Celebrating the 2026 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Award Winners

Congratulations to Ahmed Bshina, the recipient of the 2026 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Award!

Supervisor: Dr. Julian Guttman

Project: Molecular Mechanisms in Enteric Pathogenesis: The Roles of Flotillin-1 and Novel Host Factors in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes Virulence

"Ever since I was young, I've been fascinated by the microbial world—the idea that organisms too small to see could have such a profound impact on our lives. I never imagined I'd actually get to study them myself, until I joined the lab and was given the chance to work with two important foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. Since then, I've been investigating how these pathogens interact with and manipulate host cells during infection.

Over the course of my undergraduate degree, I've been fortunate to take on projects of my own, contribute to ongoing research, and help uncover some genuinely interesting findings. I'm incredibly proud to have turned something I'd always been curious about into real research, and to see that work contribute to our understanding of these pathogens. I'd especially like to thank Petra and Julian for giving me the chance to take on so much and for trusting me with meaningful work. I'm also grateful to Sarah and Peter for their support and guidance throughout my time in the lab. Together, they turned something I'd always dreamed doing into a reality.”

Congratulations to Yuvraj Kaura, the recipient of the 2026 Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Award!

Supervisor: Dr. Harald Hutter

Project: Dissecting Domain Specific Role of Nidogen in IgCAM sensitized Background in C. elegans.

"I had the pleasure of working in the Hutter lab to conduct research on axon guidance and neural development. Under the guidance of Dr. Harald Hutter, my project focused on dissecting the domain-specific roles of the extracellular matrix protein nidogen (NID-1) in an IgCAM-mediated genetic background using C. elegans. Throughout my time in the lab, I gained invaluable hands-on experience with genetic crossing strategies, fluorescence microscopy, and phenotypic quantification, deepening my understanding of developmental neurobiology and the research process as a whole. I was also fortunate enough to share our findings with the local scientific community by presenting my research at the Vancouver Worm Meeting (VanWoRM). Overall, this experience has been both deeply rewarding and formative for my future aspirations in science. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Hutter and the entire Hutter lab for their continuous mentorship, support, and for providing such an inspiring introduction to developmental genetics research."