Arnel Villamin
Master by research
co-supervisor: Dr Kim Robinson (HYMS)
Integrated master students 2023-2024
Leah White
Nick Allens
David Oppenshaw
Echhinga Angdembe
Callum Robson
(He/Him)
Master by research
Co-supervisor: Prof. Marjan van der Woude (HYMS)
Sebastian Grant
(He/Him)
PhD student YGRS-funded
co-supervisor: Dr Chris Spicer (chemistry)
Education: 1:1 Mbiol Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of York
Role: PhD student
Project: Inflammatory caspases substrates recognition
What I like to do when not in the lab: Outside of lab, I like stay active through the gym, Parkrun and MMA. However, I do also enjoy a nice pint at the pub.
Favourite movie: The School of Rock
Favourite Book: Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari
Favourite quote: Focusing too much on what is behind you is a sure way to trip over.
Gemma Banister
(She/her)
PhD student WR BBSRC-funded
co-supervisors: Prof Daniela Barilla and Dr. Christoph Baumann
Education: BA Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge
Current position: PhD student,
Project: Gemma is studying how GBPs assemble and control the non-canonical inflammasome during bacterial infections
What you like to do when you are not in the lab: I love Ballroom and Latin Dancing! I compete with the University dancesport team.
Favourite book: Uprooted, Naomi Novik
Favourite movie- Paddington
Fun fact about yourself: I came second in the World Paper and Comb Championship in 2011 with my parents, only beaten by the beatbox version of the Thomas the Tank Engine theme.
ALEXANDROS CHATZIS (HE/HIM)
PhD student (co-Supervisee)
Kourtzelis lab (York), co-suppervised by Boucher lab
Nationality: Greek
Education: Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology (University of Thessaly, 2011-2016), Master of Research (King's College London, 2017-2019).
Current position: PhD researcher in Cancer and Immunology
Project: I focus on novel cancer immunotherapies (e.g. immunomodulators, monoclonal antibodies) to harness and enhance the myeloid cell activity (e.g. phagocytosis, efferocytosis) to mediate innate immune training and potentially suppress tumour growth.
Favorite quote: Fortune favours the bold.
What do you like to do when you are not in the lab: I am a big fan of sports. I play football and tennis. I go to the gym quite frequently, I enjoy swimming (swimming pool or open water/sea) and I go for 10-15km runs. I am quite adventurous so during my holidays I choose to go on long road trips and visit new places, cultures and people.
Favorite book: Nineteen Eighty-Four (George Orwell)
Favorite movie: Scent of a woman
Fun fact about yourself: I was once a commando (rank of sergeant) during my mandatory army service in Greek
Dr Haixia Luo
Visiting Professor (Ningxia University, China)
Education: PhD (Dublin)
Current position: Academic visitor
Project: Impact of Salmonella SPI-II effectors on human infection
What you like to do when you are not in the lab: Watch movies or lesson music
Favourite book: Fortress Besieged
Favourite movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Quote: The miracle of life lies not in its mere existence, but in its ability to adapt and endure.
Dave Boucher
(He/Him/His)
Lab Head/ Lecturer in Biomedical sciences
Nationality: Canadian
Education: Bsc in Biotechnology (major in molecular Biology), PhD Pharmacology (University of Sherbrooke, Canada).
Current position: Lab Head, Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
Project: Dave has a lot of very secret projects...
Favorite quote: Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution (Einstein)
What you like to do when you are not in the lab: I enjoy hiking and the outdoors as much as I enjoy a nice beer in a quiet pub. He enjoy running (although quite slowly), cooking and baking. I am an avid sport fan and enjoy watching Ice hockey and Tennis
Favorite book: Novecento (Baricco)
The Alchimist (Coehlo)
Favorite movie: Indiana Jones (wanted to be an archaeologist as a child)
Fun fact about yourself: I owned a pet goat when I was a college and University student.
