Nice to meet you!

Veronica Guariglia, PhD

Principal Investigator

Dr. Guariglia completed her PhD at Cornell University in the Department of Microbiology under the supervision of John Helmann studying cell wall stress response in Bacillus subtilis. She then completed a post doctoral fellowship at Cornell University in the Department of Food Science under the supervision of Martin Wiedmann studying cell wall stress response in Listeria monocytogenes. Dr. Guariglia then moved to Canada and completed a second post doctoral fellowship at Western University in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology under the mentorship of David Heinrichs, before starting her own lab as faculty in the same department in 2023.

Research Interests:
Pathogenesis, transmission, and control of Listeria monocytogenes.

Personal Interests:
Spending time with her family, watching soccer, drinking coffee, and making cheese.

  • Rhea Azavedo, BMSc

    GRADUATE STUDENT
    MSc Microbiology and Immunology

    Research interests: How bacteria and other microbes are related to human health.

    Personal interests: Baking, running and reading.

  • Denise Cao, BMSc

    GRADUATE STUDENT
    MSc Microbiology and Immunology

    Research interests: The interactions between pathogens and bacteria of the microbiome.

    Personal interests: Food, playing tennis, video games, concerts.

  • Andy Zhang

    UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
    Honours BMSc in Medical Cell Biology and Major in Microbiology & Immunology

    Research interests: Cell biology, neurobiology, and microbiology. Exploring the structure and function of the fundamental unit of life while extending that knowledge to a neurological basis alongside exploring the diversity of microbes and the interactions they may have with humans and their environments.

    Personal interests: Staying active: playing basketball, volleyball, ball hockey, paddleboarding, and hiking. Staying in: reading novels, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family.

  • Daya Brar

    UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
    Bsc Medical Sciences

    Research interests: the effect of pathogens and their propagation on the human immune system

    Personal interests: Hiking and baking

  • Nate Woolvett

    UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
    Double Major in Microbiology & Immunology and Interdisciplinary Medical Studies Immunology

    Research interests: Microbiomes, bacterial and immunological applications to oncology, and Listeria relations to food science

    Personal interests: Watching movies & TV, going to the gym. In the summer, going on camping trips to canoe around Algonquin Park.

  • Marissa Chiu

    UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
    Honours BMSc in Biochemistry

    Research interests: Molecular mechanisms of disease, drug development and pharmacology, and bacterial pathogenesis

    Personal interests: Weightlifting and trying new restaurants

  • Ahad Asghar

    UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
    Honours BMSc Specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences and Major in Microbiology and Immunology

    Research interests: Understanding host-pathogen interactions and immune responses in immunodeficient individuals to uncover mechanisms contributing to disease progression.

    Personal interests: Board games, video games, finding new places to eat, technology