Directed Studies, Honours and Research Opportunities
I’m always looking for keen, energetic and driven students who are interested in doing research in the lab or,
if you are more of a computer nerd, for bioinformatic studies. To get an idea about the major research areas I
am involved in (biodegradation, fermentation, sequencing, proteomics, microbial ecology), have a look at some
recent publications and projects that students have worked on. There are opportunities for Honours, Directed
Studies and MSc projects, volunteers, and co-op students funded through NSERC USRA and
TRU U-REAP.
You can get an idea about the techniques we use by looking at the Laboratory page.
If you are an undergraduate student interested in research, be sure to come and talk to me sooner rather than
later, students often come to see me more than a year before they start working on a specific project.
Van Hamme Lab Alumni
(e.g. medical school, physiotherapy), and onto scientific and not so scientific careers. Over 45
undergraduates have spent time in the lab over the last 10 years, and I keep in touch with all of
them. Below is a selection of current and recent students and what they have done.
Current Lab Members
Eric Bottos | PDF | 2014
NB4-1Y transcriptomics, bacterial genome sequencing projects.
Laura Smylie | BSc Honours | 2014 – 2015 | Co-supervisor: Dr. Don Nelson
Cloning desulfinases from NB4-1Y into E. coli.
Jillian Lane | BSc Honours; U-REAP | 2014 – 2015 | Co-supervisor: Dr. Don Nelson
Using CRISPR for NB4-1Y genome editing.
Lee Bergstrand | BSc Directed Studies | 2014 – |
Project leader: Various bioinformatic projects (NB4-1Y genome assembly & annotation; Development of new bioinformatic tools).
Matt McGinness | BSc Directed Studies | 2014 – 2015 |
Various bioinformatic projects (NB4-1Y genome assembly & annotation; Development of new bioinformatic tools).
Justin Mumford | BSc Directed Studies | 2015 |
Bioinformatic analysis of desulfinases in NB4-1Y.
Corrie Belanger | BSc Honours, U-REAP | 2014 – 2015 |
Evaluation of diatomaceous earth as a methane inhibitor in cattle rumen fluid cultures.
Katiana Pyper | BSc Directed Studies | 2014 – 2015 |
Microbial community analysis of rumen fluid cultures using IonTorrent sequencing.
Visiting Students
I am always open to have students from other Universities come to learn and work in my laboratory.
PhD students who recently visited:
Nele Evers | University of Hasselt, Belgium 2014
Genome sequencing of three bacterial strains involved phytoremediation and plant growth promotion
Envirmental Biology Institute Homepage (Dutch)
Panos Gkorezis | University of Hasselt, Belgium 2012
Genome sequencing of two bacterial strains involved in hydrocarbon remediation and plant growth promotion
Envirmental Biology Institute Homepage (Dutch)
Kara Neudorf | PhD University of Regina, Canada 2012
Genome sequencing of mutants of a Rhizobium species
Supervisor’s Homepage
Recent Students
Paul Moote | MSc | 2013 | Co-supervisor: Dr. John Church
Evaluating the impacts of wine supplemented cattle feed on the shedding of E. coli,
and associated antimicrobial and community pattern changes.
Shannon Brooks | Lab Assistant
Organosulfur metabolism in Rhodococcus sp. strain JVH1
Recent publication from that work.
Corrie Belanger | (undergraduate) | Co-op U-REAP and NSERC Industrial URSA | January — August, 2012
2012 Canadian Society of Microbiologists Undergraduate Award
Evaluation of diatomaceous earth as a methane inhibitor in cattle rumen fluid cultures
Melissa Hardy | (undergraduate) | Lab technician | 2012/2013
Microbiological quality of enzymatically treated silage
Lauren Gothe | BSc | Volunteer | 2011
Molecular biology of organosulfur metabolism in JVH1
Melissa Stewart | BSc | Volunteer and Directed Studies | 2011/2012
Antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from agricultural environments
CUEF Travel Award to present at the Canadian Society of Microbiologists 2012 Conference.
Patrick McCaffery | (medical school) | NSERC-USRA Summer Student | 2011
Molecular biology of organosulfur metabolism
Bassam Barbour | (scientist) | U-REAP and Directed Studies | 2010 — 2011
Creating Expression Vectors Using the pTip System
David Montoya | BSc | U-REAP Summer student | 2010 — 2011
Knockout of arylsulfatase genes in Rhodococcus sp. strain JVH1
Justyne Morrow | (medical school) | Honours | 2010 — 2011
Analytical Methods for Screening Bacterial Mutants of Rhodoccocus strain sp. JVH1 Deficient in Organosulfur Metabolism
Carley MacIntyre | BSc | Research Assistant | 2010
Effects of Novel Preparation Method on Physical and Microbial Properties of Beef Jerky
http://www.davidpublishing.com/davidpublishing/Upfile/2/27/2013/2013022786104393.pdf
Trenton Kellock | (medical doctor) | NSERC URSA Research Assistant | 2008 — 2009
Production and analytical method development for nisin
2009 Best Student Poster Presentation, WCUCC
Recent publication from that work.
Megan Enos | UBC Medical Student | MSc, The Africa Institute, UWO | Two NSERC URSAs and one U-REAP: Research Assistant, Research Student and Honours | 2007 — 2010
Gene library and proteomics of C-S bond cleaving bacteria
2009 Student Symposium Competition Shortlist, CSM
2009 Best Oral Presentation, UBC-O Undergrad Conference
The Africa Institute