Swarm Members

Salim Timo Islam, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR — RESEARCHER

Associate Professor — Researcher: 2021-current at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) — Armand-Frappier Health & Biotechnology Research Centre (AFSB), Microbiology & Biotechnology program, Montreal (Laval), QC, Canada

Assistant Professor — Researcher: 2016-2021 at the INRS—AFSB, Microbiology & Biotechnology program, Montreal (Laval), QC, Canada

Post-Doctoral Position: 2013-2016 at the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) — Laboratoire de chimie bactérienne (LCB), Marseille, France in the laboratory of Dr. Tâm Mignot

Ph.D.: 2007-2013 at the University of Guelph, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Guelph, ON, Canada in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph S. Lam. Winner of the 2013 Armand-Frappier Outstanding Student Gold Medal Award from the Canadian Society of Microbiologists for the top Microbiology PhD Student in Canada

Honours B.Sc.: 2001-2006 at the University of Toronto (Specialist in Microbiology, Minor in French as a Second Language), Toronto, ON, Canada, with research in the laboratory of Dr. Jun Liu

PHD CANDIDATES

Razieh Bitazar

B.Sc.: Yazd University of Medical Sciences (Yazd, Iran) — Clinical Laboratory Technology

M.Sc.: Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (Qazvin, Iran) — Medical Microbiology

Graduate Internship: Graduate Internships (IAF6020 & IAF6050), INRS (Laval, Canada) — Environmental Microbiology

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology (Supervisor: Terence N. Bukong, INRS; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am probing eukaryotic cell biology in response to HSV infection.

AWARDS:

• PROTEO Network Graduate Studentship (2021)

Niharika Saraf

B.Sc.: Mount Carmel College (Bengaluru, India) — Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Zoology

M.Sc.: Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (Bengaluru, India) — Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

CURRENT: Ph.D.: IIT Hyderabad (Hyderabad, India) — Biotechnology (Supervisor: Gaurav Sharma, IIT Hyderabad; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am studying myxobacterial genomics.

Eleonore Delaire

B.Sc.: Université de Poitiers (Poitiers, France) — Physical Chemistry

M.Sc.: Université de Poitiers (Poitiers, France) — Health Chemistry

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology (Supervisor: Steven LaPlante, INRS; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am studying small-molecule inhibitors to target previously undruggable proteins.

Kathleen Amiens

B.Sc.: Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse, France) — Molecular Chemistry

M.Sc.: Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse, France) — Health Chemistry

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology (Supervisor: Steven LaPlante, INRS; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am studying lead identification for drug discovery using medicinal chemistry combined with biophysics techniques.

Tanos Celmar Costa França

B.Sc.: Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (Seropédica, Brazil) — Chemical Engineering

M.Sc.: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Organic Chemistry

Ph.D.: Military Institute of Engineering (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Chemistry

M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Experimental Health Sciences (Toxicology & Pharmacology)

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Computer-Aided Drug Design (Supervisor: Steven LaPlante, INRS; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am using molecular modelling to study drug discovery.

Shima Rezaeian

B.Sc.: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Mashhad, Iran) — Pure Chemistry

M.Sc.: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Mashhad, Iran) — Organic Chemistry

Ph.D.: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Mashhad, Iran) — Organic Chemistry

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology (Supervisor: Steven LaPlante, INRS; Co-Supervisor: Salim T. Islam, INRS)

I am studying drug development.

MSC CANDIDATES

Ahmad Kezzo

B.Sc.: University of Aleppo (Aleppo, Syria) — Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Chemistry

M.Sc.: University of Aleppo (Aleppo, Syria) — Biomedical Engineering

CURRENT: M.Sc.: UQAM (Montreal) Canada — Biochemistry (Co-supervision: Laurent Cappadocia, UQAM & Salim Islam, INRS)

CURRENT: M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Microbiology & Biotechnology

I am studying the production of polysaccharides in our M. xanthus model system.

AWARDS:

• INRS Research Integration Bursary (2022)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation MSc Studentship (2022)

• PROTEO Research Network Graduate Studentship (2023)

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada — Canada Graduate

Scholarship (Master's Program) (2023)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation MSc Studentship (2024)

Antoine Bignet

B.Sc.: École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (Compiègne, France) — Chemistry

Master 1 & 2: École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (Compiègne, France) — Biochemistry

Graduate Internship: Final study project placement [ESCOM Chimie], INRS (Laval, Canada) — Mineral and Organic Chemistry

CURRENT: M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

I am studying the M. xanthus cell surface.

AWARDS:

• Armand-Frappier Foundation MSc Studentship (2024)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation Travel Award (2024)

Parisa Sabbagh

B.Sc.: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Mashhad, Iran) — Plant Biology

M.Sc.: Babol University of Medical Sciences (Babol, Iran) — Medical Microbiology

CURRENT: M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

I am studying the production of polysaccharides in our M. xanthus model system.

AWARDS:

• Armand-Frappier Foundation MSc Studentship (2023)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation MSc Studentship (2024)

Nada Rezania

Project term (Summer 2023) for B.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montreal), Canada — Biomedical Sciences

B.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montreal), Canada — Biomedical Sciences

CURRENT: M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

I am studying the interactions of M. xanthus.

GRADUATE-LEVEL INTERNSHIPS

Could be you... :)

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Could be you... :)

FORMER SWARM-ERS

Nicolas Jolivet

B.Sc.: Université de Bretagne Sud (Vannes & Lorient, France) — Biotechnology

Master 1 & 2: Université de Bretagne Sud (Lorient, France) — Biotechnology: Biomolecules, Microorganisms and Bioprocesses

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology

I studied the role of cell-surface adhesins in the modulation of M. xanthus physiology.

AWARDS:

• PROTEO Network Graduate Studentship (2018)

• FRQNT International Internship Program Studentship (2018)

• PROTEO Network Conference Scholarship (2019)

• TD Insurance — INRS Travel Award (2022)

• Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2024)

Fares Saïdi

B.Sc.: Université d'Aix-Marseille 2 (Marseille, France) — Cellular Biology

Master 1 & 2: Université d'Aix-Marseille 2 (Marseille, France) — Microbiology, Plant Biology, and Biotechnology

M.Sc.: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

CURRENT: Ph.D.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Biology

I studied the production of polysaccharides in our M. xanthus model system.

AWARDS:

• "Best Article of the Year" in "La Synthèse" research journal (2019)

• PROTEO Network Graduate Studentship (2019)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation Travel Award (2019)

• PROTEO Network Conference Scholarship (2019)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation PhD Studentship (2022)

• MITACS Elevate Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2023)

• INRS Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie "Best PhD Thesis" Award (2024)

• INRS International Influence Award (2024)

• INRS Director's Honour Roll (2024)

• Canadian Society of Microbiologists — Armand Frappier Outstanding Student Award (given to the top microbiology graduate student in Canada) (2024)

Zaynab Abdine

Project term (Summer 2023) for B.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montreal), Canada — Biomedical Sciences

I studied the M. xanthus cell surface.

Isaac Kieto

B.Sc.: Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) (Montréal, Canada) — Biochemistry

M.Sc.: UQAM (Montréal, Canada) — Biochemistry (Co-supervision: Prof. Salim Islam, INRS & Prof. Steve Bourgault, UQAM)

I helped develop novel biochemistry protocols using M. xanthus as a model system.

Rose Laverdure

B.Sc.: Laurentian University (Sudbury), Canada — Biomedical Biology

M.Sc.: INRS (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

I studied the intriguing parallels between eukaryotic and bacterial cell physiology using M. xanthus as a model system.

AWARDS:

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada — Canada Graduate

Scholarship (Master's Program) (2019)

• Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT) — Doctoral Research

Scholarship (2020)

Nicholas Bradette

Project terms (Summers 2020 & 2021) for B.Sc.: Collège La Cité (Ottawa), Canada — Biotechnology

I studied the inorganic interactions of M. xanthus.

AWARDS:

• INRS Excellence Scholarship (2020)

• INRS Entrance Scholarship (for 2022)

• PROTEO Summer Studentship (2021)

Eric Ramírez

B.Eng.: Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Mexico)— Biotechnology

M.Sc. completion (August 2021): INRS (Laval, Canada) — Applied Microbiology

I studied the synthesis and incorporation of synthetic sugars into the bacterial cell envelope.

AWARDS:

• Armand-Frappier Foundation M.Sc. Studentship (2018)

• Armand-Frappier Foundation M.Sc. Studentship (2019)

Alphonse Kouvidjin

B.Sc.: Université de Lomé (Lomé, Togo) — Medical Biology

M.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montréal, Canada) — Biochemistry

Graduate Internship term (Summer 2021): IAF6050, INRS (Laval, Canada) — Molecular Microbiology

I probed the topology of membrane proteins.

Audrey Doumbe

Project term (Winter + Summer 2020) for B.Sc.: Université Libre de Tunis (Tunis), Tunisia — Health Biotechnology (Diagnostic and Analytical Biology)

I studied the perception of extracellular signals by M. xanthus.

Omaima Rebay

Project term (Summer + Autumn 2019, Winter 2020) for B.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montreal), Canada — Biomedical Sciences

I studied the role of proteases on M. xanthus physiology.

AWARDS:

• Image "Vague paradisiaque" (Heavenly Wave) of the complete M. xanthus life cycle chosen

as a Finalist for the Prix du Public Découverte (Discovery Public Prize) sponsored by Acfas

and Radio Canada

Anthony Kassis

Project term (Winter 2020) for B.Sc.: Université de Montréal (Montreal), Canada — Biomedical Sciences

I studied the role of proteases on M. xanthus physiology.

Alec McDermott

Co-op term (Summer 2018) for B.Sc.: Collège La Cité (Ottawa), Canada — Biotechnology

I studied the role of proteases on M. xanthus physiology.

AWARDS:

• Armand-Frappier Foundation Undergraduate Summer Studentship (2018)