New Faculty

new faculty

Dr. Melissa Chen

Asst. Prof., Dept. of Biological Sciences

Microbial ecology, plant microbiome. Dr. Chen鈥檚 research program explores the ecological mechanisms underlying microbe-mediated pathogen protection in plants. By understanding when and why microbial communities suppress disease, this work will help us build effective pathogen-suppressive microbial treatments for plants. The Chen lab uses scalable, custom 3D printed tools (e.g. miniaturized planters) to screen wild microbes for pathogen suppressive traits. Ecological and bioinformatic data from microbes are then used to build models that can infer why or predict when pathogen suppression is effective. The unique scalability of this approach will help expedite the development of microbial-based solutions for highly managed agricultural systems.

Read more: Dr. Chen's profile on the Department of Biological Sciences website.

Dr. Maksymilian Prondzynski

Asst. Prof., Dept. of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology

Cardiac gene regulatory mechanisms. Dr. Prondzynski's research program explores the cellular and gene regulatory mechanisms underlying cardiac development and disease, with the goal of developing novel in vitro platforms to study approaches for detection, prevention and reversal of heart dysfunction. This work addresses critical gaps in understanding how disease modifiers lead to structural and functional heart abnormalities, providing essential insights for developing targeted therapies for affected patients. His research employs cutting-edge techniques including suspension culture methods for human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) differentiation and organoid formation, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and tissue engineering to create sophisticated disease models that accurately recapitulate organ function.

Read more: Dr. Prondzynski鈥檚 profile on the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology website.

Dr. Xinyue Xu

Asst Prof., Dept. of Earth Sciences

Economic geology and geochemistry. Dr. Xu鈥檚 research program investigates high-temperature melts and fluids involved in ore formation, aiming to understand how critical metals are transported and concentrated in crustal environments. This work is essential for improving exploration models and securing domestic metal supplies. She applies advanced fluid and melt inclusion techniques to porphyry, skarn, IOA, carbonatite, and pegmatite systems. Her program is unique in highlighting salt melts as a distinct geologic fluid, reshaping models of mineralization. Ongoing research targets critical mineral systems in Canada, with potential to guide exploration in British Columbia and support the sustainable development of strategic resources.

Read more: Dr. Xu鈥檚 profile on the Department of Earth Sciences website.

911吃瓜

Faculty of Science