The Fowler Lab
Our Team
Principal Investigator
Casey Fowler
Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta.
BSc: Queen’s University, Biochemistry
PhD: McMaster University, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences. Yingfu Li/Eric Brown Labs.
Postdoc: Yale University School of Medicine. Jorge Galan lab.
About me: When I’m not working, I spend as much time as I can with my family. I’m happiest when we’re at a cottage, out on hiking trails, at the hockey rink/soccer field/track, at the park, or on the couch watching a hockey or football game.
Lab Members
Luke Barretto (Graduate student)
What I work on: I study how Salmonella evolved to regulate virulence genes within an intracellular environment.
About Me: Full-time grad student, part-time chess-enthusiast. Solving problems 24/7. Outside the lab, you’ll catch me reading history on Wikipedia, playing the piano, and planning group activities (like our lab escape rooms, after-work board games, and watch parties). Ask me about my Lego antibody!
Paris Brown (Graduate student)
What I work on: I study a previously uncharacterized small protein that’s found only in Salmonella. We discovered that this protein helps Salmonella respond to antimicrobial peptides in its environment.
About Me: I completed my BSc in Immunology and Infection at the U of A in 2018. Outside of school, I like to rock climb, swim, and go to as many concerts as possible. The success of my day is measured by my success in the NYT Spelling Bee in the morning.
Josiah Lotecki (Graduate student)
What I work on: I study how gene regulation and pathogenesis have evolved in Salmonella.
About Me: Scientist by day, aspiring makeup artist by night, pun master 24/7. My favourite science fact is that pumpkins are berries — and strawberries are not!
Zach Kosowan (Undergraduate student)
What I work on: I study a novel enzyme that was first identified in S. Typhi by the Fowler lab. I am working to characterize similar proteins produced by other bacteria as well as determine how this enzyme contributes to S. Typhi infection.
About Me: I am an undergraduate student going into the fourth and final year of my honours biochemistry degree. In my free time I enjoy playing golf, rock climbing or any other outdoor activity! I am also fond of cooking, board games and playing piano.
Tahmid Chowdhury (Undergraduate student)
What I work on: I study how small proteins influence the regulation of important Salmonella virulence genes.
About Me: Undergraduate student in my 3rd year of Immunology. CCIS is my natural habitat but I can also be found in skateparks and hiking in the woods. I love composing music, playing video games, and playing team sports with my friends!
Abby Hill (Undergraduate student)
What I work on: I study how different typhoid toxin subunits are affected by the presence of different cues and regulators.
About Me: Outside of school, I enjoy camping, hiking, and figure skating. In my downtime, I devour fluffy romance novels and rewatch Derry Girls again and again.
Jillian Claerhout (Undergraduate student)
What I work on: I am exploring how AB5-type toxins evolved in Salmonella by swapping their subunits.
About Me: I’m an undergrad in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. I love genetics and hope to work in that field someday, but have also loved my detour in microbiology. My current favourite things include 2000s Barbie Movies, Remedy iced chai lattes, and dodgeball. I often fangirl over the Bears curling teams, and am scared of mascots (Disneyland was both a nightmare and a dream come true).
Former Members
Click the boxes to expand.
Adaobi Ojiakor (MSc)
Studied the evolution of AB5 toxins in Salmonella. Check out Ada’s publications here and here.
Antonio Chemello (Undergraduate, 2 years in the lab)
Studied the unique biology of the typhoid toxins produced by Salmonella bongori. Also helped to design this website! Check out Antonio’s publications here and here.
Jappn Grewal (Undergraduate, 2 years in the lab)
Studied how Salmonella Typhi regulates the expression of its different typhoid toxin subunits.
Sarah Gartly (Undergraduate, 2 years in the lab)
Studied the novel phospholipase TtaP and its role in Salmonella Typhi biology. Check out Sarah’s publication here.
Kayla Surgenor (Undergraduate, 1.5 years in the lab)
Studied how the crosstalk between different two-component systems evolves.
Patryc-Khang Van (Undergraduate, 4th year thesis)
Studied how two-component systems have evolved in the Enterobacteriaceae family. Also helped to design this website! Check out Patryc’s publication here.
Gillian Cameron (Undergraduate, 2 years in the lab)
Studied novel AB5 toxins identified by the Fowler lab.
Anne-Charlotte Côté (Undergraduate, 4th year thesis)
Studied the activity and properties of a novel phospholipase discovered in our lab. Check out Anne-Charlotte’s publication here.
Rachel Gibbs (Undergraduate, 4th year thesis)
Studied the regulation of typhoid toxin subunits and how this evolved. Check out Rachel’s publication here.
Eric Schultz (undergrad, 4th year thesis)
Studied novel AB5 toxins identified by the Fowler lab.
Awards
Here’s some of the research awards that our excellent trainees have won!
Josiah Lotecki
- UofA Graduate entrance scholarship
Paris Brown
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Graduate Scholarship (CIHR CGS-M)
- Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES) x 2
Luke Barretto
- NSERC Graduate Scholarship (NSERC CGS-M)
- Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES)
Adaobi Ojiakor
- Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (AGES)
Sarah Gartly
- NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)
- Alberta Innovates Summer Studentship
Zack kosowan
- Alberta Innovates Summer Studentship
Antonio Chemello
- NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)
- Alberta Innovates Summer Studentship
Patryc-Khang Van
- NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)
Anne-Charlotte Côté
- NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Award (USRA)
Fowler Lab 