Post Doctoral Fellows
Benneth Ben-Azu, Ph.D.
📧 bbenazu@uvic.ca
“I am interested in investigating how gut dysbiosis-induced microglial dysfunction contributes to schizophrenia-like behaviour.”
Fernando González Ibáñez, Ph.D.
📧 fernando.gonzalez-ibanez.1@ulaval.ca
“I specialize in the effects of environmental factors on microglia function in contexts of health and disease. Development of electron microscopy techniques and analysis. 3D EM.”
Ifeoluwa (Hiphy) Awogbindin, Ph.D.
“I crossed path with Dr. Marie-Eve Tremblay in December 2018 during an IBRO Advanced School on Neuroimmunology and Gut Brain Axis in South Africa. I am investigating whether alterations of microglial structure and function during infections with SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 predispose to future development of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, respectively using transgenic mice.”
Doctoral Students
Antonia Landwehr, M.Sc.
Colin Murray
📧 colinmur@uvic.ca
“I am interested in the impact of psychoactive compounds (cannabis, LSD) on glial cell regulation of myelination across the lifespan.”
📧 esimoncicova@uvic.ca
“I am interested in the impact of aging on microglial functions and responses to immune stimuli and their role in aging-related cognitive decline.”
Jared VanderZwaag
“I investigate how microglia modulate neuronal activity in models of fatigue and how these dynamics shift via psychedelic treatment.”
Master Students
Cameo Volk
📧 cvolk@uvic.ca
“I am interested in the effects of psychedelics on the function and behaviour of microglia, with further applications extending into novel treatments for mental health disorders and drug development.”
Jaclyn Dunn
“I am interested in the impact of psychedelics on Alzheimer’s disease and how they might modulate the integrated stress response in microglia.”
Makenna Gargus
📧 mgargus@uvic.ca
“I am interested in the impact of vagus nerve stimulation on microglial inflammatory states and neurodevelopmental disorders.”
Lab Manager and Research Assistants
Lab manager and research associate
Alumni
📧 biancabobotis@uvic.ca
“I am interested in microglial sex differences in the brain during adulthood using the four core genotypes mouse model.”
Senior research associate
📧 parsak@uvic.ca
“I am interested in investigating the impact of glial cells in neurodegenerative diseases and glioblastoma using rodent models and human post-mortem brain.”
Undergraduate, Visiting and Volunteer Students
Karol Ann Baldo
📧 karolannbaldo@uvic.ca
“I am a visiting Ph.D. student from University of the Philippines Manila. My research focuses on microglial senescence and its role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Carter Andersen
Linnea Poyhia
📧 linneapoyhia@uvic.ca
“I am currently investigating how vagus nerve stimulation can modulate microglia and neurodevelopmental outcomes following maternal infection.”
Micah Allen
Reneé Campero
📧 reneecampero@uvic.ca
“I am interested in investigating the effects of COVID on dark microglia and its impact on cognitive functioning”
Shaghayeh Kiani
Teagan Ewart
Lab Alumni (2013-2025)
Amin Benadjal, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Clémentine Beucher, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Kanchan Bisht, Ph.D.
Doctoral student
Julien Blouin
Undergraduate research assistant
Leonie Blöbaum, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Cyril Bolduc
Undergraduate research assistant
Maude Bordeleau, Ph.D.
Doctoral student
Samuel Boisjoly-Villeneuve, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Raphaël Bourgeois
Visiting Master student
Olivia Braniff, B.Sc.
Research assistant
Fanny Sophia Bunn, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Sophia Burns
Undergraduate research assistant
Samuel Comeau, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Fanny Decoeur, Ph.D.
Visiting Doctoral student
Charlotte Delage, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Jérôme Detuncq
Undergraduate research assistant
Kira Dolhan
Undergraduate research assistant
Alexie Doucet
Undergraduate research assistant
Gabrielle Duvoisin de Soumagnat, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Hassan El Hajj, M.Sc.
Master student
Léa Essiembre
Co-op research assistant
Capri Eyres
Undergraduate research assistant
Moritz Ferch
Visiting Medical student
Sean Foster
Undergraduate research assistant
Audrey Gagné
Undergraduate research assistant
Éloi Gagnon
Undergraduate research assistant
Steven Gagnon, M.D.
Medical student intern
Isabelle Girard, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Elisa Gonçalves de Andrade, M.Sc.
Master student
Émilie Gosselin
Undergraduate research assistant
Torin Halvorson
Undergraduate research assistant
Keelin Henderson Pekarik
Co-op student/University of Toronto
Mathilde Henry, Ph.D.
Doctoral student
Elizabeth Akinluyi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Madison Hoffos
Undergraduate research assistant
Chin Wai (Thomas) Hui, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Janine Kox, M.Sc.
Visting Master student
Victor Lau, M.Sc.
Master student
Cynthia Lecours, M.Sc.
Master student
Luana Tenorio Lopes, Ph.D.
Lab manager
Mariam Mahmood
Undergraduate research assistant
Chloe McKee, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Leo McKee-Reid
Undergraduate research assistant
Imène Melki, Ph.D.
Research assistant
Valerio Messina, M.D.
Visiting Medical student
Marianne Nolin
Undergraduate research assistant
Geneviève Parent, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Katherine Picard, Ph.D.
Doctoral student
Danaja Plevel, M.D.
Visiting Medical student
Luke Rainier-Pope
Research assistant
Yvan Rémy, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Marie-Ève Robert
Undergraduate research assistant
Louis Samson, M.D.
Undergraduate research assistant
Maria Gabriela Sánchez, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Julie C. Savage, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Lisa Scheefals, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Kaushik Sharma, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Léa Siron, M.Sc.
Visting Master student
Natacha Soudier, M.Sc.
Visting Master student
Abygaël St-Pierre, B.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Marie-Kim St-Pierre, Ph.D.
Doctoral student
Chantaille Ash
Undergraduate research assistant
Vanessa Théberge, M.Sc.
Undergraduate research assistant
Marianela Evelyn Traetta, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Anastasia Trudel
Undergraduate research assistant
Eva Tunderman, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Virginie Vidal, M.Sc.
Visiting Master student
Nathalie Vernoux, Ph.D.
Lab manager
Michael Wanklin
Undergraduate research assistant
Valérie Watters
Undergraduate research assistant
Micaël Carrier, Ph.D
Doctoral student
Sammy Weiser Novak, M.Sc.
Doctoral student
Simon Kurkimak
Undergraduate research assistant
Jamie Chow
Undergraduate research assistant
Keysa Mundel
Undergraduate research assistant
Maxim Schlagel
Undergraduate research assistant
Marko Torkic
Undergraduate research assistant
Emiko Osborne
Undergraduate research assistant
Sophia Loewen , M.Sc.
Master student
Haley A. Vecchiarelli, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow
Bella Pienaar
Undergraduate research assistant
Crisel Vital
Undergraduate research assistant
Isabella Coral
Undergraduate research assistant
Maryam Zafarullah
Undergraduate research assistant
Colby Sandberg
Reseach assistant