People | Yoshioka Lab

Current members

Dr. Keiko Yoshioka

Principal Investigator

Ph.D. Hokkaido University/National Institute of Agrobiological Science (NIAS), Japan | Plant Molecular Biology
M.Sc. Hokkaido University/National Institute of Agrobiological Science (NIAS), Japan | Agriculture
B.A. Hokkaido University/National Institute of Agrobiological Science (NIAS), Japan | Agriculture

Dr. Keiko Yoshioka is a full Professor at the Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto. She has obtained her Ph.D. in plant molecular biology at Hokkaido University for a joint project with the National Institute of Agrobiological Science (NIAS) (Japan). She was a postdoctoral researcher at the RIKEN Institute (Japan) and the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers of the State University of New Jersey (USA), and a Research Associate at the Boyce Thompson Institute at Cornell University (USA) prior to her appointment at the University of Toronto.

Her current research endeavors focus on signal transduction of stress responses in plants with an emphasis on immunity, and the generation of stress tolerant (pathogen resistant) crop plants. Her hobby is thinking about biology while watching NFL or opera.

Current position:
Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, St. George Campus

Prior appointments:
Department of Botany, University of Toronto, St. George Campus

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University (USA)
| Research Associate | Supervisor Dr. D.F. Klessig

Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University (USA)
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | Supervisor Dr. D.F. Klessig

Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (USA)
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | Supervisor: Dr. D.F. Klessig

RIKEN Institute/ Host laboratory: Micro-toxicology laboratory (Japan)
Special Post-Doctoral Researcher

Ibaraki Biotechnology Institute (Japan)
Research Associate

Dr. Wolfgang Moeder

Senior Research Associate

Ph.D. Technical University of Munich (TUM) at Helmholtz Center Munich, Germany
M.Sc. Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany

Prior appointments:
Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research at Cornell University (USA)
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | Supervisor Dr. D.F. Klessig

Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (USA)
| Post-Doctoral Fellow | Supervisor: Dr. D.F. Klessig

Hyunsuh Lee

Ph.D. student

BSc University of Toronto

Hyunsuh completed her B.Sc. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Physiology at the University of Toronto. She is currently studying calcium signaling in bacteria-induced plant immunity. In her free time, Hyunsuh enjoys biking and listening to old pop. She also likes to leave random doodles around the lab.

Robin Goh

Research Assistant

MSc University of Toronto

Robin grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and completed his HBSc. in Cell and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. His project focuses on characterizing a novel calcium-dependent lipid binding protein with links to immune function in Arabidopsis. In his spare time, Robin enjoys baking, discovering new music and collecting kitschy mood lamps.

Mackenzie Loranger

Ph.D. student

BSc Queens University

Mack is original from BC before he moved out east to complete his BSc in biotechnology at Queen’s University. His work in the lab focuses on the plant bio-immunization project. When he’s not in the lab you can find him eating his way through the city or playing intramurals.

Sofia Finley

M.Sc. student

BSc University of Guelph

Sofia completed her BSc in Plant Science at the University of Guelph. Her work in the Yoshioka Lab is linked to the Plant Bio-immunization project and looks at how microbes can bolster plant growth. Outside of the lab, Sofia loves hiking with her dogs, gardening, and making functional art like pottery.

Yunmo Yang

M.Sc student

HBSc. University of Toronto

Yunmo completed his HBSc in Cell and Molecular Biology at University of Toronto. His project focuses on characterizing a novel calcium-dependent lipid binding protein and its interacting proteins in the context of plant immunity. Yunmo likes to relax by listening to high-resolution music, and plays racquet sports to beat stress away.

Current Undergraduate students