Michael Steffen Kobor, PhD
Edwin S.H. Leong UBC Chair in Healthy Aging – A UBC President’s Excellence Chair
Investigator, BC Children's Hospital
Dr. Michael Kobor is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and The Edwin S.H. Leong UBC Chair in Healthy Aging — a UBC President’s Excellence Chair. He has received many distinctions, including a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics and an appointment as Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Child and Brain Development Program. Until recently, Dr. Kobor served as the Sunny Hill BC Leadership Chair in Early Child Development, as well as the Director for Healthy Starts at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Kobor’s world-class, interdisciplinary research program employs a “society-to-cell” framework to better understand the mechanisms by which environmental exposures and life experiences can “get under the skin” to affect health and behaviour across the life course.
When he is not busy with research, Dr. Kobor enjoys spending time at home and travelling with his wife, son, and family dog.
Paola Arguello Pascualli
Graduate Student
My academic formation started in Mexico where I am from, studying a BSc in Genomic Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). During my undergrad I had the opportunity to explore different research areas and fell in love with epigenetics. Currently, I am a graduate student in Medical Genetics co-supervised by Dr. Kobor and Dr. Dennis at UBC. There is a tremendous gap in genetic information for non-European populations, leaving a large proportion of the world behind in the personalized genomic medicine revolution. My research focuses on understanding the role of genetic admixture in biomedical predictors and how can we use this knowledge to bridge the gap in information for underrepresented populations.
I love dancing and tequila, even though I'm probably the worst dancer you'll ever know.
Awards:
MITACS Globalink Graduate Fellowship Award
Friedman Award for Scholars in Health
Eully Ao
Graduate Student
During my undergraduate at UBC, I completed work terms in government and industry labs. After graduating with a BSc in Biology, I joined Dr. Sally Otto’s lab at UBC as a research technician, working on projects investigating the pleiotropic effects of adaptation to metals and complex environments via experimental evolution with yeast. As an MSc student in the Kobor lab, I am interested in using yeast as a model organism to investigate the role of histone variant H2A.Z in gene regulation in response to stress.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, checking out new food spots, and going to concerts.
Hilary Brewis, PhD
Research Scientist
I hold a BSc in Biology from Dalhousie University and a PhD in Medical Genetics from UBC which I obtained as a member of the Kobor lab. During my graduate studies, I utilized budding yeast as a model organism to broadly explore the role of the histone variant H2A.Z in gene expression regulation. After graduating, I joined the Kobor Lab Technician Team, working with Julie and Kristy to run DNA methylation and genotyping arrays for collaborators all around the world.
Outside the lab, you can find me playing soccer, camping, hiking, or indulging in way too many board games and video games.
Meingold Chan, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I received my undergraduate degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Psychology and Counselling, from the University of Hong Kong. I received my Master of Philosophy in Social and Developmental Psychology from the University of Cambridge, working with Prof. Claire Hughes. I completed my PhD in Human Development and Family Science at The Ohio State University, working with Dr. Xin Feng. My doctoral work focused on cultural differences in emotion socialization and preschoolers’ socioemotional development across China (Beijing and Hong Kong) and the United States. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Kobor lab, I am currently expanding my research to understand the effect of early social experience on children’s socioemotional development through the changes in DNA methylation and epigenetic aging with a specific focus on racial and cultural diversity. My research goal is to further our understanding of the universality and specificity of the impact of social environment on children’s health, development, and epigenetics across race/ethnicity/culture.
Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Postdoctoral Studentship
Kristy Dever, MSc
Project Manager
I have a BSc. in Biology and an MSc. in Medical Genetics from UBC. I obtained my Master's in the Kobor lab where I used yeast as a model organism to study transcription regulation, specifically focusing on RNA Polymerase II and the phosphatase Fcp1.I am currently a Project Manager in the Kobor Lab working on the BC Wildfire study, which aims to better understand the effect of pre-natal exposure to wildfire disasters. I also work with Julie and Hilary to run the DNA methylation and genotyping arrays. We work with collaborators around the world and run a wide variety of sample types, running thousands of arrays per year.
Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, skiing, reading, running, and spending time with my friends and family.
Karlie Edwards
Graduate Student
I received my bachelors in Biochemistry from Willamette University. After graduating, I moved to California where I first worked in fermentation sciences at a brewery and then moved to Stanford as a research associate in the Wang Lab studying the role of antibodies in disease response. Now at UBC, my research focuses on the role of epigenetics, specifically DNA methylation, in immune system development using bioinformatics and mouse models.
In my free time you can find me outside (running, hiking, camping or skiing) or in the kitchen cooking or baking something tasty!
Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Doctoral Studentship
BC Graduate Student Scholarship
Hannah-Ruth Engelbrecht, MSc
Graduate Student
I am a South African student who made the leap across the hemispheres to begin my PhD at UBC. I completed my undergraduate training in Human Physiology, and Genetics, and then decided to pursue an MSc(Med) in Human Genetics, specialising in bipolar disorder, all at the University of Cape Town. My current work focuses on perturbations to human health across the lifespan, and the impact of such disturbances on DNA methylation. One goal is to determine whether biomarkers of healthy aging and longevity can be identified at the DNA methylation level.
Beyond the lab, I enjoy hiking, baking, dancing, reading, and writing. I'm also looking forward to indulging in my new passion for snow and cold weather!
Awards:
UBC Four Year Fellowship
Tanya Erb
Research Manager
I manage the administration of the various research activities taking place in the lab. I particularly enjoy supporting the many exciting, multidisciplinary collaborations we have with partners from all over the world. In my spare time, I like spending time with family and friends over a good meal and a new board game, hitting the gym together in the wee hours of the morning, and taking in our beautiful city while cruising the seawall.
Maggie Fu
Graduate Student
I have a BSc in Biochemistry from UBC. Currently, I am a Master's student in the Kobor Lab and my research focuses on the relationship between maternal nutrition and child developmental outcomes. Using statistical models, I analyze DNA methylation data to explore the biology underlying the DOHaD (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease) hypothesis. I am also developing statistical tools in optimizing microarray data analysis. I enjoy coding and its usage in identifying patterns too complicated to be directly observed by the human mind.
My hobbies include snowboarding, listening to music, playing board games, and traveling!
Awards:
ECOSCOPE
Genome Science and Technology Rotation Award
Marcia Jude, MSc
Bioinformatician
I received my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology from Anna University, India. More recently, I completed my Master's degree in the Experimental Medicine program from the University of British Columbia (UBC) under the supervision of Dr. Janice Leung.
My research was focused on understanding how people living with HIV were increasingly susceptible to chronic lung diseases like COPD by examining the microbiome, transcriptome and epigenome in a multiomic fashion. Outside the lab, I host a neuroscience-based podcast (AMINDR), and I also volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross and Big Sisters of Lower Mainland BC.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, binge-watching Netflix and baking!
Alyssa Kirlin, MSc
Graduate Student
Prior to coming to UBC, I received a BSc and an MSc in Biochemistry from Queen’s University. My research focuses on characterizing the functions of YEATS family proteins in yeast and understanding the role these proteins play in chromatin modifying complexes. I am very interested in science communication and science policy.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy baking, board games, and softball.
Awards:
NSERC Post-Graduate Scholarship
UBC Four Year Fellowship
Chaini Konwar, PhD
Bioinformatician
I have a PhD in Medical Genetics from the University of British Columbia. My thesis work largely involved understanding molecular variation in placenta associated with inflammation in preterm births. Briefly, I compared molecular marks such as DNA methylation, miRNA, and SNP profiles in placentas from preterm deliveries with and without inflammation. My dissertation laid the groundwork for development of placental-derived biomarkers that could be detected in maternal blood when the inflammation is present.
Currently, as a bioinformatician in the Kobor Lab I work on a myriad of research projects mainly focused on understanding molecular variation in multiple tissues across human populations. Using computational tools in the R programming environment I analyze high dimensional epigenetic, genetic and expression data to understand the impact of early life experiences, with a special focus on social environmental influences on overall child development and adult health outcomes. I am also working closely with our bioinformatics team to ensure data integrity and devise methods for optimal large-scale genomic data management. In addition, I provide mentorship to computation biology trainees, research personnel, and graduate students, and interact with collaborators on a regular basis.
Aside from my computer, I am particularly passionate about cooking, eating, traveling and learning about different cultures!
Adithya Vishnu Kumar
Research Coordinator
I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience in 2022, and currently serve as the Research Coordinator for both the Kobor Lab and Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging. Prior to working in this position, I gained experience in clinical and behavioural research through my work as a Research Assistant in the UBC Department of Emergency Medicine for the COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network, a national research initiative to standardize diagnostic and treatment decisions for patients with COVID-19, as well as in biochemical research examining sex differences in the stress response as a Research Assistant for the Viau Lab in the UBC Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences.
In my free time, I love bingeing new TV shows, reading fiction, collecting records, and traveling with friends and family!
Paula Littlejohn, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I currently am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow co-supervised by Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Bruce Vallance at the University of British Columbia & BC Children’s Research Institute. I received my Ph.D. in microbiology & immunology from UBC in the lab of Dr. Brett Finlay, where I developed the first animal model to examine the impact of postnatal exposure to multiple micronutrient deficiencies on the gut microbiome and gut resistome (collection of antibiotic resistance genes and their mechanisms). Presently my work focus on understanding the role of maternal and postnatal nutrition in modulating epigenetic changes that have long-lasting effects. Additionally, I focus on discovering epigenetic signatures that contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children and adults using a model system and how these might be used as clinical biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and nutritional therapeutic response.
As a wife and mom of 5, I enjoy spending time with my family, baking, walking, watching epic movies and learning Mandarin.
Awards:
Triangle AMPLIFY
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
Julie MacIsaac, PhD
Lab Manager and Research Scientist
I am involved in many aspects of lab operations. My main job, however, together with David and our other technicians, is to keep the array pipeline running smoothly. We run thousands of DNA methylation and genotyping arrays yearly for collaborators all around the world and in Canada. I have a BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from Colorado State University and an MSc (focused on multifactorial neural tube defects) and PhD (focused on genetic imprinting) in Medical Genetics from the University of British Columbia.
When I am not in the lab I enjoy playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with my family.
Mandy Meijer, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
I received both my BSc and MSc in Biomedical Sciences from the Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherlands), followed by a PhD from the Radboud University (The Netherlands) in Medical Sciences under supervision of Prof. Dr. Barbara Franke and Prof. Dr. Carmen Sandi. My doctoral thesis aimed to better understand externalizing behaviours and associated neurodevelopmental disorders through studying epigenetic mechanisms, as a link between the genome and environment, across species. More specifically, I studied DNA methylation and histone tail modifications.
I spent two years of my PhD trajectory at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) to perform research. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Kobor lab, I am extending my previous research by aiming to better understand which genetic and environmental factors contribute to early development, and how epigenetics could inform us on the molecular mechanisms in the brain underlying neurodevelopment and externalizing behaviours. Besides performing the actual research, I am very passionate about science outreach.
When I am not working on exciting science, you can find me dancing (swing, ballet, jazz) or baking cookies and cakes (and sharing them with friends)!
Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
Erick Navarro
Graduate Student
I am a graduate student in Bioinformatics at UBC, co-supervised by Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Keegan Korthauer. I hold a B.Sc. degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Prior to joining Kobor’s and Korthauer’s lab, I worked in epigenetic-related projects involving mainly the analysis of transcriptomic data in Mexico’s National Cancerology Institute.
Currently, I am interested in how, and under which conditions, individual genetic susceptibility and environmental factors work together or separately to influence DNA methylation in early life, a very sensitive and plastic human stage. To do so, I am developing a bioinformatic framework to identify Variable Methylated Regions, and modelling the contribution of the genotype and the environment to their variation.
Outside the lab, my hobbies include practicing archery, hiking, trying new food, playing board games and dancing!
Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
Bank of Montreal Graduate Fellowship
Gertrude Langridge Graduate Scholarship in Medical Sciences
Patrick David Campbell Graduate Fellowship
Hannah Waldman
Graduate Student
I have a BSc in Biology with a concentration in genetics from McGill University. During my undergraduate degree, I contributed to research in the genetics of aging and atavistic traits. As a MSc student in the Kobor Lab, my research will focus on human epigenetics with an emphasis on social factors and biological embedding. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, dancing, pottery, and spending time with friends.
Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
Medical Genetics Entrance Award
Cynthia Wei
Project Assistant, Communications and Outreach
I am currently an undergraduate student at UBC majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Creative Writing. I am excited to be part of the Kobor Lab as a Project Assistant in Communications and Outreach working on the BC Wildfire Study. Before this role, I was a Co-op Student at STEMCELL Technologies, where I worked in both Marketing and RND. I also worked as a Research Assistant at the Kopp Lab in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences that studies pancreatic cancer.
Whenever I have spare time outside of work or school, you can find me skiing, doing improv, or watching my favourite TV sitcoms.
Joanne Whitehead, PhD
Bioinformatician
After earning a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Victoria, I completed a PhD in Developmental Biology at Uppsala University in Sweden, focused on the epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes in development and cancer, particularly the role of the chromatin-binding protein CTCF. During my postdoctoral work with a biophysics team at the Curie Institute in Paris, funded by a Marie Curie Fellowship, I initiated studies of the role of mechanical strains in tumourigenesis in a mouse colon cancer model. Later I returned to UVic and started working in bioinformatics in a salmon genomics lab. Now I am excited to be returning to the field of epigenomics, and turning my attention to bioinformatics with respect to human health, nutrition and early life exposures.
When not working, you will find me volunteering with various Early Music organizations in Victoria and on Salt Spring Island, and spending time with my wonderful family!
Beryl Zhuang, MSc
Bioinformatician
I have an MSc in Bioinformatics from the University of British Columbia. My thesis work focused on identifying potential common underlying mechanisms of disease initiation and progression across mouse models of Alzheimer's disease from public datasets. At the Kobor Lab, I work closely with our bioinformatics team and our students on various projects and collaborations. I am interested in studying the impacts of positive events in early life on DNA methylation and its short- and long-term impacts on health.
In my free time, I enjoy baking, gardening, and going on nature walks with friends and family.
Nazanin Yousefzadeh
Graduate Student
I have a background in Computing Science from the University of Alberta. My master’s thesis focused on reinforcement learning and AI in the game domain. After working as a Data Scientist in the financial industry for two years, my passion for AI and biology led me back to academia to explore research at the intersection of these fields. In the Kobor Lab, I am focusing on AI-driven approaches to studying DNA methylation. Outside of research, I enjoy following fashion trends, cooking, and singing.
Awards:
Faculty of Science Graduate Award
Alumni
We are very proud of the continuing success of all former Kobor Lab members!
Current positions are up to date to the best of our knowledge. If you have updated information, please let us know!
Former Postdoctoral Fellows
Maria Aristizabal, PhD, Assistant Professor in Molecular Genetics, Queen's University, Kingston, ON
Timothy Bredy, PhD, Associate Professor, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, Australia (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Assistant Professor, University of California Irvine, CA, USA)
Rachel Clifford, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Research Fellow, University of Nottingham, UK)
Anke Hüls, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology & Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Meaghan Jones, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
Linda Lee, PhD, Lab Specialist I, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB
Sarah Merrill, PhD, Research Fellow, The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
Sarah Moore, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Calgary, AB
Former Graduate Students
Josh Brown, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. LeAnn Howe Lab, UBC, Vancouver, BC
Joe Dong, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA
Evan Gatev, PhD (Bioinformatics), PhD (Finance) at Yale, Associate Professor, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
Aline Gaub, MSc, (University of Konstanz), PhD Student, Max Planck Institute for Immunology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
Nicole Gladish, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. David Rehkopf Lab, Stanford, CA, USA
Sarah Goodman, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, ON
Sumaiya Islam, PhD, Variant Scientist, Tempus, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA
Ruiwei Jiang, MSc, Research Scientist, Amazon, Vancouver, BC (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Data Analyst, Boeing Canada, Richmond, BC)
Grace Leung, PhD, Research Scientist, AbCellera, Vancouver, BC (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Postdoctoral Fellow, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA)
Nancy Lévesque, PhD, Exploration Scientist, Canadian Space Agency, Montreal, QC (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Postdoctoral Fellow, McGill University, Montreal, QC)
Dorothy Lin, MSc, Medical Writer, British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC
Phoebe Lu, PhD, Research Manager, Office of Research Services, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Alexandre Lussier, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA)
Lisa McEwen, PhD, Clinical Data Consultant, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria, BC & Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
Thorsten Schmidt, MSc, (University of Tübingen), Global Portfolio and Strategy Manager, Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland
Julia Schulze-Hentrich, PhD, Junior Group Leader, Neuroepigenomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Samantha Schaffner, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, UBC, Vancouver, BC
Lea Separovic, MSc, Epidemiologist, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC
Katarzyna Stepien, MSc, MA, Clinical Counsellor, Mental Freedom Counselling, BC
Christopher Taplin, MSc, Medical Resident, University of Ottawa (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Medical Student, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC)
Aaron Nikita Verheyden, MSc, (Martin-Luther-Universität Halle), PhD Student, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
Alice Wang, PhD, Medical Student, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB)
Rui Wang, MSc
Former Staff
Rebecca Asiimwe, MSc, Computational Science Analyst, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Woodbury Genome Center, New York
Parmida Atashzay
Rachel Edgar, MSc, European Bioinformatics Institute | EMBL-EBI, Cambridge, UK
Cath Ennis, PhD, Scientific Communications Consultant
Anthony Fejes, PhD, Head of Bioinformatics, SolveBio, Oakland, CA, USA (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Senior Director of Bioinformatics, Omicia, Oakland, CA, USA)
Alexandra Fok, MSc, Genetic Counselor, Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC
Kiara Gibbons, Student in Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University
Sonja Horte, Product Manager, Digital Supercluster and Strategic Partnerships, LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services, Vancouver, BC (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Laboratory Manager, Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC)
Kendrix Kek, Research Assistant, Vaccine Evaluation Centre, UBC, Vancouver, BC
Alan Kerr, MRes
Lucia Lam, Bioinformatician, Rancho BioSciences, Toronto, ON (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Bioinformatician, GenomeDX Biosciences, Vancouver, BC)
David Lin, PhD, Research Scientist, AbCellera Laboratories, Vancouver, BC
Sarah M Mah, Assistant Professor, University of Vermont
Alexander Morin, MSc, Graduate Student, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Sarah Neumann, Marketing Business Development Consultant, Contextual Genomics, Vancouver, BC (First position after leaving the Kobor Lab: Marketing Associate, GenomeDX Biosciences, Vancouver, BC)
Sharlin Patel, MSc, Research Associate 1, Baylor Scott and White Genomics Core Laboratory, Dallas Texas, USA
Smruthi Ramachandran, Project Manager, Canadian Microbiome Mapping Initiative, Vancouver, BC
Katia Ramadori, Clinical Genetics Technologist, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Vancouver, BC
Gabrielle Savage, Project Manager, Strategy and Transformation, BC Emergency Health Services
Oscar Urtatiz, PhD, Research Scientist, AbCellera Laboratories, Vancouver, BC
Former Undergraduate Students
Srishti Ahuja
Alessandra Albertini
Neeku Amanat
Muhamed Amirie
Hossein Amirjamshidi
Maria Aristizabal
Sanjit Bains
Derek Bogdanoff
Jenny Chen
Kristy Dever
Michael Doyle
Joseliya Embuscado
Anya Fineman
Alysa Gutierrez
Amy Ho
Jessica Ho
Atiya Jaffar
Nicole Janusz
Analisa Jia
Pareesa Kassam
Jayme Kim
Jeongin Kim
Luxcia Kugathasan
Lara Lampe
Justin Lau
Anson Law
Junoh Lee
Grace Leung
Phoebe Lu
Henry Li
Lisa McEwen
Quinn McVeigh
Taylor Morrison
Lindy Moxham
Viola Ng
Stevens Qiu
Mary Shen
Irina Stier
Leyla Tabanfar
Michael Tjong
Yana Uzelac
Erik Venalainen
Alice Wang
Evan Wang
Jessica Wang
Maya Willms
Rebecka Wombacher
Calvin Wong
Ziqing Ye
Xinyuan You
Steven Zhao