Get to know us!
Here is the 2026-2027 team
Idin Lantz
President
Yalun Zhu
Vice-president
Haneen Alkhawaldeh
VP academic
Caroline Part
GSAED Director
Alberto Fuentes
co-vp social
Jacob Knickle
co-vp social
Sarah Isler
vp athletic
Ammi Paul
vp external
I’m a second-year PhD candidate in the Downey lab and I study histone acetyltransferase complexes in yeast. I’ve been to 3 country concerts this year!
I am a PhD candidate in Dr. Vanderhyden's lab in CMM, spending my days convincing ovarian cancer cells to stop growing. And I am allergic to sunlight, but don't panic – I promise I have better food choices than a vampire!
I’m a third-year PhD student in Neuroscience in the Jahani-Asl Lab, where I study glioblastoma biology and therapeutics. I also somehow managed to train one of my cats to run to me when I snap my fingers (mission impossible).
I’m a third-year PhD student in CMM in the Lochmüller Lab, where I study cardiac dysfunction in neuromuscular disease. Outside the lab, I’m an avid houseplant collector, especially orchids!
I’m a third-year PhD student in NSC in the Albert Lab, where I study axonal plasticity of the serotonin system in depression and anxiety. Outside the lab, I love putting lime on almost everything!
I’m a fourth-year Integrated BSc/MSc student in TMM in Dr. Wiper-Bergeron’s lab, where I study skeletal muscle denervation and neuromuscular junction stability in cancer cachexia. Fun fact: I was once declared missing by park rangers on a backpacking trip in BC after a storm caused mudslides and trail closures!
Maurice Zhang
vp wellness
I'm a first year CMM MSc student in the D'Amours lab studying the role of the SMC5/6 complex in viral restriction. A fun fact about me is I like to draw in my spare time.
Sunny Sun
vp communication
I’m a second-year PhD candidate in Damien D’Amours’ lab, where I study how the Smc5/6 complex repairs and prevents DNA damage. My hidden talent is solving Sudoku ridiculously fast, so if you ever get stuck, I can be your personal Sudoku rescue team.
I’m a first-year MSc student in Neuroscience in the Wang Lab at OHRI, where I study the reprogramming capability of pericytes under stroke conditions. I’ve also watched so many sitcoms that I think I’m starting to run out!
Mohammad Al Ayach
vp finance
I’m a third-year PhD student in Cellular and Molecular Medicine in the Jahani-Asl Lab, where I study the differentiation of cancer stem cells. I’m also a bit of a jack-of-all-trades! I’ve done everything from playing soccer and guitar to reading philosophy and fixing broken tech. Master of none, but always down to try something new!
Nicholas Lafond
vp Webmaster
I’m a first-year MSc student in CMM in the Wiper-Bergeron Lab, where I study the role of C/EBPδ in cancer cachexia. Fun fact: I once sat on an iceberg in Newfoundland!
I’m an Integrated MSc student in CMM in the Matar Lab, where I study curcumin as a natural GLP-1 secretagogue. I also have a very high spice tolerance!
Portia Rajotte
vp Admin
I’m a fourth-year Integrated BSc/MSc student in TMM’s French stream in Dr. Wiper-Bergeron’s lab, where I study the role of the glucocorticoid receptor in muscle stem cells. Outside the lab, one of my hobbies is creating anime apparel using fabric markers, crochet, and heat transfer vinyl!