Our team
The people behind the pump.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Martin McGavin
Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, and the Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, at Western University, and a member of the Centre for Human Immunology.
Education & training
B.Sc. (1985) and Ph.D. (1989), University of Guelph, Departments of Applied Microbiology and Microbiology.
Postdoctoral Fellow (1989–1992), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Biochemistry.
Previous appointments
University of Manitoba (1992–1996). University of Toronto / Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (1997–2009).
Current lab members
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D. Candidate
Ph.D. Candidate
Ph.D. Candidate
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Who's in the lab now
Robert Kuiack
Camryn Bonn-Dunbar
Akanksha Thukral
Tika Thapa
Brian You
Lab history
Alumni
Every trainee who has come through the lab.
Ph.D. Students
- Robert KuiackSeptember 2018 – 2022Role of GraS sensor kinase in S. aureus sensing and responding to signals of innate immunity.
Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, continuing in the lab. 
Heba AlnaseriSeptember 2012 – 2017Role of TetR family transcriptional regulator in response of S. aureus to antimicrobial fatty acids.
Now: Heba Stokes, Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs at Intrinsik.
Nicholas NickersonSeptember 2002 – 2008Molecular analysis of a novel cysteine protease inhibitor encoded by the serine protease operon of Staphylococcus aureus.
Now: Regulatory Documentation Scientist at Roche.
Kelly RiceJune 1996 – August 2001Regulation of colonization and invasive phenotypes by protease activity in Staphylococcus aureus.
Now: Professor of Microbiology, University of Florida.
M.Sc. Students
- Camryn Bonn-DunbarSeptember 2020 – 2022TetR family regulator FarR variation controls antimicrobial fatty acid efflux in Staphylococcus aureus.
Now: Ph.D. candidate in the lab. 
Katherine FergusonSeptember 2018 – 2020Regulation and function of RND family efflux pumps in Staphylococcus aureus.
Now: studying Dentistry at the University of Toronto.- Robert KuiackSeptember 2017 – 2018Role of GraS sensor kinase in S. aureus sensing and responding to signals of innate immunity. Reclassified to Ph.D. stream.
Now: Postdoctoral Fellow, continuing in the lab. 
Jamie HaluchaSeptember 2015 – 2017Function of RND family efflux pumps in Staphylococcus aureus.
Winner, Infection and Immunity Research Forum poster competition, Western University.
Now: Dr. Jamie Halucha, dentist at Lakeport Dental.
James SchneiderSeptember 2013 – 2015Regulation of a fatty acid efflux pump in Staphylococcus aureus. Co-supervised with David Heinrichs.
Now: pursuing professional opportunities outside the university setting.- Piraveina GnanasunthramSeptember 2011 – 2013Differential response of S. epidermidis and S. aureus to acidic pH and antimicrobial fatty acids.
Now: Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto. - Vithooshan VijayakumaranSeptember 2011 – 2013Role of lipase function in growth and virulence of CA-MRSA. Co-supervised with David Heinrichs.
Now: Counsel, Corporate (IT/IP) at Sun Life. - Benjamin ArsicSeptember 2010 – 2012Response of CA-MRSA to antimicrobial fatty acids. Co-supervised with David Heinrichs.
Now: Physician (CPSO), family medicine at Western University. - William NgaiSeptember 2009 – 2011Role of Staphopain cysteine protease in promoting toxin dissemination in Staphylococcus aureus systemic infection.
Now: Ph.D., Chemical Biology, Peking University; researcher at Shenzhen Bay Laboratory. - Yue ZhuSeptember 2009 – December 2012Contribution of the staphylococcal serine protease operon to tissue invasion.
Now: Clinical Laboratory Scientist at UCI Health, California.
Summer Students
Emily XiongMay – August 2019 - Katherine FergusonMay – August 2017DUROP
- Robert KuiackMay – August 2015SURF
- John LeeMay – August 2012 & 2013
- Justin UmMay – August 2012NSERC USRA
- Heba AlnaseriMay – August 2010
- Julie KaiserMay – August 2009
Project Course Students
Garrie PengSeptember 2019 – April 2020MMI4970E- Camryn BonnSeptember 2019 – April 2020MMI4970E
Henry CheungSeptember 2018 – April 2019MMI4970E- Sara ChenierSeptember 2017 – April 2018BIO4999E
- Katherine FergusonSeptember 2017 – April 2018MMI4970E
Alex SteinkeSeptember 2017 – April 2018MMI4970E- Robert KuiackSeptember 2016 – April 2017MMI4970E
- Razvan ParaschivSeptember 2014 – April 2015MMI4970E
- Utbah KaziSeptember 2014 – April 2015MMI4970E
- Zachary ScinoccaSeptember 2013 – April 2014MMI4970E
- Lee Anne HiltzSeptember 2012 – April 2013MMI4970E
- Erik McRaeSeptember 2011 – April 2012MMI4480
- Seung-Won LeeSeptember 2010 – April 2011MMI4480
- Ben ArsicSeptember 2009 – April 2010MMI4480