Marcus Dillon, Principal Investigator (he/him) [CV]
E-mail: marcus.dillon@utoronto.ca
I am an evolutionary geneticist and microbiologist focussing primarily on how infectious diseases emerge via critical evolutionary transitions. I received my BA in Biology from Wake Forest University in 2011 and my PhD in Microbiology from the University of New Hampshire in 2016. Between 2016 and 2020, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto St. George. I joined the University of Toronto Mississauga as an Assistant Professor in July 2020. Over the past decade, my research has been published in a wide range of journals, including Genetics, Evolution, Genome Biology, and Science. In my spare time, I like to stay active alongside family and friends, with whom I can be irritatingly competitive. I consider myself somewhat of a professional lawn games player.
Viplav Agrawal, PhD Student (he/him)
I am a PhD student in the University of Toronto Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) program studying the evolution of type III secreted efectors in Xanthomonas species and the impact of effective populations size on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli. I previously completed my integrated BSc-MSc degree from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Bhopal, India. Outside of the lab, my other interests include quizzing, PC gaming, and crime fiction.
Tsz Chung (David) Chan, PhD Student (he/him)
I am a PhD student studying the evolutionary dynamics that enable bacterial infections to emerge in different environmental and biological conditions. My research background is in ecology, having earned my BSc in 2018 and my MSc in 2021 from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where I focused on the population genetics of the American goldfinch. Following my MSc, I worked at HKU's School of Public Health, investigating the genomics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in human, food, and farm samples. During my spare time, I enjoy music, photography, and birdwatching.
Jamie Chew, MSc Student (he/him)
I am a MSc student in the University of Toronto Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) program specializing in evolutionary biology, with a particular interest in evolutionary genetics. My research is focused on how mutation rate varies across the genomes of plant pathogenic bacteria. I am particularly interested in mutational hotspots that may lead to host shifts, like the repetitive regions of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs). Outside of the lab, I enjoy a variety of hobbies like volleyball, music, and video games.
Bonnie Tang, Undergraduate (she/her)
I am a third-year undergraduate student specializing in biotechnology with an interest in biopharmaceuticals and genetics. My research focuses on developing a high-throughput virulence screen to study interactions between Xanthomonas campestris on the plant host Brassica napus (canola). The goal of this work is to characterize the genetic basis of canola virulence and identify X. campestris strains that represent a significant threat to canola cultivation in Canada. Beyond the lab, I enjoy playing the piano, reading, and watching engaging TV shows.
Peter Kalnay, Undergraduate (he/him)
I am a second-year undergraduate student specializing in biological chemistry, with a strong interest in the chemical and genetic mechanisms that govern disease. My research focuses on identifying transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) in Xanthomonas oryzae and characterizing their diversification. Specifically, I am using computational tools to study the TALE distributions of existing X. oryzae genomes from public databases and will be using a hybrid-sequencing approach to characterize TALEs in a broader distribution of X. oryzae strains. Beyond the lab, I enjoy reading, running, camping, and anything else outdoors.
Dila Gulmez, Undergraduate (they/them)
I am a second-year undergraduate student specializing in biological chemistry and am particularly interested in the physiology of pathogens. My research investigates the distribution of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) in Xanthomonas translucens. Specifically, I am currently working on a pangenome analysis of X. translucens strains to identify new candidate genomes for hybrid-sequencing and TALE identification. Outside of the lab, I enjoy crocheting and volunteering to increase awareness about sustainability.
Sasha Dahdah, Undergraduate (she/her)
I am a fourth-year undergraduate student specializing in biotechnology and minoring in business, science and entrepreneurship. I am particularly interested in biopharmaceuticals and molecular biotechnology. My research focuses on the interactions between Xanthomonas effectors and the Arabidopsis immune system. Specifically, I am conducting a high-throughput screen to identify novel ETI-inducing effectors and understand how effector modulation contributes to host specificity. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, and staying active.
We are a growing research group with multiple funded positions available to study the evolutionary genomics of disease emergence in microbial pathogens. I am always excited to discuss current opportunities in the Dillon Lab. You can find more information about these opportunities here.
DILLON LAB ALUMNI
Brianna Tapia, Undergraduate (2024-2025)
Elise Bull, MSc Student/Research Associate (2022-2025)
Hind Emad, Postdoctoral Fellow (2023-2024)
Sienna Valley, Undergraduate (2023-2024)
Sean Yam, Undergraduate (2022-2024)
Mateja Perc, Undergraduate (2021-2024)
Jacy Newfeld, MSc Student (2021-2023)
Affan Ahmed, Undergraduate (2022-2023)
Simran Rakhra, Undergraduate (2022-2023)
Zain Nassrullah, Undergraduate (2021-2023)
Rachel Stubits, Undergraduate (2021-2022)
Erka Shata, Undergraduate (2021-2022)
Nial Navaratne, Undergraduate (2021-2022)
Elana Maria, Undergraduate (2021-2022)
Joshua Hung, Undergraduate (2020-2021)