Post-doctoral researcher

Adrian successfully defended his PhD thesis in May 2017 and will continue as a postdoctoral researcher in the Gunawardena lab from July-December 2017. In January 2017, he was awarded a prestigious NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) that provides funding “to a core of the most promising Canadian researchers at a pivotal time in their careers” thereby facilitating the pursuit of advanced training opportunities anywhere in the world. Adrian decided to start his NSERC PDF January 2018, in Uppsala, Sweden at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology. During his studies at Dalhousie, Adrian has published novel research in international journals and authored two book chapters. He has accumulated nearly 30 awards and distinctions at the institutional, national and international levels where he proudly represents Dalhousie University and Canadian research. Adrian has travelled the world presenting his work including: China, Czech Republic, Sweden, USA and Australia. His research interests in cell biology are currently focuses on the interactions among hormones, antioxidants, reactive oxygen species, calcium ions as well as autophagy (“self-eating”), and understanding how these factors influence programmed cellular death. Throughout his graduate studies, Adrian gained expertise in live cell imaging, microscopy (confocal, SEM and TEM), and an array of molecular biology techniques including genetic transformation.

PhD student

Adrian Dauphinee is a PhD candidate with a keen interest in plant biology. He began in the lab as a volunteer after taking Dr. Gunawardena’s developmental biology course. After working in the lab for a short time, he realized that he wanted to pursue a career in research. His projects involving the lace plant have included the investigation of ethylene during programmed cell death (PCD) signalling, the establishment of protocols for continuous long-term (>72 h) live cell imaging, and the elucidation of the interactions among mitochondria, cytoskeleton and caspase-like proteases throughout cellular death. His work has been published in Botany, BioMed Central: Plant Biology and PLOS One. Adrian’s current research projects include the novel transformation of the lace plant, as well as a comparative developmental morphology study that is examining the early leaf development of the lace plant and a close relative (Aponogeton boivinianus). The diverse background of projects undertaken has allowed him to obtain a wide range of skills in plant culturing, microscopy and molecular biology.

Adrian has presented his research at local, national and international conferences including the International Botanical Congress (2011) held in Melbourne Australia, and Botany 2012, Columbus Ohio. His papers have won top presentation awards at several levels of competition. In 2012 he was given the Dr. Gérard T. Simon award from the Microscopical Society of Canada (MSC) for the best presentation of the biological sciences, and a co-authored the paper won the Katherine Essau award from the Botanical Society of America. Adrian has also won prestigious NSERC and Killam Trust scholarships, which have given him financial support throughout his graduate studies.

In his spare time, Adrian enjoys running and or walking with his Labrador retriever (Cali), swimming, kayaking and playing golf and hockey with his friends. Adrian frequently competes in charity golf tournaments and helps to raise money for the heart and stroke foundation by co-hosting trivia nights. Adrian is a member of Scientists and Innovators in the Schools (SITS), which provides him with ample opportunities to mentor grade school kids in plant science. He frequently attends science fairs throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality to judge projects and help kids hone their presentation and experimental research skills. This work has also lead to science fair judging at the regional and national levels.

Adrian looks forward to continuing his pursuit of botanical knowledge and bettering the community. Conducting research is his passion, and he hopes to have a long career in the business of unravelling scientific mysteries.