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. |
|
Graduate students
Dinusha Rajapaksha - PhD student 2023-present
My research explores the comparative physiology of nonapeptides using zebrafish knock-out lines and acute pharmacological inhibition approaches. A specific focus is placed on reproductive roles of these peptides and effects at the ovarian level of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. I am also a member of Dr. Trudeau's laboratory. 
Lai Wei - MSc student - 2024-present (OGS; NSERC)
I use a transgenic zebrafish reporter line labelling insulin in pancreatic beta cells to assess developmental beta-cell toxicity and consequences on glucoregulation. In collaboration with the Bruin lab, I am specifically interested in developing this New Approach methodology to screen for metabolism-disrupting effects of PFAS compounds quantified in human pancreatic tissues. Using histological and molecular techniques, my goal is to develop an ethical and economical viable screening tool to prioritize metabolically active PFAS compounds for subsequent testing in rodent and human model systems. |
Nipu Niepukolie - PhD student 2023-present
(Tom Moon scholarship; Antoine Morin scholarship) My research uses zebrafish as a model to investigate intra-, inter- and transgenerational inheritance of metabolic phenotypes in response to environmental stimuli (hypoxia, nutrition, stress). Mechanistically, I investigate potential roles parental gamete miRNAs and their roles in early development in F1 embryos. 
Catherine Cao - MSc student 2024-present
I am intersted in hypoxia tolerance in fishes, and my project, co-supervised by Dr. Pamenter, will investigate the interaction of hypoxia and immune system at the molecular level in tissues of field-collected hypoxia-tolerant shark species, and in lab-exposed comparative studies between hypoxia-intolerant rainbow trout and hypoxia-tolerant goldfish. |
Undergraduate students
Shuai Dong - BSc student 2025-current
Project title: Quantification of tissue-specific adipose deposition , hepatic glycogen storage, and ovarian morphology changes in chronic high-fat diet (HFD) fed zebrafish. My project uses the zebrafish model, which shares key metabolic processes with humans, to investigate the physiological impacts of chronic high-fat diets (HFD). Using histology approaches, I aim to quantify effects on body-wide fat distribution, hepatic glycogen storage, and ovarian morphology. Using advanced histological staining (PAS and Masson’s Trichrome), my research will establish and validate a standardized analysis pipeline using QuPath digital pathology software. 
Elizabeth Brown - BSc student 2025-current
Project title: Investigation of endocrine crosstalk between thyroid hormone and the somatotropic axis in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. My research explores the crosstalk between thyroid hormone (TH) and the growth hormone (GH) axis in juvenile Atlantic salmon during smoltification, the critical physiological adaptation for ocean migration. In preparation for this energy-intensive journey, both TH and GH levels rise, prompting the investigation into how they interact. Uniquely, salmon possess distinct GH receptor paralogues (ghra and ghrb) believed to govern anabolic and catabolic processes, respectively. Using experimental TH implants, my study will quantify changes in the expression of these GH receptor paralogues and their correlation with key downstream metabolic genes (igf-1 and hsl) in the liver, muscle, and gill. This project is conducted in collaboration with Brett Culbert (U. Cincinnati) 
Huy Nguyen - USRO student 2024-current
I am interested in characterizing inter- individual variability of adult zebrafish in response to high fat diet. My goal is to robustly characterize high and non-responding phenotypes in this obesity disease model in zebrafish. I am specifically interested in inter individual differences in metabolic (body weight, lipid deposition), as well as behavioural including endocrine stress-response differences. |
Marina Spitz - BSc student 2025-current
My research investigates how nonapeptides regulate reproduction in female teleost fish, a process that remains poorly understood. Building on evidence that vasopressin is important for ovulation, I hypothesize that specific nonapeptide receptors in the zebrafish ovary are dynamically regulated to control the precise timing of spawning. Findings will provide fundamental insights into reproductive control in teleost fishes, and may inform translational applications for captive breeding in aquaculture and conservation settings. 
Bronwyn Williams - BSc student 2025-current
I am developing a standardized protocol and data analysis pipeline to establish olfactory attraction and repulsion assays in adult zebrafish. Specifically, I am interested in quantifying differences in alanine attraction in zebrafish under different dietary regimes (HFD) compared to control fish, as well as differences in response to a known aversive olfactory stimulus, Schreckstoff. Time permitting, I am interested in exploring neuronal correlates of signalling using general markers of neuronal activity such as p-ERK in histological approaches. 
Evan Hong - USRO student 2025-current
My research focuses on individual variation in zebrafish in response to a high fat diet regime. I will be studying high and low responders metabolism and that of their offspring their offspring's metabolism to determine if the difference is linked to genetic (heritable) factors. |
Volunteers
Ahmad Haris Jamal 2025-current
Varshika Segar 2025-current
Taanishi Wadhi 2024-current
Zachary Hennigar 2024-current
Varshika Segar 2025-current
Taanishi Wadhi 2024-current
Zachary Hennigar 2024-current
Mennigen lab alumni
|
Visiting researchers/ Post-docs
Dr. Hyojin Lee - Post-doctoral fellow co-supervised with Dr. Yauk and Dr. O'Brien ECCC Award: Korean Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship Current position: Senior Research Scientist at Korea Institute of Toxicology 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
Liam Johnston - M.Sc. 2023-2025 Awards: OGS Jory Curry - M.Sc. 2021-2023 Awards: NSERC-CGS; Nomination for best MSc thesis Faculty of Science Current position: Bioinformatician / Toxicogenomics Specialist, Environment and Climate Change Canada Sergio Cortes-Ramires - visiting Ph.D. 2023 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 Representative Bailey Bedard - M.Sc. 2019-2022 Current position: Research technician, Canadian Wildlife Federation Mais Jubouri - M.Sc. 2018-2020 Current position: Lab technician University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine Rubén Martínez López - visiting Ph.D. student 2017-2019 Funding: Spanish Ministry of Education) Awards: Best PhD thesis Univeritad de Barcelona Current position: Scientific Researcher in LEITAT Technological Center Reem Al-Harti - Ph.D. student 2017-2018 Funding: Saudi Arabia Scholarship Current position: PhD student, University of Manchester, UK. Dan Kostyniuk - M.Sc. 2018-2020 Awards: Mitacs Globalink; John Armstrong Award for best BSc thesis in Biology; MSc thesis award Faculty of Science Positions: Technical Support Specialist / Technologist at DNA Genotek; Health Canada; Scientific Evaluator, Environmental Assessment Directorate of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada Zeinab Altmieme - M.Sc. student 2017-2019 Current position: Research technician in the Department of Regenerative Medicine at the OHRI, Ottawa Undergraduate students
Sally Adil - NSERC USRA student 2024-2025 and 4th Year Honour's student Current position: Medical school student uOttawa Matthew Damboise - 4th Year Honour's student 2024-2025 Current position: MSc student in Dr. Blais lab (uOttawa) Sophie Sullivan - 4th Year Honour's student 2024-2025 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
Sophia McKillop
Jith Thomas Hana Mirmajidi Zachary Hennigar Makayla Roy Adéle Deshaies Tyler Nguyen Nha-Thi Luu Hanna Hutchinson Tess Julian Georges Coté Jon Tea |
|