Dastmalchi Lab Members

Mehran Dastmalchi
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Science | McGill University

I joined McGill University as an Assistant Professor in the Fall of 2020. I obtained my PhD from Western University (2010-2015), studying soybean isoflavonoid biosynthesis. I conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Calgary on opium poppy (2015-2018) and at Brock University on Madagascar periwinkle (2018-2020). I am a member and Senior Director of the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists (CSPB) and a member of the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), the Centre de Recherche Biologie Structurale (CRBS), and the Centre SEVE. I enjoy a weekly run, every Thursday at 4:30 pm, together with the grad students at the Macdonald campus -- we call ourselves the Tenure Track Club  (follow us @ttcmacdonald).

Current lab members:

Fanfan Li (M.Sc. 2021 > Ph.D. 2023)

I completed my Bachelor's in Honours Biology at McMaster University (2021), where I developed a strong interest in plant science. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I pursued my passion for sustainable agriculture and tackling food security through biotechnology research. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing a variety of sports and spending time exploring the outdoors!
Audrey Coté (USRA 2022 > Honours 22/23 > Research Intern 23)

I recently completed my second year at McGill as an undergraduate student in Environmental Biology (BSc). Coming from a musical background, I studied opera for many years before my passion for science took over in 2017. I consequently acquired certificates to become an animal behaviourist and worked five years on the field tackling emergency rescues and rehabilitation missions with wild animals. This past summer, I worked as a USRA in the Dastmalchi lab, and I will continue this project as an Honour's student during the academic year. Outside of work, I spend my time appreciating music, gastronomy, and nature. 
Lee-Marie Raytek (Ph.D. 2022)

I recently completed my BSc/MSc at Queen’s University studying plant stress biology with a focus on post-translational (phosphorylation) regulation of metabolic enzymes. During this research, I became fascinated by synthetic biology efforts in the ag-biotech sector. As I join the Dastmalchi lab, I am excited to pivot towards this booming and crucial field. When I’m not conducting experiments, I enjoy participating in Science Communication outreach initiatives, through CSPB and other opportunities. In my free time, I love being down by the water, salsa dancing and traveling (ideally doing all three at same time in Colombia)! 
Xavier Brasseur-Trottier (NSERC-USRA 2023)

After more than a decade working in the restaurant and microbrewery industries, I decided to pursue another passion of mine, agriculture. It started when I worked in an organic farm for a full season and then decided to study Horticultural Production at EPSH (Saint-Hyacinthe). There, one of my professors, an agronomist, pushed me to continue my studies to a higher level.
I started my first year of Bioresource Engineering (BREE) not thinking that I would end up doing research during my first summer. It was after the course “Organisms 1” with Dr. Mehran Dastmalchi that my curiosity was piqued. I’m now studying a transporter protein found in soybeans. 
I’m still interested in everything food-related and I continue to explore that as one of the vice-presidents of the Fermenters and Brewers of Mac club.
Dr. Meha Sharma (Postdoctoral Researcher 2023)

I received my Ph.D. in Plant Science at McGill University (2023). During my graduate work, I focused on identifying the molecular basis of interaction between plants and rhizobacteria. I have identified the role of organic acids and their associated genes in the recruitment of beneficial bacteria. Throughout this work, I gained expertise in the fields of molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. In the Dastmalchi lab, I am excited to conduct bioinformatics and protein expression analyses to identify plant-derived compounds which can enhance pesticide efficiency. Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring the outdoors, playing sports, and cooking.
 
Puneet Kaur (M.Sc. 2023)

I did my B.Sc. in Agriculture from India and found the genetic control of phenotypic expression in plants really interesting. This interest brought me to the Dastmalchi Lab where I will work on understanding the biochemical and genetic pathways of isoflavonoids in an underexplored genus of the Fabaceae to exploit its potential in agriculture, pharmaceutical industry and human health. Outside of the lab, I like going to cute cafes and exploring the city of Montréal!
Olivia Grossi (Volunteer 2023-24)

​I am currently a second-year, undergraduate student at McGill, majoring in Environmental Biology. I am doing my bachelor’s specialization in plant biology, but my dream is to one day work with mushrooms. I’ve spent the last year exploring the different paths my education could lead me down, which is how I ended up volunteering for professor Dastmalchi’s lab. I’ve found that I thoroughly enjoy tending to the Madagascar periwinkle in the greenhouse and learning from the graduate students in the lab.

Past lab members:

Brandon (M.Sc. 2021-2023)
Brandon received his Masters degree from McGill University, Plant Science, in August 2023. My first student to graduate! He conducted enzymatic assays with proteins involved in flavanone biosynthesis and perfected protein expression and purification systems in the lab. He is interested in bridging the gap between plant/synthetic biology research and business. He completed his BSc from Queen's University, specializing in biotechnology (2017-2020) and a certificate in business from the Smith School of Business (2018-2021). Wishing him the best of luck!
Jonathan Turcotte - (NSERC-USRA Summer 2021)
Cam-Ly Nguyen - (Volunteer Summer 2022)
Defne Helvacioglu (Honours 2022/23)