The Boraston Lab Research Group
From humble beginnings, the Boraston Lab Research Group has developed into a vibrant and welcoming environment for all people interested in studying microbiology, protein biochemistry, and glycobiology. It is a dynamic training environment where researchers gain access to a wide range of expertise, experiences, and infrastructure. While we take our science seriously, coffee break is a daily ritual for informal discussions, while the occasional "Beer Friday" is an opportunity to relax in a family-like atmosphere.
Alisdair (“Al”) Boraston received his BSc. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and completed his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology under the supervision of Professors Doug Kilburn and Tony Warrren at UBC. Then, after a brief post-doctoral research appointment in the UBC Biotechnology Laboratory, he trained in England as an NSERC-funded Post-Doctoral Fellow in the York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, UK, under the supervision of Professor Gideon Davies. He is now a full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at The University of Victoria. Recognitions include an EWR Steacie Memorial Fellowship, a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar award, and a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair.
In his spare time Al is an avid brewer of his own beer where he combines >30 years of practical brewing experience and >25 years of microbiology/biochemistry research experience.
Ashley Deventer
MSc Student
Born and raised in Victoria, Ashley received her BSc (Hons) in microbiology at the University of Victoria in 2021. Her honours project in the Boraston Lab involved structural and functional characterization of O-glycopeptidases from the human gut microbe Bacteroides caccae. As a graduate student, she is currently investigating the prevalence and genetic basis of antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus. When she is not in the lab, you can find her hiking or paddle boarding.
Brendon Medley
MSc Student
After growing up on Vancouver Island, Brendon stayed close to home and obtained his BSc (Hons) at the University of Victoria. Brendon Joined the Boraston laboratory in January 2019 as a research experience student, before taking on an honours thesis project. Brendon is currently a graduate student working to complete his master's thesis on the a structural and functional analysis of carbohydrate processing enzymes from the gut microbes Clostridium perfringens and Akkermansia muciniphila.
Hobbies/Interests: fishing, playing music, hockey, and martial arts.
Berna Alvarez
PhD Candidate
Bernadette "Berna" Alvarez received her BSc in Biology from Vancouver Island University (VIU) in 2019. She joined the Boraston Lab in Fall 2019 after completing an undergraduate research project under Dr. Rosemarie Ganassin and Dr. Spencer Russell, where she developed a non-lethal method of detecting pattern recognition molecules in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) using blood plasma. Nowadays, she works on structurally and biochemically characterizing proteoglycan-degrading enzymes in Bacteroides caccae, a diet-sensitive member of the human gut microbiota.
When she is not in lab, she is likely at Van Isle Jiu Jitsu Academy, learning how to effectively hug other humans into submission; cooking food; cuddling cats; or playing video games on the Switch (as of Fall 2021, the current obsessions are Hades and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond).
Emily Knudson-Goerner
MSc Student
Watch this space for details on Emily and her project studying fucoidan depolymerization!
Olivia Canil
Technician and Honours Thesis Student
Olivia is entering the final year of her BSc in Biochemistry at UVic. She presently working as a technician and will begin an honours thesis project in the fall.
Current Undergraduate Honours and Coop Students
Honours Thesis Student
TBA