OUR TEAM

12th annual DREAM Symposium, Fall 2023
DQ miracle treat day, Summer 2023

Principal Investigator: Peter J. Thompson, PhD
 Peter completed his BSc in Genetics and MSc in Molecular Biology at the University of Alberta. He went on to a PhD in Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia where he studied epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation in embryonic stem cells. He carried out his postdoctoral training at the Diabetes Center at University of California San Francisco, where he began applying his prior training in gene regulation and cell fate to investigate beta cell biology and diabetes. In 2020 he became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology & Pathophysiology and a Principal Investigator in the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) at the University of Manitoba. Outside the lab, he enjoys resistance training, playing music, exploring the outdoors, checking out new restaurants and chess.

Research Technician: Roozbeh Akbari Motlagh, DVM, MSc



Roozbeh earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2018 in Iran. During his studies, he conducted research on the role of LncRNAs in adipose stem cell differentiation into beta cells. In 2023, he completed his academic journey at the University of Alberta, where he earned his MSc in Human Nutrition. His MSc thesis focused on studying the role of the Src family member Lyn kinase in islet transplantation in mice. Roozbeh's research efforts also included identifying novel molecular mechanisms governing beta-cell proliferation and survival. Joining the Thompson Lab in 2023 as a technician, he will continue his research efforts, now contributing to a project on pro-survival factors in senescent beta cells within the context of T1D

Postdoctoral Fellow: Nayara Rampazzo Morelli, PhD

Nayara completed her BSc in Nutrition in 2010 at the Philadelphia University Center in Brazil. After working as a Nutritionist, she decided to pursue a career in science. She completed her MSc in 2015 and went on to a PhD in 2020, both in Health Sciences from the State University of Londrina in Brazil. During her PhD, she worked as a Research Volunteer at the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto in 2019. She went on to a postdoctoral researcher position at the Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer Research Group at the State University of Londrina in Brazil from October 2021 to April 2023. She joined the Thompson Lab in June 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow, switching fields to study islet biology and diabetes and will investigate the interplay between T cells and beta cells in the development of T1D.

Graduate student: Jasmine Pipella, BSc, PBD


 Jasmine completed her BSc with a major in Biochemistry from the University of Jamestown in June 2021. In September 2021, she joined the lab as a postbaccalaureate diploma (PBD) student in the Department of Physiology & Pathophysiology for two terms of lab rotations in PHGY5012 and completed her PBD in medical physiology & pathophysiology. In September 2022 she joined the lab as an MSc student. Her project will examine the effects of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody therapy on senescent beta cell accumulation in a mouse model for T1D.

Interdisciplinary health undergraduate student: Jasmine Manji



Jasmine is entering her fourth year of a Bachelor of Health Sciences in the Interdisciplinary Health Program at the University of Manitoba. She was the first undergraduate summer student to join the lab in 2022 and returned for summer 2023. She will be continuing her project on transcriptional regulation of beta cell senescence during Type 1 Diabetes into the Fall 2023 term for the HEAL4650 selected topics in interdisciplinary health course.

Undergraduate honors thesis student: Camille Préfontaine



Camille is entering her fifth year of a BSc in Biology at the University of Manitoba. In May 2023, she joined the lab as a summer research student. Camille’s project focused on identifying and characterizing novel biomarkers of senescent human beta cells as well as investigating the relationship between senescence and insulin processing. She will continue her work in the lab over the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 terms for her honors thesis project course BIOL4100.
 

Lab Alumni.

Nicole Alcasid, Faculty of Science Co-op Student, Jan 2023 - Apr 2023
Jay Wieler, Faculty of Science Co-op Student, Jan 2023 - Apr 2023
Gabriel Brawerman, Research Technician, Sept 2020 - Oct 2022
Jasmine Manji, Summer Undergraduate Researcher, Summers 2022, 2023
Camille Préfontaine, Summer Undergraduate Researcher, Summers 2022, 2023
Jasmine Pipella, PBD rotation student PHGY5012, Fall 2021-Winter 2022

Open positions in the Lab.

Postdoctoral position - January 2024.

A postdoctoral position will be available to start January 2024 or soon thereafter in the Thompson Lab at the University of Manitoba and Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. The postdoctoral researcher will carry out mentored independent research and training in islet biology, immunology and Type 1 Diabetes under the guidance of Dr. Thompson. The applicant will have completed their Ph.D. in physiology, genetics, biochemistry, cell biology or a related molecular life sciences discipline no more than 2 years prior to the start date of the position and should have experience with molecular/cell-based techniques and mouse models.

Applicants should send their current CV and copy of Ph.D. certificate or final transcript to Dr. Thompson at peter.thompson@umanitoba.ca, no later than September 5, 2023. Short-listed applicants will be invited for a Zoom interview.

Graduate Student positions.

All open positions have been filled and there are no new positions for 2023. Please check back in Nov 2023 for details on openings for fall 2024.

Summer undergraduate student positions.

Positions for summer 2023 have been filled. Please check back in Nov 2023 for details on openings for summer 2024.