Postdoctoral Research (2023-2025)

Department of Plant Science, McGill University

Project Title: Plant-derived biosynergists to enhance pesticide efficacy

Supervisor: Dr. Mehran Dastmalchi

                       Dr. Christopher J. Thibodeaux (Co-supervisor)

• Developed reproducible RNA-seq pipelines (STAR, featureCounts, DESeq2) and proteomics workflows.

• Applied Python and R scripts for data preprocessing, quality control, and statistical modeling.

• Integrated multi-omics data (RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics) using machine learning approaches for candidate prioritization.

• Developed enzyme activity assays to evaluate protein function and ligand interactions.

• Standardized and applied Differential Scanning Fluorimetry (DSF) and Hydrogen Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry (HDX-MS) assays to study protein ligand stability and conformational changes.

• Manuscripts in preparation for submission!

Doctoral Research (2017-2023)

Department of Plant Science, McGill University

Thesis Title: Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of Bacillus velezensis strain B26 with the model plant Brachypodium distachyon.

Supervisor: Dr Suha Jabaji​

• Investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying beneficial plant–microbe interactions, with a focus on plant growth–promoting bacteria Bacillus velezensis strain B26 and the model grass Brachypodium distachyon.

• Examined how microbial colonization influences plant metabolism, signaling pathways, and growth promotion.

• Applied integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to identify key organic acids and associated genes involved in rhizobacterial recruitment.

• Performed GC–MS–based metabolite profiling and phytohormone analyses to assess microbial effects on plant metabolic and hormonal pathways.

• Conducted detailed gene expression analyses of phytohormone biosynthesis and regulatory pathways, providing mechanistic insights into plant growth promotion.

• Applied dual RNA-seq analysis and mutant characterization in Brachypodium, including functional studies of flowering-time genes.​