PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Sara N. Andres
Sara received her BSc in Biochemistry (2005) from the University of Guelph. She then completed her PhD in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences (2011) at McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. Murray S. Junop. In 2012 Sara joined the laboratory of Dr. R. Scott Williams at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina before returning back to McMaster University to establish her lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences in 2017. Sara's love of science continues outside the lab, where she studies food science through baking treats for her lab, and physics by playing goal in her hockey league.
Research TECHNICIAN
Dr. Madoka Akimoto
Madoka received her MSc in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Tokyo, and earned her PhD in Chemical Biology from McMaster University. She joined the lab in 2023 as our research technician, and currently manages the x-ray diffraction and protein crystallization equipment as part of the McMaster X-Ray Diffraction Facility. She also works in the Centre of Microbial Chemical Biology, performing experiments and training users on instrumentation in the lab.
Caitlin Doubleday
PhD candidate (2023-present). Caitlin received her MSc in Biochemistry from Queen's University.
Harman Dev
PhD candidate (2023-present). Harman received his BHSc from McMaster University in Biochemistry where he joined the Andres lab as an undergrad thesis student before continuing in the graduate program. Harman is investigating the non-homologous end joining DNA repair pathway in bacteria. Outside of the lab, Harman enjoys watching and playing soccer, cooking, and watching TV.
Shehreen Khan
PhD candidate (2024-present). Shehreen received her BSc from the University of Waterloo in Biochemistry. Shehreen is investigating translesion DNA damage bypass mechanisms in bacteria. Outside of the lab, Shehreen is an experimental at home coffee-barista and enjoys walking with her dog Lego.
Mustafa Sherik
PhD candidate (2025-present). Mustafa received his BSc and MSc from Queen's University in Biochemistry. He is studying non-homologous end joining proteins in bacteria. In his free time, he likes to read books, listen to science podcasts, and go on runs.
Nathan Poon
4th year thesis student
Sophia Wang
4th year thesis student
Vania Chow
4th year thesis student
Julia Palumbo
5th year co-op student
LAB ALUMNI
Graduate Students
Dana Sowa, PhD - 2019-2025
Monica Warner, PhD - 2019-2025 - @ Industry
Kristi Lichimo, MSc 2024 - @ Industry
Andriana Tetenych, MSc - 2020-2022
Lucas Koechlin, MSc - 2018-2020 - @ Western University Medical School
Undergraduate Students
Connie Lin - 2025 @ Graduate School
Meri Woldeyes Summer 2024 - @McMaster
Ashravi Vora - 2024 @ McMaster MBDC
Samantha Reeve - 2024 @ McMaster MBDC
Asha Subramaniam - 2024 - @Graduate School
Vritti Vashi - 2024 - @ UofT Pharmacy
Katherine Matthew - 2024 - @Graduate School
Harman Dev - 2022-2023 - @McMaster University Graduate School
Anmol Marwaha - 2022-2023 - @McMaster University MBDC program
Evan Hum - 2021-2022 - @McMaster University MBDC program
Hana Nazal - 2021-2022
Sahil Karnani - 2021-2022 -@McMaster University Graduate School
Anthea Mo - 2020
Noorisah Khan - 2020 - @ McMaster University MBDC program
Benhur Amare - 2020 - @University of Waterloo, Doctor of Optometry candidate
Prakhar Shah - 2020 - @ McMaster University Graduate School
Amir Ali Akhlaghi - 2021 - @ McMaster University Undergraduate
Nethmi Rajapakse - 2021 - @ McMaster University Undergraduate
Jose Rascon - Summer 2019 Mitacs Globalink Intern
Veronica Tran - 2018-2020 -@ McMaster University Graduate School
Harry Sandhu - 2019-2020 - @ McMaster University MBDC program
Tarin Moni - 2019-2020
Neeti Jain - 2019-2020 - @ McMaster University Undergraduate
Cody Caba - 2018 - @ Research and Industry
Pardis Balari - 2018-2019 - @ Queens University Medical School
Akile Ozkan - 2018-2019 - @ University of Sydney School of Dentistry
Joshua Marando - 2018-2019 - @McMaster MSU President
Eugenia Yeung - 2017-2018 - @ University of Ottawa Medical School
Krish Khurana - 2017-2018 - @ McMaster University MBDC program