Former Graduate Students

Tianna Rusnak

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2021-2023

Research Focus:  Determining the optimal dose of egg-phosphatidylcholine to improve the immune system in obesity.

Supervisor:  Dr. Caroline Richard

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I love adventuring outdoors, especially running and cycling. I also love to cook, attend live music shows, and spend time with dogs.

Email:
 trusnak@ualberta.ca

 

Kun Wang

 

 

 

 


Project: 
MSc, 2020-2023

Research Focus:  Intestinal lipid absorption and muscle steatosis in a swine model with early insulin resistance

Supervisor:  Dr. Spencer Proctor & Dr. Caroline Richard

What I like to do outside of the lab?:  I enjoy playing music (guitar and keyboard) and learning music theory.

Email:
kun6@ualberta.ca

Yongbo She

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2019-2022

Research Focus: Interactions between dairy, lipids and immunology in the context of obesity and insulin resistance

Supervisor:  Dr. Spencer Proctor, Dr. Caroline Richard

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I enjoy cooking, hiking, fishing and studying aviation (my dream is to be a pilot).

Email:
 yongbo2@ualberta.ca

Jessy Azarcoya-Barrera

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2018-2022

Research Focus: Choline nutrition and immune function.

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs & Dr. Caroline Richard

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I enjoy watching and playing sports. I love to go out for a bike and take some shots with my camera and I also enjoy spending some time in my Fantasy Premier League team and playing video games.

Email:
azarcoya@ualberta.ca

Kelly Picard

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2019-2021

Research Focus: The impact of diet quality and food processing on clinical outcomes for patients living with chronic kidney disease.

Supervisor:  Dr. Caroline Richard

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I love spending time bike riding, skiing and cooking with my two boys and husband.  I also enjoy reading and playing piano.

Email:
  paldana@ualberta.ca

Lourdes Ramirez Fuentes

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2019-2021

Research Focus: Development and characterization of peptides with antidiabetic activities from oat protein.

Supervisor:Dr. Lingyun Chen and Dr. Caroline Richards

What I like to do outside of the lab?:  I really enjoy learning new things, reading, watercolor painting,  meditating, baking, journaling, and playing basketball.

Email:
ramirezf@ualberta.ca

Stephanie Carlin

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2017-2021

Research Focus: Intestinal PC synthesis and lipid metabolism.

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab?: What I like doing outside of the lab: I enjoy board games, snowboarding, sewing and taking afternoon naps.

Email: carlin@ualberta.ca

Olivia Weaver

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2020-2022

Research Focus: Association of cardiovascular disease risk and type 2 diabetes in the Alberta's Tomorrow Project

Supervisor:  Dr. Spencer Proctor & Dr. Dean Eurich

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I enjoy travelling, swimming and other water sports, and reading.

Email:
oweaver@ualberta.ca

 

Molly Uren

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2019-2021

Research Focus:  Can we detect early cardiovascular disease in high-risk women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome?  I am also volunteering as research assitant in PCOS together Heart Health study as part of my research project.

Supervisor: Dr. Donna Vine

What I like to do outside of the lab:  I like to go for long runs or hikes and enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

Email:  muren@ualberta.ca

 

Thy Ton

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc,  2019-2021

Research Focus: Androgens effect on lipid and insulin-glucose metabolism in control and polycystic ovary syndrome-prone conditions

Supervisor: Dr. Donna Vine

What I like to do outside of the lab?:   I love cooking, baking and spending night time to chase lady Aurora with my husband.

Email:  tton@ualberta.ca

 

Jacqueline Krysa

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2014-2019

Research focus: Investigate the impact of novel human variants of PCSK9 with an acute effect on cholesterol metabolism

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor & Dr. Donna Vine

 

Paulina Hernandez

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2016-2020

Research Focus: Dietary Choline and trimethylamine metabolism

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab?: I love to spend time with my amazing daughter and husband,  playing, dancing, reading and watching movies with them. I enjoy traveling to new places and its gastronomy.

Email:
  paldana@ualberta.ca

Vijay Singh

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2015-2019

Research focus: Effect of trans-fatty acids in a swine model and the effect on gut microbiota.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: I enjoy watching movies, reading the news, going to the gym and swimming.

Emailvpsingh@ualberta.ca

Serena Wan

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2015-2019

Research Focus: PC and cholesostatis

Supervisor: Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab:  Snowboarding, hiking, running, playing piano.

Email: 
ymwan@ualberta.ca

JP Kennelly

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2015-2018

Research focus: The role of CTα in intestinal lipid metabolism.

Supervisor: Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab: I enjoy both playing and watching sports.

EmailJkennell@ualberta.ca

Yumna Zea

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2014-2017

Research focus: Role of dietary choline in the development of atherosclerosis

Supervisor: Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab: I love walking in parks, going to museums, art galleries and visiting interesting places.

Email: yzia@ualberta.ca

Melanie Fontaine

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2015-2017

Research focus: Determining a mechanism for the novel finding that low birth weight results in increased lymph production and intestinal secretion/absorption irrespective of insulin action in a large animal swine model.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: I enjoy hiking, camping and music festivals in the summer and skiing and ice skating in the winter.

Emailmfontain@ualberta.ca

Xia (Bella) Gao

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2012-2015

Research Focus:  Role of choline in energy metabolism

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs

Erin Lewis

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  PhD, 2012-2015

Research Focus: Supplementation with phosphatidylcholine during suckling and immune response of the offspring.

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs

 

Maria Kupreeva

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2012-2014

Research focus: Investigation of the beneficial effects of niacin to improve atherogenic blood lipid profile, insulin-glucose metabolism and reproductive indices in the JCR:LA-cp rodent model of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Supervisor: Dr. Donna Vine

What I like to do outside of the lab: I like spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy cooking, travelling, running and yoga.

Emailkupreeva@ualberta.ca

Karen Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2009-2014

Research focus: Investigating the effects of altered folate and B12 status on the development and severity of high fat diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance.

Supervisor: Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside of the lab: Skiing and hiking.

Emailkkelly1@ualberta.ca

Eba (Nusaibah Ab) Aziz

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2011-2013

Research Focus: The role of betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase in modulating lipid metabolism.

Supervisor: Dr. Rene Jacobs

What I like to do outside the lab: I love traveling and reflection on the the wonders of creation. Also love baking and decorating.

Emailabaziz@ualberta.ca

Miriam Jacome

 

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2008-2013

Research focus: Investigation of the beneficial effects of Naturally Enriched Dairy Sources of “natural trans fats” (trans-11 vaccenic acid and cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid) on lipid metabolism during insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Particular interest is focused on studying the effect of dietary interventions with natural trans fats on cell-signaling lipids involved on energy metabolism, inflammation and related metabolic disorders.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: I like to ride my bike during the summer, watch movies and play with my pets!

Emailjacome@ualberta.ca

Sheng (Shannon) Wu

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc, 2011-2012

Research focus: The role of novel red yeast rice formulations to modulate lipid metabolism and reduce dyslipidemia and vascular disease in the JCR:LA-cp rat.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: I like watching movies, or getting together with my friends. And l love music, I can play the violin. I don’t exercise often, but I like yoga.

Email: sheng8@ualberta.ca

Rob Lim

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc (course based), 2008-2011

Research focus: Bio-availability of trans-reservatrol via intestinal lymph chylomicrons and its effect on lipoprotein composition and metabolism.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: I enjoy the outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, road trips, jogging, snowboarding and skating. I also enjoy playing tennis, badminton and board games.

Emailrob@ualberta.ca

Rabban Mangat

 

 

 

 

Project: PhD, 2004-2011

Research focus: Role of dietary fat in initiating atherosclerosis under conditions of metabolic syndrome and type I diabetes.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: Window shopping and reading.

Emailrabban.mangat@ualberta.ca

Tete Li

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2009-2011

Research Focus:  Increased expression of regulator of G protein signaling 2 explains how choline supplementation increases visceral fat mass in phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase deficient mice

Supervisor:  Dr. Rene Jacobs

Flora Wang

 

 

 

 

 

Project: Phd, 2006-2010

Research focus: Bioactivity and hypolipidemic effect of ruminant trans fat, particularly trans vaccenic acid, under conditions of dyslipidemia and the metabolic syndrome.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

What I like to do outside of the lab: Watch movies and TV drama shows, pilates, shopping, karaoke and travel.

Emailflora.wang@ualberta.ca

Zahra Hassanali

Project: MSc, 2006-2009

Research Focus: Impact of n-3 fatty acids on post-prandial metabolism.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

Rain Lu

 

 

 

 

 

Project:  MSc, 2005-2009

Research Focus: Benefits of conjugated linoleic acid in Insulin Resistance and cardiovascular diseases.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor

Jenny Su

 

 

 

 

 

Project: MSc,  2006-2008

Research Focus: Post-prandial metabolism in insulin resistance and type-1 diabetes.

Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Proctor