explore the effects on micro/nanoplastics on olfactory function and pheromonal signalling relevant to reproduction and the stress response in zebrafish. |
Sophie Sullivan 2024-present
My project is focused on the development and validation of a gene-expression based assay to identify endocrine disrupting chemical action in zebrafish. A particular emphasis will be placed on the literature-based identification of thyroid hormone responsive genes, but estrogenic, androgenic and cortisol regulated gene sets will equally be targeted. Primers will be designed and validated for an EDC-based array to be tested and validated with model compounds. |
Volunteers
Taanishi Wadhi 2024-current
Zachary Hennigar 2024-current
Huy Nguyen 2024-current
Mennigen lab alumni
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Visiting researchers/ Post-docs:
Dr. Hyojin Lee - Post-doctoral fellow co-supervised with Dr. Yauk and O'Brien ECCC Award: Korean Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship Dr. Wenqin Tu - Visiting Scholar 2018-2019 Current position: Group leader at the Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang Dr. Lucie Marandel - Visiting Scholar 2018 Awards: Funding: Marie-Curie Agreenskills + FP 7 Current position: Group leader at INRA NuMeA, St. Pee-sur-Nivelle, France Graduate students
Jory Curry - M.Sc. 2021-2024 Awards: NSERC-CGS; Nomination for best MSc thesis Faculty of Science Current position: Environment and Climate Change Canada Sergio Cortes-Ramires (2023) - visiting PhD Giancarlo Talarico - M.Sc. 2021-2023 Current position: Law school, University of Leicester, UK. Divya Ramachandran - M.Sc. 2020-2022 Current positions: Thermo Fisher Sales Rep Bailey Bedard - M.Sc. 2019-2022 Current position: Research technician Mais Jubouri - M.Sc. 2018-2020 Current position: Lab technician uOttawa, ON , Canada Rubén Martínez López - visiting Ph.D. student 2017-2019 Funding: Spanish Ministry of Education) Awards: Best PhD thesis Univeritad de Barcelona Current position: Leitat Reem Al-Harti - Ph.D. student 2017-2018 Funding: Saudi Arabia Dan Kostyniuk - M.Sc. 2018-2020 Awards: Mitacs GLobalink; John Armstrong Award for best BSc thesis in Biology; MSc thesis award Faculty of Science Current Position: Technical Support Specialist / Technologist at DNA Genotek, Ottawa, ON, Canada Health Canada - Pesticide Regulations Zeinab Altmieme - M.Sc. student 2017-2019 Current position: Research technician in the Department of Regenerative Medicine at the OHRI, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Undergraduate students
Sally Adil - NSERC USRA student 2024 Catherine Cao - 4th Year Honour's student 2023-2024 Current position: MSc student uOttawa (Mennigen/Pamenter) Lai Wei - 4th Year Honour's student 2023-2024 Current position: MSc student (Mennigen/Bruin) Anna-Maria Lachowicz-Kolbik- 4th Year Honour's student 2023-2024 Vaibhav Kulkarni - 4th Year Honour's student 2022-2023 Current position: MSc student in Bioinformatics uOttawa (Dr. Aris-Broussou) Shahd Haddad - 4th Year Honour's student 2020-2021 Current position: M.Sc. student in Dr.Karpowicz lab at the University of Windsor, ON, Canada. Mélissa Grégoire - 4th Year Honour's student 2020-2021 Current position: Plant pathology technician at Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Julianne Magnan - 4th year Hon. student 2019-2020 Current position: Administrative officer at the Department of National Defence, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Jordan Corcoran - 4th year Hon. student 2019-2020 Current position: MSc. student in Dr. Akimenko's lab at uOttawa, ON, Canada; Lab technician in Dr. Akimenko's lab at uOttawa, ON, Canada Giancarlo Talarico - 4th year Hon. student 2019-2020 Current position: Law school, University of Leicester, UK. Kenan Touma - 4th Year Honours student 2018-2019 Current position: M.Sc. student in Dr. Cory Harris' lab, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada. Christine Hum - 4th Year Honours student 2018-2019 Current position: M.Sc. student in John Pezacki's lab at uOttawa, ON, Canada. Mais Jubouri - 4th Year Honour's student 2017-2018 Current position: Lab technician uOttawa, ON , Canada Rida Haider - 4th Year Honours student 2017-2018 Current position: Policy Analyst Health Canada, Toronto, ON, Canada. Majd Haddad - 4th Year Honours student 2017-2018 Current position: PharmD candidate, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. Jessica Zon - 4th Year Honours student 2017-2018 Current position: Research technician Sick Kids; Med School U of T/ Tel Aviv Fatameh Pakdelsamadi - 4th Year Honour's student 2022-2023 Kusum Sharma - 4th Year Honour's student and NSERC USRA student 2021-2022 Rita Wehbe - 4th Year Honour's student 2021-2022 and summer volunteer Sham Haddad - 4th Year Honour's student 2021-2022 and summer volunteer Jacey Chou - 4th Year Honour's student 2020-2021 Current position: M.Ed., University of Toronto, ON, Canada. Raphaël Chakal - 4th Year Honour's student 2020-2021 Current position: General dentistry (DMD), McGill University, QC, Canada. Tyler Eng - 4th year Honours student 2019-2020 Awards: EcoCanada Current position: M.Sc. student in Dr. Chan's lab at uOttawa, ON, Canada. Melissa Allaire-Leung - 4th Year Hon. student 2018-2019 Current position: GECA Environment, Quebec City, QC, Canada. Alexandria Trahan - 4th Year Hon. student 2018-2019 Current position: MSc Cooke lab (Carleton University); Government Adina Gotzmann - 4th Year Honours student 2017-2018 Current position: Vet tech Manuela Fonseca - 2nd Year UROP student 2017-2018 Current position: Electrical engineering student, uOttawa, ON, Canada. Dan Kostyniuk - 4th Year Honour's student 2017-2018 Awards: John Armstrong Award for best BSc thesis in Biology Current Position: Technical Support Specialist / Technologist at DNA Genotek, Ottawa, ON, Canada Health Canada - Pesticide Regulations Interns, Volunteers and Visitors
Makayla Roy
Adéle Deshaies Tyler Nguyen Nha-Thi Luu Hanna Hutchinson Tess Julian Georges Coté Jon Tea |
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