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Infection Biology Trainee Organization (InTO)

Learn about our organization and team members

The InTO was started to enhance trainee knowledge and skills through high-quality, accessible opportunities for professional development, networking, and community engagement. We strive to create a trainee community with a culture that actively supports participation in learning activities and the application of new knowledge and skills. Trainees participating in our programs and events learn valuable knowledge and skills in ways that enhance learning, retention, and application in their academic careers. Events are provided in many different, easily accessible ways to accommodate diverse learning styles and needs.

President - Ty Pan

Ty Pan is a PhD student at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. They are interested in investigating the evolutionary origins on the loss of blood feeding in mosquitoes with a focus on the Sabethini tribe. They are interested in helping develop the Infection Biology Trainee Committee in order to promote the research group, support the research group’s trainees, and to build a sense of community amongst one another.

Vice President & Treasurer - Mohamed Ghanduri

Mohamed is a master’s student in the Department of Veterinary Medicine researching the pathogenicity of S. chromogenes in udder infections of dairy cattle from a genomics perspective. Mohamed has several years of experience working with the Muslim Students Association as an event organizer and community representative. He is excited to take on a new leadership role as our vice president. He acts as our treasurer and deputy to our president. His interest is in connecting and solidifying the academic infection biology group as a long-term close-knit community. In his free time, Mohamed enjoys going to the gym, playing soccer, and reading on various topics.

Education Director - Jessica Cashion

Jessica started her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Gilch lab in September 2021, researching cholesterol and therapeutics against prion disease. Jessica joined the InTO group to get involved in student life. As the Education Director, she hopes to give existing and incoming students resources to develop their scientific communication skills and the opportunity to learn about potential careers. Through our education-based events, Jessica aspires to set students up to answer the dreaded question "What are you going to do when you graduate?".

Social & Outreach Co-Director - Paula Forneris

Paula is a MSc student in the Microbiology program at the Cumming School of Medicine. Her research focuses on deciphering the role of Tollip, a multitasking protein, during Citrobacter rodentium infection. As a co-director of social & outreach, she expects to be able to create inclusive and supportive spaces for students to connect and share experiences.

Social & Outreach Co-Director - Irina Zemlyankina

Irina has been a PhD student at Dr. Glich’s lab since September of 2021. Her research is focused on the response that different brain regions have to prions and thus their effect on disease development and progression. Irina joined the InTO Group for an opportunity to meet and work with more like-minded people and use that collaboration to add more "science-y goodness" into the world around us. She wants to use her time in this organization to make sure that current and future students, be they graduates and undergraduates, have a way to connect in a meaningful manner as well as get a clear(er) picture of their future.

Infection Biology Trainee Organization (InTO)