Michaela is in her third year at Dalhousie University and is currently completing a double major in Microbiology and Immunology/Philosophy. In January 2019 Michaela began her Experiential Learning Course in Dr. Gunawardena’s lab, in collaboration with the Cheng lab of the Microbiology & Immunology department. She is investigating the activity of lace plant anthocyanin extract against the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

Michaela became interested in the lace plant and PCD in her first year of study after listening to Dr. Gunawardena give a guest lecture on the subject to her DISP class. Michaela began volunteering in the lab at the end of her first year and has continued volunteering there ever since. She hopes to eventually complete her Honors research in the Gunawardena lab. She loves utilizing the knowledge she gains from both the Gunawardena lab and the Cheng lab to further explore the important roles that plants can play in our health and wellness. She is so grateful to be a part of the fascinating research at the Gunawardena lab as well as to have the opportunity to work with its amazing lab members.

In the meantime, Michaela has competitively danced for sixteen years at venues across North America. She also volunteers at the Cobequid Community Health Centre’s emergency department. She additionally works with the Atlantic Science Links Association (http://atlanticsciencelinks.dal.ca/gallery.html) and Let’s Talk Science. Eventually she hopes to complete a degree in medicine and become a pathologist.