People

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 | TOPIC *****
M.Sc. Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany | TOPIC *****

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

Dr. Nadia Morales-Lizcano

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D. University of Western Ontario, Canada | Biology
B.Sc. Universidad de los Andes, Columbia | Microbiology/Molecular Biology

I work on the plant bio-immunization project!

Purva Karia, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

M.Sc. McGill University, Canada | Plant Science
B. Tech. D.Y. Patil University, India | Biotechnology

I work on the tunnel triphosphate metalloenzymes project!

Sonhita Chakraborty, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

M.Sc. University of Guelph Canada | Plant Agriculture
B.Sc. McMaster University, Canada | Biology

I work on the cyclic nucleotide gated channel project!

Winfield Yim, B.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

B.Sc. University of Toronto, Canada | Human and Cell and Molecular Biology

I work on the plant bio-immunization project!

Carlo Perolo, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Candidate

M.Sc. University of Padua, Italy | Molecular Biology, 2019
B.Sc. University of Padua, Italy | Molecular Biology, 2017

Plants quietly play a central role in our lives. Understanding how such living being are capable to interact with their environment, defend themselves and adapt to changes is fascinating and extremely important to ourself and our planet.

I work on the cyclic nucleotide gated channel project!

Past members

2015 – Present