Results of 2026 Doctoral Awards Competition
The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) is an integrated network for researchers, trainees and partners working to confront infectious disease challenges. We unite members across the University of Toronto and its hospital partners to accelerate cross-disciplinary work in the understanding and development of new countermeasures against pathogens. A key pillar of EPIC’s work is training the next generation of infectious disease research leaders that will help stop future pandemics and reduce the societal burdens of infectious disease.
EPIC Doctoral Awards are designed to support a cohort of multi/interdisciplinary trainees engaged in collaborative research in infectious diseases. These competitive awards support excellent students supervised by faculty from the University of Toronto and EPIC’s partner research institutes.
We are pleased to share the results of our fourth Doctoral Awards competition that we launched in September 2025 for students who achieved PhD candidacy in the last two calendar years.
Funding statistics
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Demographic data (gender and race)
Meet our 2026 Doctoral Awards recipients
Raegan Allan
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Thesis title: CRISPR-responsive hydrogel development for multiplexed sexually transmitted infection detection in a diagnostic tampon
Supervisors: Caitlin Maikawa (University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering), Nicole Weckman (University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering)
Benjamin Beavington
Department of Biochemistry
Thesis title: Investigation of matrix mediated host protein control in measles virus infection
Supervisor: Michael Norris (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Juliette Blais-Savoie
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology
Thesis title: Ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses of public health concern
Supervisors: Samira Mubareka (Sunnybrook Research Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine), Nicole Mideo (University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science)
Elizabeth Chaney
Department of Molecular Genetics
Thesis title: Interrogating host susceptibility to a newly discovered Legionella pneumophilia phage
Supervisor: Alexander Ensminger (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Zi Yan Chen
Department of Immunology
Thesis title: How Zbtb7b tunes gut macrophage behavior: From tissue homeostasis to antimicrobial host defense
Supervisor: Arthur Mortha (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Jann Aldrin Gamboa
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Thesis title: Designing next-generation probiotics with enhanced biosafety for infectious disease control
Supervisor: Freeman Lan (University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering)
Chidumebi Idemili
Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Thesis title: Developing new mathematical models to examine trajectories of early HIV risk, access gaps, and HIV prevention interventions among young female sex workers in Kenya
Supervisor: Sharmistha Mishra (Unity Health Toronto)
Rameen Jamil
Department of Immunology
Thesis title: Investigating the impact of penile-vaginal sexual debut on the immune milieu and microbiome of the penile urethra in adolescent males from Rakai, Uganda
Supervisor: Rupert Kaul (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Minseo (Bella) Kim
Department of Biochemistry
Thesis title: Uncovering the mechanisms of diverse kinase-mediated anti-phage defence systems and a novel viral evasion strategy
Supervisor: Karen Maxwell (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Angela Liang
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Thesis title: Novel inhalable, bacteria-targeting nanoemulsions for treatment of lower respiratory infections using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
Supervisor: Gang Zheng (University Health Network)
Haley Morris
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Thesis title: Developing mathematical models for host-macroparasite dynamics under anthropogenic global change
Supervisor: Peter Molnar (University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts and Science)
Sean Palter
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Thesis title: Multivalent peptide display for viral neutralization
Supervisor: Keith Pardee (University of Toronto, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy)
Jacqueline Pavelick
Institute of Medical Science
Thesis title: Developing and applying a multiscale modelling appraoch to screen for novel miR-based therapies for COVID-19-associated lung injury
Supervisors: Claudia Dos Santos (Unity Health Toronto), Edmond Young (University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering)
Amy Qian
Department of Biochemistry
Thesis title: Decoding phage counter-defence: Searching for glycosylase inhibitors
Supervisor: Karen Maxwell (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Daniella Serrador
Department of Molecular Genetics
Thesis title: Characterizing the impact of metals on bacteria of the vaginal microbiome
Supervisor: William Navarre (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Alyssa Vander Zee
Department of Biochemistry
Thesis title: Investigating the regulation of anti-phage defence systems in bacteria
Supervisors: Karen Maxwell (University of Toronto, Temerty Faculty of Medicine)
Darby Whittaker
Department of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences
Thesis title: Examining care, improving outcomes: Adulterants, stigma, and HIV, HCV, and STBBI services for people who use drugs
Supervisor: Carol Strike (University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health)
Shant Torkom Yeretzian
Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Thesis title: Equity-oriented health technology assessment for infectious disease prevention: The case of Group B Steptococcus
Supervisor: Beate Sander (University Health Network)
Previous competition results
2025 Doctoral Awards competition results
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