MacNeil
Laboratory
McMaster University
Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences
Lesley MacNeil, Ph.D.
(she/her)
I obtained my undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the University of Guelph. I continued my studies at McMaster University where I obtained a Masters degree studying tumor formation and mammary gland development with Dr. John Hassell. I completed my PhD at the University of Toronto where, co-supervised by Dr. Joseph Culotti and Dr. Jeff Wrana, I worked on regulation of axon guidance and cell migration. From Joe, I gained a love of genetics, neurons and all things C. elegans and from Jeff, I gained a love of signal transduction and molecular biology.
In 2009, I was lucky enough to be awarded a CIHR post-doctoral fellowship to work with Dr. Marian Walhout at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the Program for Systems Biology. During my post-doc, I mapped out transcriptional networks that regulate gene expression in the C. elegans intestine. At the same time I was drawn back to my microbiology roots and began to explore the impact of bacterial diet on C. elegans development and metabolism.
In 2015, I started my own group at McMaster University where we study pretty much everything having to do with worms and bacteria (check out our research page). I am a member of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research (IIDR).
Our Lab Members
Grad Students
Ph.D. student
Nial Navaratne (he/him)
Nial completed his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology at the University of Toronto, where he gained an interest in host-microbiota interactions. His research in the MacNeil lab focuses on the impact human microbiota isolates have on neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s models of C. elegans. He’s particularly interested in Enterobacter isolates from the human gut, and how they impact the regulation of genes that contribute to tau-induced neurodegeneration. Prior to joining the lab, Nial spent his summers as a camp counsellor at the Tim Horton's Children's foundation.
MSc. student
Raphaela Cayabyab (she/her)
Raphaela completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology & Genetics CO-OP at McMaster before continuing her studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences as an MSc student. Her work in the MacNeil lab focuses on investigating the regulation of the SHC-3 adaptor protein in C. elegans. When she is not in the lab, Raphaela can be found trying out food spots around town, reading books, junk journaling, and learning languages!
MSc. student
Liam Williams (he/him)
Liam completed his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Windsor, where he became interested in all things microbiology. His research in the MacNeil lab focuses on investigating the neuroprotective effect of Rothia aeria in an Alzheimer’s disease model of C elegans. When outside the lab, Liam can be found watching whatever sports game is on at the time, thrifting, or playing Pokemon.
MSc.
Co-supervised under Dr. Mehdi Moradi
Sahib Khokhar (he/him)
Sahib is an MSc student in the Engineering department. He is co-supervised by Dr. Mehdi Morani and Dr. MacNeil. He is working on developing computational solutions to phenotyping worms.
Undergrad Students
Undergraduate Researcher
Grace Zhu (she/her)
Grace joined the lab in May 2025 as a project student, and will be continuing as a undergraduate thesis student. In the lab, she is supporting the development of a machine learning model to help identify gene function and drug action C. elegans, and helping characterize C. elegans genes! When she's not in the lab, Grace can be found doing art, writing, or trying new baking recipes!
Undergraduate Researcher
Gabriela Mesa (she/her)
Gabriela is entering her fourth year of Molecular Biology & Genetics Research Specialization Co-op! She joined the lab in January for her co-op term and will complete her undergraduate thesis at the MacNeil lab. In the lab she focuses on generating and characterizing new transgenic strains of C.elegans while also helping with other lab projects. Outside of the lab you can find Gabriela watching the blue jays or getting yogurtys!
Undergraduate Researcher
Olivia Kosmala (she/her)
Olivia is a third-year student in the biomedical discovery and commercialization program (BDC) here at McMaster. She is completing her senior thesis in the MacNeil lab! Outside of the lab she can be found hiking, skiing, and playing with her dog Milo!
Lab Alumni
Postdocs
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Alex Jiang
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Salah Uddin Khan
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Hiva Mesbahi
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Scott Amon
Graduate Students
Msc.
Sofia Di Francesco (she/her)
Msc.
Jacob Sutoski
Ph.D.
Dr. Sommer Chou
Ph.D. | MD
Dr. Sophie Ngana
Ph.D
Dr. Kim Pho
Msc.
Victoria Leon Guerrero
Msc.
Sabih Rashid
Staff
Lab Technician
Mercedes Di Bernardo
Lab Technician
Natalie Mari
Undergraduates
Amir Taghi Zadeh - Undergraduate project student 2026
Caleb Lin - Undergraduate thesis student 2025 - 2026
Kole Rado - Undergraduate thesis student 2025 - 2026
Destiny Osunbiyi - Summer Scholar Program (SSP) student 2025
Isabella Luebke - Undergraduate thesis student
Danielle Suvanto - Undergraduate thesis student
Diego Brunetto - 3rd year project student
Ruhaim Ali - Summer Scholar Program (SSP) student
Zahra Ridha - Undergraduate thesis student
Jola Adeoye- Undergraduate thesis student
Danielle Zak - Undergraduate thesis student
Rebecca Snow - Undergraduate thesis student/Summer student
Ashley Stewart - Undergraduate thesis student/Co-op student
Elisabeth Jonah - Summer Scholar Program (SSP) student
Janki Valhega - 3rd year project student
Spring Wang - Co-op student
Yejin Kang - Undergraduate thesis student/Co-op student
Dami Shittu - Undergraduate thesis student
Alyshia Laidlaw - Undergraduate thesis student
Dennis Weber - Undergraduate thesis student
Meghan Kates - Undergraduate thesis student
Anita Singh - Undergraduate thesis student
Rabia Fatima - Undergraduate thesis student
Kiana Karimpoor - Undergraduate thesis student
Jamie Clark - Undergraduate thesis student
Jonathan Ong - Undergraduate thesis student
Lamia Hossain - Undergraduate thesis student
Eduardo Rojas - Undergraduate thesis student
Bryanna Meikle - Undergraduate thesis student/Co-op student
Tammy Lau - Undergraduate summer student
Andrea Tench - 3rd year project | 4th year thesis student 2015 - 2017
Michelle Lohbihler - 3rd year project student | volunteer 2016 - 2017
Treden Simon - Thesis student 2015 - 2016
Sophia Duong - Thesis student 2015 - 2016
Dennis Ng - Thesis student 2015 - 2016