Meet our team

thakshila dharmasena

MSC STUDENT
I completed my BSc degree at University of Peradeniya in 2017 with Plant Pathology as my major research interest.  I’m currently working on a project related to plant genetics at Monaghan Lab, Queen’s University. In my free time, I like to grow cactus, watch movies, observe wild animals and walk. 

brandon ​saltzman

BSCH STUDENT
I am in my fourth year of my BScH at Queen’s University studying Biotechnology. In my time at Queen’s I have sparked an interest in plant cellular biology with a hope to one day study how alterations to plant expression can be used in biotechnology, agriculture and industry. Outside of sciences I have a passion for basketball, golf and camping in the outdoors. 

Mackenzie Loranger

BSCH STUDENT
I am currently a 4th year student at Queen’s university, completing my final year of the biotechnology program. I am interested in stress responses, specifically looking at how plants have come to adapt to these constant threats. In my spare time I enjoy getting competitive in inter-murals as well as going on a hike whenever I can!

Katelyn Butts

SLC PLACEMENT STUDENT
I am in my 6th and final semester in the Biotechnology Advanced program at St. Lawrence College. This program has brought my attention to many interesting fields in the realm of Biotechnology. I have always been interested in “how things work” and the more I learn, the more I want to know about the inner-workings of the world. In my spare time, I like to read and spend time with my horse, Romeo. This is me at the museum of natural history in Washington DC.

Jacqueline Monaghan

Canada Research Chair in plant immunology​

I studied undergraduate biology at the University of Toronto (2001-2005), earned a doctoral degree from the University of British Columbia (2005-2010), and conducted postdoctoral research at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, England (2010-2015). I have been an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Queen's University since January 2016 and a Tier II CRC Research Chair since 2020.

It is my privilege to train the next generation of plant scientists. I focus on rigor, integrity, and personal accountability, while at the same time encouraging collegial team-work and a collaborative approach to experimental biology. I love learning new things, especially from students.  

With a strong sense of community, I proudly hold positions at academic journals and learned societies that align with my core values. I am a Reviewing Editor in Plant Biology at eLife, a Handling Editor at the Journal of Experimental Botany, an Associate Editor at Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, and a member of the Communications Committee for the Canadian Society for Plant Biology. 

join OUR GROUP
We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and encourage those from under-represented groups in STEM to join our growing team. We believe that science is for everyone for matter their race, nationality, sexuality, or economic status.

​If you are interested in working together to create an inclusive space for everyone interested in plant molecular biology, please reach out! 

OVERVIEW
Our lab offers an excellent training environment in molecular biology and genetics.

Our Department is well established with exciting research programs in plant biology.

We will help you to secure external funding such as NSERC, OGS, and others.

International experiences are encouraged through collaborative projects.

We have regular one-on-one meetings in addition to weekly lab meeting and journal club.

Individual development plans ensure you focus on your desired career path. 

Support for career-enhancing activities such as presenting at conferences.

Annual research-intensive retreat at the Queen's Biological Research Station in the winter. 

Annual team-building retreat at Elbow Lake in the summer.
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UNDERGRADUATE 
Part-time and work-study employment - We welcome inquires from students interested in working ~5h/week to help with routine tasks as an introduction to bench science.​

Co-op placements - We welcome inquires from students requiring work placement experience for their degree programs at other institutions. ​

​BIOL537/541 Honours Thesis - Earn 12 credits towards your BIOL major while you conduct a hypothesis-driven project over the fall and winter terms.  ​

BIOL538/539/540 Research Mentorship - Earn credits towards your BIOL/BCHM/LSCI major while you conduct research over the fall (539; 3 credits), winter (538; 3 credits), or both semesters (540; 6 credits).   ​

SWEP - Paid full-time summer work. Applications are typically due in February each year.  

NSERC USRA - Highly competitive national scholarships enabling full-time summer work. Applications are due to the Dept of Biology in the winter semester each year.  ​

​​ASPB SURF - Highly competitive society scholarship enabling full-time summer work. Applications are due to ASPB in March of each year.  ​​

Graduate
Inquires from potential MSc and PhD students are always welcome. Please look here for more information about our program. Students typically start in Sept or Jan, but other start times are possible. Be sure to include a motivation statement and CV in your email.

Scholarship opportunities - There are several scholarship options allowing students to focus on research with a reduction in TAships. Application deadlines vary throughout the year.  Incoming students who are awarded an NSERC CGS receive a $5K top-up.

NSERC Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement - Supplemental funding available to allow international collaborations for students holding NSERC-CGS. Applications are due to Queen's University in September of each year. So far, students from our lab have been successful with this program enabling 3 month-long stays at the Sainsbury Laboratory in England (2017) and the University of Freiburg in Germany (2019). 

Visiting graduate students - We are happy to host motivated students from other countries through various scholarship programs.

​Scholarship opportunities for non-Canadian nationals/residents may be available from other sources.

Postdoctoral
Inquiries from potential postdoctoral scholars are always welcome, however internal funding is not guaranteed.  Be sure to include a motivation statement and CV in your email.

Although competitive, applying for external fellowships is encouraged (be sure to confirm eligibility).

  • Banting postdoctoral fellowship applications – due internally in June, selected to be endorsed by Queen’s by July, full applications due to NSERC in October, and announced in March.
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  • NSERC postdoctoral fellowship applications – due on October and announced in March.
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  • Queen’s postdoctoral fund applications – due in January for spring decisions.
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  • EMBO long-term fellowships – due in August for fall interviews and winter decisions.
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  • MSCA global fellowships – due in September for winter decisions.
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  • +several others from the CSC, NSF, Mitacs, etc 

alumni

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Katherine Dunning, NSERC/OGS MSc,  2018-2020
Carmen Gonzalez-Ferrer, OGS MSc, 2018-2020
Irina Sementchoukova, NSERC/OGS MSc, 2017-2019 
Kristen Siegel, NSERC/OGS MSc, 2016-2019 
Lauren Grubb, NSERC /OGS MSc, 2016-2018 

Undergraduate STUDENTS

Nick Smith, NSERC USRA + BIOL539, 2020
Cailun Tanney, BIOL537, 2019-2020 
Emma Cameron, BIOL540, 2019-2020
Andrew Ji, BIOL540, 2019 
Ruxandra Bogdan, SWEP + BIOL540, 2018-2019  
Mansuba Rana, SWEP + BIOL537, 2018-2019 
Olivia Siemens, Summer Student, 2018
Alex Johnson Dingee, SWEP + BIOL537, 2016-2018 
Danalyn Holmes, BIOL540 + BIOL537, 2016-2018 
Alysha Thomson, BIOL537, 2016-2017 
​Sydney Pascetta, BIOL537, 2016-2017 
Danielle Ciren, NSERC USRA + BIOL538, 2016  
Kathy Sihavong, BIOL538, 2016

postdoctoral scholars

Melissa Bredow, NSERC PDF, 2017-2021

Visiting scholars

Natasha Kelkar, Visiting MSc Student, 2020 ​

placement STUDENTS

Heather Hennessy, SLC Placement, 2019 
Jennifer Wesley, SLC Placement, 2018 
Heather Galley, SLC Placement + Lab Technician, 2017 
Patrick VanVolkingburgh, SLC Placement, 2016 

WORK-STUDY STUDENTS

Rachel Shin, Work-Study Student, 2020-2021
Annelise Perron, Work-Study Student, 2020-2021