Information Box Group
Jacob Brodka
Academic Department Manager
I have been a member of the McMaster community since Fall of 2011. As a graduate of the Life Sciences program (offered by SIS) I am thankful to now have the opportunity to support students, faculty and staff in the School of Interdisciplinary Science (SIS) as Academic Department Manager. When I’m not sending emails you can find me cycling or training for my next triathlon. My virtual office door is always open for questions, please never hesitate to reach out!
Russ Ellis
Laboratory Coordinator
Russ is in charge of managing the daily operations of the laboratory facilities in the SIS. He designs and facilitates undergraduate experiments, serves as the co-lead for various research projects, and provides support to other members within SIS. Russ encourages and inspires students to explore beyond the curriculum and discover what it truly means to work as a scientist.
Devon Jones
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Devon completed her M.A.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. She provides technical and academic support to the laboratory courses in the Integrated Science (iSci) and Life Sciences programs. She also acts as the Course Administrator for the Integrated Science thesis course, in addition to providing instructional support to other members within SIS.
Nancy Morris
Administrative Assistant
I have been with McMaster University for 12 years. I worked as an Administrative Assistant in the School of Nursing for 11 years before joining the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences. As the first point of contact for many students, faculty, staff and visitors, I would be happy to help you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding SIS programs.
Sunita Nadella
Experiential Education Coordinator
Dr. Sunita Nadella has a Masters Degree in Icthyology (India) and Environmental Physiology & Toxicology (Canada). Her Ph.D research in Entomology, investigated the histopathology of endocrine glands in Lepidopterans using biochemical staining techniques. From 1989-2002 Sunita was Senior Lecturer in Osmania University, Hyderabad India teaching undergraduate Zoology. In 2002, she came to Canada and worked in Dr. Chris Wood’s Lab as research assistant. This research produced 18 peer reviewed publications in the areas of environment physiology and toxicology and the findings were used to set water quality guidelines for the protection of sensitive aquatic organisms like blue mussels and sea urchins in Canada/USA and the European Union. Sunita joined the Life Science Program (LSP) in January 2013 as Instructional Assistant. She was appointed Experiential Education Coordinator in April 2016-present. In this position Sunita draws from her research background and network with past collaborators to provide students with hands on skills such that they can successfully navigate research or workplace positions.
Matthew Vonk
Assistant Academic Department Manager
Matt completed his BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in 2013, and then his MSc focusing in Neuroscience in 2016. In the spring of 2013, he was drafted into the CFL, where he played professional American football for five years. Since retiring from professional sport, he has been working for McMaster University for the last 4.5 years with stints working for the Dept. of Family Medicine and recruiting for the DeGroote School of Business MBA programs. He is now assisting the Academic team within McMaster’s School of Interdisciplinary Science. In his spare time, Matt is a volunteer coach for the McMaster Marauders football program.
Maryam Zamani
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Dr. Maryam (Manely) Zamani has received her Ph.D. from the University of Tehran and finished one year of internship at the School of Medicine, the University of Washington, working on cell-cell communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the effect of quorum quenching in mixed bacterial population structures under the supervision of Prof. Eugene Nester.
She joined Prof. Turlough Finan’s lab at McMaster University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2014, where she practiced synthetic biology and functional genomics. Her study aimed to find the minimal genomic subset required for biological nitrogen fixation in Scinorhizobium meliloti. She continued her second postdoc position at McMaster (2019-2022), working on the characterization of a phage defence mechanisms in S. meliloti, and the School of Interdisciplinary Science awarded her a two-year teaching fellowship in 2020-2022 to teach LIFESCI 4N03: Synthetic Biology and genome editing technology and LIFESCI 4Q03: Plant-Microbe interactions: Applications and Perspective.
During her academic journey, she has always greatly enjoyed assisting and teaching students and watching them grow, develop new skills, and identify their passion. She is passionate about teaching and lab work, and her potential to blend these two into a fulfilling career has motivated her to join SIS as an instructional assistant level IV.
Research Interests:
Molecular Bacteriology, Genome Editing, Sythetic Biology, Functional Genomics, Plant-Microbe Interaction
Courses:
LIFESCI 4N03, LIFESCI 4Q03, SCIENCE 1A03
Jacob Brodka
Academic Department Manager
I have been a member of the McMaster community since Fall of 2011. As a graduate of the Life Sciences program (offered by SIS) I am thankful to now have the opportunity to support students, faculty and staff in the School of Interdisciplinary Science (SIS) as Academic Department Manager. When I’m not sending emails you can find me cycling or training for my next triathlon. My virtual office door is always open for questions, please never hesitate to reach out!
Jacob Brodka
Academic Department Manager
I have been a member of the McMaster community since Fall of 2011. As a graduate of the Life Sciences program (offered by SIS) I am thankful to now have the opportunity to support students, faculty and staff in the School of Interdisciplinary Science (SIS) as Academic Department Manager. When I’m not sending emails you can find me cycling or training for my next triathlon. My virtual office door is always open for questions, please never hesitate to reach out!
Russ Ellis
Laboratory Coordinator
Russ is in charge of managing the daily operations of the laboratory facilities in the SIS. He designs and facilitates undergraduate experiments, serves as the co-lead for various research projects, and provides support to other members within SIS. Russ encourages and inspires students to explore beyond the curriculum and discover what it truly means to work as a scientist.
Russ Ellis
Laboratory Coordinator
Russ is in charge of managing the daily operations of the laboratory facilities in the SIS. He designs and facilitates undergraduate experiments, serves as the co-lead for various research projects, and provides support to other members within SIS. Russ encourages and inspires students to explore beyond the curriculum and discover what it truly means to work as a scientist.
Devon Jones
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Devon completed her M.A.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. She provides technical and academic support to the laboratory courses in the Integrated Science (iSci) and Life Sciences programs. She also acts as the Course Administrator for the Integrated Science thesis course, in addition to providing instructional support to other members within SIS.
Devon Jones
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Devon completed her M.A.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering at McMaster University. She provides technical and academic support to the laboratory courses in the Integrated Science (iSci) and Life Sciences programs. She also acts as the Course Administrator for the Integrated Science thesis course, in addition to providing instructional support to other members within SIS.
Nancy Morris
Administrative Assistant
I have been with McMaster University for 12 years. I worked as an Administrative Assistant in the School of Nursing for 11 years before joining the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences. As the first point of contact for many students, faculty, staff and visitors, I would be happy to help you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding SIS programs.
Nancy Morris
Administrative Assistant
I have been with McMaster University for 12 years. I worked as an Administrative Assistant in the School of Nursing for 11 years before joining the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences. As the first point of contact for many students, faculty, staff and visitors, I would be happy to help you in any way that I can. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding SIS programs.
Sunita Nadella
Experiential Education Coordinator
Dr. Sunita Nadella has a Masters Degree in Icthyology (India) and Environmental Physiology & Toxicology (Canada). Her Ph.D research in Entomology, investigated the histopathology of endocrine glands in Lepidopterans using biochemical staining techniques. From 1989-2002 Sunita was Senior Lecturer in Osmania University, Hyderabad India teaching undergraduate Zoology. In 2002, she came to Canada and worked in Dr. Chris Wood’s Lab as research assistant. This research produced 18 peer reviewed publications in the areas of environment physiology and toxicology and the findings were used to set water quality guidelines for the protection of sensitive aquatic organisms like blue mussels and sea urchins in Canada/USA and the European Union. Sunita joined the Life Science Program (LSP) in January 2013 as Instructional Assistant. She was appointed Experiential Education Coordinator in April 2016-present. In this position Sunita draws from her research background and network with past collaborators to provide students with hands on skills such that they can successfully navigate research or workplace positions.
Sunita Nadella
Experiential Education Coordinator
Dr. Sunita Nadella has a Masters Degree in Icthyology (India) and Environmental Physiology & Toxicology (Canada). Her Ph.D research in Entomology, investigated the histopathology of endocrine glands in Lepidopterans using biochemical staining techniques. From 1989-2002 Sunita was Senior Lecturer in Osmania University, Hyderabad India teaching undergraduate Zoology. In 2002, she came to Canada and worked in Dr. Chris Wood’s Lab as research assistant. This research produced 18 peer reviewed publications in the areas of environment physiology and toxicology and the findings were used to set water quality guidelines for the protection of sensitive aquatic organisms like blue mussels and sea urchins in Canada/USA and the European Union. Sunita joined the Life Science Program (LSP) in January 2013 as Instructional Assistant. She was appointed Experiential Education Coordinator in April 2016-present. In this position Sunita draws from her research background and network with past collaborators to provide students with hands on skills such that they can successfully navigate research or workplace positions.
Matthew Vonk
Assistant Academic Department Manager
Matt completed his BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in 2013, and then his MSc focusing in Neuroscience in 2016. In the spring of 2013, he was drafted into the CFL, where he played professional American football for five years. Since retiring from professional sport, he has been working for McMaster University for the last 4.5 years with stints working for the Dept. of Family Medicine and recruiting for the DeGroote School of Business MBA programs. He is now assisting the Academic team within McMaster’s School of Interdisciplinary Science. In his spare time, Matt is a volunteer coach for the McMaster Marauders football program.
Matthew Vonk
Assistant Academic Department Manager
Matt completed his BSc in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in 2013, and then his MSc focusing in Neuroscience in 2016. In the spring of 2013, he was drafted into the CFL, where he played professional American football for five years. Since retiring from professional sport, he has been working for McMaster University for the last 4.5 years with stints working for the Dept. of Family Medicine and recruiting for the DeGroote School of Business MBA programs. He is now assisting the Academic team within McMaster’s School of Interdisciplinary Science. In his spare time, Matt is a volunteer coach for the McMaster Marauders football program.
Maryam Zamani
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Dr. Maryam (Manely) Zamani has received her Ph.D. from the University of Tehran and finished one year of internship at the School of Medicine, the University of Washington, working on cell-cell communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the effect of quorum quenching in mixed bacterial population structures under the supervision of Prof. Eugene Nester.
She joined Prof. Turlough Finan’s lab at McMaster University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2014, where she practiced synthetic biology and functional genomics. Her study aimed to find the minimal genomic subset required for biological nitrogen fixation in Scinorhizobium meliloti. She continued her second postdoc position at McMaster (2019-2022), working on the characterization of a phage defence mechanisms in S. meliloti, and the School of Interdisciplinary Science awarded her a two-year teaching fellowship in 2020-2022 to teach LIFESCI 4N03: Synthetic Biology and genome editing technology and LIFESCI 4Q03: Plant-Microbe interactions: Applications and Perspective.
During her academic journey, she has always greatly enjoyed assisting and teaching students and watching them grow, develop new skills, and identify their passion. She is passionate about teaching and lab work, and her potential to blend these two into a fulfilling career has motivated her to join SIS as an instructional assistant level IV.
Research Interests:
Molecular Bacteriology, Genome Editing, Sythetic Biology, Functional Genomics, Plant-Microbe Interaction
Courses:
LIFESCI 4N03, LIFESCI 4Q03, SCIENCE 1A03
Maryam Zamani
Instructional Assistant
Summary:
Dr. Maryam (Manely) Zamani has received her Ph.D. from the University of Tehran and finished one year of internship at the School of Medicine, the University of Washington, working on cell-cell communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the effect of quorum quenching in mixed bacterial population structures under the supervision of Prof. Eugene Nester.
She joined Prof. Turlough Finan’s lab at McMaster University as a postdoctoral fellow in 2014, where she practiced synthetic biology and functional genomics. Her study aimed to find the minimal genomic subset required for biological nitrogen fixation in Scinorhizobium meliloti. She continued her second postdoc position at McMaster (2019-2022), working on the characterization of a phage defence mechanisms in S. meliloti, and the School of Interdisciplinary Science awarded her a two-year teaching fellowship in 2020-2022 to teach LIFESCI 4N03: Synthetic Biology and genome editing technology and LIFESCI 4Q03: Plant-Microbe interactions: Applications and Perspective.
During her academic journey, she has always greatly enjoyed assisting and teaching students and watching them grow, develop new skills, and identify their passion. She is passionate about teaching and lab work, and her potential to blend these two into a fulfilling career has motivated her to join SIS as an instructional assistant level IV.
Research Interests:
Molecular Bacteriology, Genome Editing, Sythetic Biology, Functional Genomics, Plant-Microbe Interaction
Courses:
LIFESCI 4N03, LIFESCI 4Q03, SCIENCE 1A03