Meet Our Kingston Team
The S2BN team at Queen's University works collaboratively to host events for graduate students looking to enhance their skillset and prepare themselves for the workforce after completing their graduate studies.
Contact the Queen's S2BN Chapter at:

Nathan Holwell
Co-President
PhD Candidate
I am in my final year of my PhD in Chemical Engineering developing a novel construct for ligament, specifically the ACL, replacement. I became aware of S2BN through their events on campus and wanted to contribute my own skills to make this organization reach a broader audience. I hope to improve the communication of scientific discoveries through relatable and understandable language.

Paola Dantonio
Co-President
PhD Candidate
I am a fourth-year PhD candidate at Queen’s University studying how cancer cells reprogram healthy cells around them to work for their benefit and help promote tumour growth, metastasis and drug resistance. I joined S2BN after realizing that many graduate students face challenges when seeking transition to non-academic positions. I strive to help other fellow students navigate the many career options they have, and to bring insights on how to make this career-changing transition.

Julia Barilo
Marketing Director
MSc Student
I am a second year Master's student looking at investigating the innate immune responses of alternatively activated macrophages to LCMV infection. I am super excited to continue working on the monthly newsletter to be able to share exciting events that are happening on campus and outside of campus to help students learn more about different fields and what to do after graduate school.

Ujjwal Sangwan
Marketing Coordinator
MSc Student
I obtained my BSc in Microbial and Food Technology from Panjab University, India. My interests in microbes led me to pursue research internships at CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology and J.C Bose Institute in India. Currently, I am working to understand how cyclophilin inhibitors enhance antiviral immune responses against positive-sense RNA virus infection as part of my Master's project.

Adekunle Omoboye
Partnerships Director
PhD Candidate
I am a second year PhD Candidate in Chemistry working on developing new electrochemical biosensors for pathogens detection. I joined S2BN as a platform to support graduate students looking at transitioning to a career outside academia. I am excited to continue to bridge this gap by linking professionals and experts from industry with graduate students through creating awareness, organizing outreaches and networking.

Donnie McFarlane
Partnerships Coordinator
MSc Student
I am in my first year as a Master's student in the Department of Chemistry. I'm researching a natural product called flavipuricin that has the potential to form the basis for new antibiotics. I got involved with S2BN because I think Kingston is fast becoming a hub of science and innovation, and it's networking and skill-building events like those hosted by S2BN that will help us reach our full potential.