yegBUG Team
David Wishart
Distinguished University Professor
Biological Sciences
Computing Science
University of Alberta
Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Computing Science, adjunct professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Dr. David S. Wishart (PhD Yale, 1991) was born and raised in Edmonton and identifies as Metis. He is Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Since 1995, he has been a professor at the University of Alberta. Currently, he is a Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Computing Science with adjunct appointments in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
His research interests are broad and include metabolomics, analytical chemistry, food chemistry, natural product chemistry, molecular biology, protein chemistry and neuroscience. He has developed several widely used techniques using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography and gas chromatography to characterize the structures of both large and small molecules. He has led the "Human Metabolome Project" (HMP), a multi-university, multi-investigator project that catalogued >250,000 human metabolites in human tissues and biofluids.
Robyn Woudstra
Research Assistant
Computing Science
Bioinformatics
University of Alberta
Robyn is a research assistant at the University of Alberta's Wishart Lab, where she combines her diverse skill set in computing science, bioinformatics, and creative design to contribute to research projects. She received a BSc. in Computing Science with a minor in Bioinformatics from the University of Alberta in 2024, following her earlier education in graphic design and advertising at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in 2017. Passionate about community engagement and scientific literacy, she holds volunteer positions with a variety of local organizations.
Mark Berjanskii
Research Associate
Biological Sciences
University of Alberta
Dr. Mark Berjanskii is a Research Associate at the University of Alberta, specializing in protein bioinformatics, statistics, NMR metabolomics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. His research focuses on developing and applying computational methods to understand complex biological systems, particularly in the areas of protein structure prediction and metabolomics. He combines expertise in both experimental and computational approaches to advance our understanding of biological processes.
Tazmeen Gill
Clinical Bioinformatics Graduate
Zoology/Animal Biology
Clinical Bioinformatics
University of Alberta
Humber College
Tazmeen Gill holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology/Animal Biology from the University of Alberta (2017-2021) and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Clinical Bioinformatics from Humber College (2025). She recently completed an internship as a Computational Research Assistant at VIDO's Helmy Lab, where she assisted with a bacterial sequencing pipeline in Nextflow.
Tazmeen is proficient in Python, R, Linux, MySQL, MATLAB, and HTML, with expertise in machine learning and single-cell sequencing. Her diverse background includes experience as an Animal Technician and DEI Subcommittee Co-Lead at Charles River Laboratories, and as an Assistant Language Teacher with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme in Japan.
Ayla Chin
Research Assistant
Biological Sciences
Bioinformatics
University of Alberta
Ayla Chin is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta, holding a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Bioinformatics. She currently works as a Research Assistant at the University of Alberta, where she applies her interdisciplinary expertise in biology and computational methods.
Ayla's research interests focus on genetics with specific applications in agriculture and forestry. She has experience developing deep learning models for biological applications and has completed specialized coursework in machine learning applications in plant science (CornellX) and genetic improvement of crop plants. Her diverse background also includes experience as a Coding Instructor and Music Educator, demonstrating her ability to communicate complex concepts effectively and work across interdisciplinary domains.