(GUELPH CHAPTER) Local Endeavors, Global Impact: Pivoting in a New Environment

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Join us for the S2BN Guelph Chapter Virtual Career Café! This interactive, online event series aims to profile career paths for scientists working in industry. The event will include presentations from each guest describing how they've modified their work in a changing environment followed by an "ask-me-anything" question period where guests will be able to get more insight about the scientists' career journey, current role, and seek advice on navigating career transitions from academia. 

Presentations: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM | Panel: 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Objectives: 

• Explore efforts from local researchers and industries who have used their expertise and innovations to contribute towards the fight against COVID-19
• Discuss how recent events have impacted research and industry
• Learn about rapid knowledge mobilization in a time of urgency

Featured Guests:

Dr. Doug Cossar, PhD, Vice-President, Research PlantForm Corporation

Dr. Mahdiyeh Hasani, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Mitacs Elevate

Guest Biographies

Dr. Doug Cossar, PhD, Vice-President, Research PlantForm Corporation

Dr. Doug Cossar is a biotech industry veteran with 30 years of management and research experience. Currently Vice-President, Research with PlantForm Corporation (Ontario, Canada) – working on expression of biopharmaceuticals in a Nicotiana benthamiana production platform. In addition to research on transient heterologous gene expression in plant systems, responsibilities include process development from vector design to characterisation of purified protein product.

Prior to joining PlantForm Dr. Cossar was research manager, biotechnology, at Croda Europe Ltd. He has served as principal investigator, biotechnology, for the Structural Genomics Consortium and in senior Research and Development positions at Canadian biotech company Cangene and a research position with the Public Health Laboratory Service in the U.K.

Dr. Cossar has a PhD in Microbiology from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. His expertise spans protein expression and analysis, GMP manufacturing for biopharmaceuticals, process validation, natural product manufacturing, as well as research in microalgae and fungal biochemistry/physiology, protein structural biology and synthetic biology.

Dr. Mahdiyeh Hasani, PhD, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Mitacs Elevate

Mahdiyeh Hasani obtained her MSc in Food Science and Technology at University of Tabriz and PhD in Food Process Engineering from the Gorgan University of Agricultural Science & Natural Resources. She was a visiting scholar in Dr Warriner’s Lab, Department of Food Science, University of Guelph in 2017 and undertook research in the area of novel surface decontamination methods. Dr Hasani later joined the same group within the University of Guelph to develop decontamination methods based on Advanced Oxidation Process with support from Clean Works Corp and Mitacs Elevate Program. She has published her work in highly rated peer-review journals and presented at conferences. Her work with N95 mask decontamination received media coverage and made a significant contribution to easing the pressure on PPE supplies. Dr Hasani sits on the Departmental Research Committee amongst other administrative roles.

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