Our Team

Michael Steffen Kobor

Edwin S.H. Leong UBC Chair in Healthy Aging – A UBC President’s Excellence Chair
Investigator, BC Children’s Hospital

Dr. Michael Kobor is a Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and The Edwin S.H. Leong UBC Chair in Healthy Aging — a UBC President’s Excellence Chair. He has received many distinctions, including a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics and an appointment as Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Child and Brain Development Program. Until recently, Dr. Kobor served as the Sunny Hill BC Leadership Chair in Early Child Development, as well as the Director for Healthy Starts at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Dr. Kobor’s world-class, interdisciplinary research program employs a “society-to-cell” framework to better understand the mechanisms by which environmental exposures and life experiences can “get under the skin” to affect health and behaviour across the life course.

When he is not busy with research, Dr. Kobor enjoys spending time at home and travelling with his wife, son, and family dog.

Eully Ao

Graduate Student

During my undergraduate at UBC, I completed work terms in government and industry labs. After graduating with a BSc in Biology, I joined Dr. Sally Otto’s lab at UBC as a research technician, working on projects investigating the pleiotropic effects of adaptation to metals and complex environments via experimental evolution with yeast. As an MSc student in the Kobor lab, I am interested in using yeast as a model organism to investigate the role of histone variant H2A.Z in gene regulation in response to stress.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, checking out new food spots, and going to concerts.

Hilary Brewis

Research Scientist

I hold a BSc in Biology from Dalhousie University and a PhD in Medical Genetics from UBC which I obtained as a member of the Kobor lab. During my graduate studies, I utilized budding yeast as a model organism to broadly explore the role of the histone variant H2A.Z in gene expression regulation. After graduating, I joined the Kobor Lab Technician Team, working with Julie and Kristy to run DNA methylation and genotyping arrays for collaborators all around the world.

Outside the lab, you can find me playing soccer, camping, hiking, or indulging in way too many board games and video games.

Kristy Dever

Project Manager

I have a BSc. in Biology and an MSc. in Medical Genetics from UBC. I obtained my Master’s in the Kobor lab where I used yeast as a model organism to study transcription regulation, specifically focusing on RNA Polymerase II and the phosphatase Fcp1.I am currently a Project Manager in the Kobor Lab working on the BC Wildfire study, which aims to better understand the effect of pre-natal exposure to wildfire disasters. I also work with Julie and Hilary to run the DNA methylation and genotyping arrays. We work with collaborators around the world and run a wide variety of sample types, running thousands of arrays per year.

Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, skiing, reading, running, and spending time with my friends and family.

Karlie Edwards

Postdoctoral Fellow

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Willamette University and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of British Columbia, where I trained in the Kobor Lab. Before graduate school, I worked in fermentation sciences and infectious disease research—experiences that solidified my passion for science and sparked my interest in research specifically to understand the immune system. My graduate research focused on DNA methylation in the developing immune system, exploring both healthy and disease contexts. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Kobor Lab, I continue to build on this work by investigating DNA methylation dynamics in the immune system across additional developmental stages and health-related contexts.

Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors—running, hiking, camping, or skiing—traveling to new places, and experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes and baked goods.

Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship 
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute Healthy Starts Doctoral Studentship
BC Graduate Student Scholarship
CIFAR Next Generation Trainee Fellowship

Tanya Erb

Research Manager

I manage the administration of the various research activities taking place in the lab. I particularly enjoy supporting the many exciting, multidisciplinary collaborations we have with partners from all over the world. In my spare time, I like spending time with family and friends over a good meal and a new board game, hitting the gym together in the wee hours of the morning, and taking in our beautiful city while cruising the seawall.

Omar Harb

Undergraduate Student

I am a third-year UBC undergraduate student majoring in pharmacology. This summer, I am working with Erick to understand how gene-environment interactions influence DNA methylation trajectories in the first five years of life.

Outside of academics, I enjoy swimming, biking, and practicing my saxophone.

Awards:
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award
UBC Faculty of Medicine Summer Student Research Award

Chaini Konwar

Bioinformatician

I have a PhD in Medical Genetics from the University of British Columbia. My thesis work largely involved understanding molecular variation in placenta associated with inflammation in preterm births. Briefly, I compared molecular marks such as DNA methylation, miRNA, and SNP profiles in placentas from preterm deliveries with and without inflammation. My dissertation laid the groundwork for development of placental-derived biomarkers that could be detected in maternal blood when the inflammation is present.

Currently, as a bioinformatician in the Kobor Lab I work on a myriad of research projects mainly focused on understanding molecular variation in multiple tissues across human populations. Using computational tools in the R programming environment I analyze high dimensional epigenetic, genetic and expression data to understand the impact of early life experiences, with a special focus on social environmental influences on overall child development and adult health outcomes. I am also working closely with our bioinformatics team to ensure data integrity and devise methods for optimal large-scale genomic data management. In addition, I provide mentorship to computation biology trainees, research personnel, and graduate students, and interact with collaborators on a regular basis.

Aside from my computer, I am particularly passionate about cooking, eating, traveling and learning about different cultures!

Chloe Lim

Undergraduate Student

I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia pursuing a BSc in Biochemistry. I joined the Kobor Lab as a Project Assistant in Communications and Outreach for the BC Wildfire Study, where I support community engagement and participant recruitment. My previous experiences span research, event planning, and administration, and I am interested in exploring the intersection of these fields.

Outside of work and school, I enjoy travelling, skiing, cooking, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Julie MacIsaac

Lab Manager and Research Scientist 

I am involved in many admin and wet-lab aspects of lab operations. My main job, however, together with Kristy, Hilary, and Karlie, is to keep the array pipeline running smoothly. We run thousands of DNA methylation and genotyping arrays yearly for collaborators all around the world and in Canada. I have a BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from Colorado State University and an MSc (focused on multifactorial neural tube defects) and PhD (focused on genetic imprinting) in Medical Genetics from the University of British Columbia.

When I am not in the lab I enjoy playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Erick Navarro

Graduate Student

I am a graduate student in Bioinformatics at UBC, co-supervised by Dr. Michael Kobor and Dr. Keegan Korthauer. I hold a B.Sc. degree in Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Prior to joining Kobor’s and Korthauer’s lab, I worked in epigenetic-related projects involving mainly the analysis of transcriptomic data in Mexico’s National Cancerology Institute.

Currently, I am interested in how, and under which conditions, individual genetic susceptibility and environmental factors work together or separately to influence DNA methylation in early life, a very sensitive and plastic human stage. To do so, I am developing a bioinformatic framework to identify Variable Methylated Regions, and modelling the contribution of the genotype and the environment to their variation.

Outside the lab, my hobbies include practicing archery, hiking, trying new food, playing board games and dancing!

Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship
Bank of Montreal Graduate Fellowship
Gertrude Langridge Graduate Scholarship in Medical Sciences
Patrick David Campbell Graduate Fellowship
4-Year PhD Fellowship
Dr. Michael Schulzer Memorial Award in Biostatistics
BCCHR Healthy Starts Master’s Studentship
MITACS Graduate Globalink Fellowship

Smruthi Ramachandran

Project Manager

Smruthi is the Project Manager for the Canadian Microbiome Mapping Initiative (CMMI), a large, trans-disciplinary research program with the primary goal of developing an integrated multi ’omics platform to investigate the biological mechanisms and pathways by which the microbiome influences health and disease.

Smruthi completed her BSc in Biology and MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Her research focused on mHealth tools, physical activity, and behaviour change techniques to support people with osteoarthritis self-manage their symptoms.

Previously, she worked with the Kobor Lab, Arthritis Research Canada, and other health science settings in different capacities to plan clinical trials, research health outcomes, and disseminate data. Smruthi brings experience in developing grant proposals, stakeholder management, and executing large-scale projects to coordinate diverse research teams and achieve project goals.

Jamie Vanden Broek

Research Coordinator

I provide research, administrative, and communications support for the Kobor Lab as well as the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, which is led by Dr. Kobor. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Science, specializing in Pharmacology and Genomics, from the University of British Columbia. I have previously supported research at UBC focused on health equity, community engagement, and culturally-tailored health education for older adults. I have experience in health and science communication, event management, and partnership development, with particular interest in community-engaged research and supporting underserved communities including women, people with disabilities, and cultural minorities.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing sports, teaching adaptive skiing, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family.

Manan Verma

Research Assistant

I hold an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of British Columbia. At the Kobor Lab, I work with the bioinformatics team, contributing to data analysis pipelines, quality control workflows, and the development of computational tools for DNA methylation studies. I am interested in building a career in bioinformatics and data-driven biomedical research. Outside of work, I enjoy playing football and badminton and staying active through running.

Hannah Waldman

Graduate Student

I have a BSc in Biology with a concentration in genetics from McGill University. During my undergraduate degree, I contributed to research in the genetics of aging and atavistic traits. As a MSc student in the Kobor Lab, my research will focus on human epigenetics with an emphasis on social factors and biological embedding. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, dancing, pottery, and spending time with friends.

Awards:
“Society to Cell” Clyde Hertzmann Memorial Fellowship 
Medical Genetics Entrance Award

Nazanin Yousefzadeh

Graduate Student

I have a background in Computing Science from the University of Alberta. My master’s thesis focused on reinforcement learning and AI in the game domain. After working as a Data Scientist in the financial industry for two years, my passion for AI and biology led me back to academia to explore research at the intersection of these fields. In the Kobor Lab, I am focusing on AI-driven approaches to studying DNA methylation. Outside of research, I enjoy following fashion trends, cooking, and singing.

Awards:
Faculty of Science Graduate Award

Beryl Zhuang

Bioinformatician

I have an MSc in Bioinformatics from the University of British Columbia. My thesis work focused on identifying potential common underlying mechanisms of disease initiation and progression across mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease from public datasets. At the Kobor Lab, I work closely with our bioinformatics team and our students on various projects and collaborations. I am interested in studying the impacts of positive events in early life on DNA methylation and its short- and long-term impacts on health.

In my free time, I enjoy baking, gardening, and going on nature walks with friends and family.