Research Staff
Steve Callaghan
Lab Manager
Steve has been with the Faculty of Medicine for 19 years. During this time he was manager for the Canadian Stroke Networks Adenovirus Core Facility, and Lab Manager for Dr. David Park, former director of the uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute. Steve has also been a member of several health and safety committees, a member of the hazmat team and a member the procurement services evaluation project group.
Steve has joined the Rousseaux Lab looking to expand his knowledge in the latest molecular biology techniques including gene editing and flow cytometry.
Outside of the lab, he spends his time with his family camping, hiking and related outdoor pursuits.
Hritvic (Ricky) Chaudhary
Research Assistant
Ricky is a graduate of the Translational and Molecular Medicine program at the University of Ottawa. During his undergrad, he participated in research projects related to motor learning and understanding the neural circuitry that leads to the execution of motor movements. He is excited to continue pursuing his neuroscience interest in the Rousseaux lab while expanding his knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of the lab, Ricky enjoys playing hockey and soccer, watching movies, and spending time with family.
Post-docs
Konrad Ricke, Ph.D.
Parkinson Canada Basic Research Fellowship
Konrad is from Cologne (Köln), Germany, where he did his PhD on mitochondrial impairment in Parkinson’s disease. He showed that mitochondrial dysfunction together with cell type specific characteristics induce the selective vulnerability of neurons in the substantia nigra. Being born in Montréal, Konrad decided to proceed his scientific career in his country of birth and will now incorporate his expertise in mitochondrial biology into projects of the Rousseaux lab. In his spare time, Konrad enjoys canoeing, hiking, cooking and spending time with his family.
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Graduate Students
Zoe Fisk, B.Sc.
MSc Student (Neuroscience)
Zoe is from Windsor, Ontario and is a recent Biology graduate from McMaster University. She has previously worked in an ecological genetics lab, where she discovered her love for the scientific process and research. She is excited to blend her laboratory and undergraduate background with her budding interest in neuroscience for her master’s degree, studying how genetic and molecular dysfunction can lead to neurological diseases. Outside of science, she is passionate about music and traveling, but mostly her yellow lab puppy.
Haley Geertsma, B.Sc.
PhD Student (Neuroscience)
CIHR CGS-D Scholarship, PRC Poole Family Fellowship; IBRO Travel Award, Parkinson Foundation Visiting Scholar, Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Haley is from Winchester, Ontario but received her B.Sc. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is pursuing a higher education in scientific research to feed her curiosity and continue learning. She is a dog person at heart but loves her little calico cat. In her spare time Haley enjoys hiking, reading, and relaxing with family.
Cloe (To) Losier, M.Sc.
PhD Student (Cellular and Molecular Medicine)
Co-Supervised with Dr. Ryan Russell
Vanier Scholarship, Ontario Graduate Scholarship
Cloe has recently graduated from the master’s program at the University of Ottawa. Her previous work focused on the link between stress and nutrient sensitive kinases and the pathogen-induced autophagy pathway. She will join the Rousseaux lab as a PhD student. Here, she is extremely excited to deepen her knowledge of advanced techniques in molecular biology and data analysis. In addition to science, Cloe has a strong love for bubble tea which keeps her calm during late night experiments.
Alfred Maluach, M.Sc.
PhD Student (Neuroscience)
Alfred is originally from South Sudan but received both his B.Sc. in Pharmacology andM.Sc. in Pharmacology with Collaborative Specialization in Biomedical Toxicology, fromthe University of Toronto. He joins the Rousseaux Lab with previous research & work experiences in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases labs. These opportunities not only piqued his interests in neuroscience and neuropathology but also left him with more questions than answers within the field. He is excited to embark on finding some answers to the basic yet elusive questions, such as why do neurons die ? and how can dying neurons be pharmacologically rescued? Outside of the lab, he enjoys watching Arsenal and Toronto FC games and comedy shows.
Benjamin Nguyen, M.Sc.
PhD Student (Neuroscience)
Ben is from Atlanta, Georgia and completed his BSc and MSc in biomedical sciences at the University of Georgia in the US. There, he participated in blood-brain barrier research regarding stroke and Alzheimer's, which nurtured his passion for neuroscience and led him to join the Rousseaux Lab. He is eager to further his knowledge in cellular and molecular neuropathology to help push the boundaries of science and further our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and its causes. Outside of the lab, Ben can be found doing videography, exploring new restaurants, and learning the in's and out's of being a Canadian.
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Caroline Part, B.Sc.
MSc Student (Neuroscience)
Caroline is from St. Albert, Alberta and received her B.Sc. Honours in Neuroscience from the University of Alberta. Throughout her undergraduate degree she partook in research projects focusing on peripheral neuropathy, chemotherapeutic resistance, as well as sex differences in the immune response to stroke. She is excited to continue to expand her knowledge of neurodegeneration while working to further uncover the underlying pathophysiology of these diseases. Outside of the lab she enjoys playing instruments, running, hiking and biking. .
Terry Suk, B.Sc.
PhD Student (Neuroscience)
ALS Canada-Brain Canada Trainee Grant, CNMD STaR Award
Terry has always had an interest in science and learning how things work. During his undergrad at Western, he discovered his love for genetics leading him to join the Rousseaux Lab for graduate studies. Here, he hopes to further pursue his interests in understanding genetic effects on complex diseases and discovering new targets to help prevent and treat such diseases. Outside of the lab, he spends his time playing a variety of instruments, hiking, exploring the outdoors, and playing volleyball.
Undergraduate Students
Amanda Bruce
Honours student (TMM)
Amanda is currently a fourth year undergraduate student studying Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. She has a strong interest in neuroscience and Parkinson’s disease which lead her to join the Rousseaux lab for her Honour’s Project to study the regulation of key pathological proteins that contribute to neurodegeneration in PD. Outside of the lab, Amanda enjoys dancing. In her younger years she competitively danced internationally and won several competitions including one in Germany.
Ariana Kokkinakis
Honours student (BIM)
Ariana is a fourth year undergraduate student at the University of Ottawa studying Biomedical Sciences. With interests in neuroscience, she joined the Rousseaux Lab to research neural development and the causes of neurodegenerative disease as part of her honours project. Outside the lab, she can be found playing soccer and golf!
Philippe Corbin
Honours student (TMM)
Philippe is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. With interests in molecular concepts, he joined the Rousseaux lab to understand the pathways and interactions of proteins in ALS as part of his honours project. During his free time, he enjoys the outdoors or playing sports.
Past trainees (and where they are now)
Trina Nguyen, BSc (uOttawa Medical School)
Hayley Lee, BSc
Nicholas Valentino, BSc
Anjali Patel, BSc, MSc (Research Assistant, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute)
Meghan Heer, BSc (PA School, University of Toronto)
Jean-Louis Parmasad, BSc (uOttawa Medical School)
Alejandro Caballero Gómez, BSc (Graduate School, OHRI/uOttawa, Bill Stanford lab)
Emily Macinnes, BSc Hon (Trinity College Medical School)
Michelle Séguin, BSc (uOttawa, Occupational Therapy)
We are always on the lookout for inquisitive and hard working scientists! Contact us if you are interested in joining our team.