Meet The Team

Jann Ang, M.Sc

Jann is the Lab Manager for the Miller Lab. She started her research career by doing her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry specializing in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at McMaster University. Jann did her 4th year undegraduate thesis on Malaria where she studied the sequence requirements for the inner membrane complex (IMC) proteins to form the pellicle of the parasite.

Jann continued her passion for research by doing her Masters Degree in Chemistry (Biochemistry) at University of Waterloo. She studied the in vitro modification of monoclonal antibodies using a glycosyltransferase.

Outside of the lab, Jann enjoys baking and is always up for a hike!

Sergey Yegorov, PhD

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Sergey is a Post-Doctoral Fellow, who completed his PhD studies in Immunology at the University of Toronto with Dr. Rupert Kaul. His PhD thesis focused on the immunology of tropical endemic infections and their interactions with HIV. After PhD completion, Sergey travelled to Kazakhstan, where as a university lecturer and research associate, he taught undergraduate courses, supervised graduate students, and conducted multidisciplinary research. Sergey started his fellowship in the Miller Lab in early 2021 and his current research, supported by the Michael G. DeGroote Fellowship, focuses on defining immunological characteristics of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations in different populations.

Outside of the lab, Sergey enjoys spending time outdoors (preferably with family and friends), gardening and repairing things around the house.

Hannah Stacey

Senior PhD Candidate

Hannah is a PhD candidate in the Miller Laboratory. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences degree at McMaster in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program. Her senior thesis project in the Miller laboratory focused on exploring the role of IgA mediated NETosis during viral infection and autoimmune conditions including; systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. She will be continuing her work on this project to try and elucidate the downstream Fc- signalling pathways involved in potentiating IgA mediated NETosis.

Outside of the lab Hannah enjoys a nice bottle of wine, reading and watching movies.

Ali Zhang, M.Sc,

MD PhD Candidate

Ali is a PhD candidate in the Miller laboratory. He completed his Master of Science at Western University in Microbiology and Immunology, where he studied the interaction between adenovirus E1A and the transcriptional repressor BS69. He also completed his Honours Bachelors of Medical Sciences at Western, where he studied the interaction between human papillomavirus E7 and the cell cycle regulator p27kip1 for his thesis project. Ali will be investigating the mechanisms by which broadly neutralizing antibodies protect against an influenza virus infection.

In his spare time, Ali enjoys watching movies and crushing his enemies in Dota.

Michael D'Agostino, M.Sc,

PhD Candidate

Michael is a PhD candidate, who completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario where he worked with Dr. Jeremy Burton studying the urinary microbiome and its interactions with the nervous system. Michael then came to McMaster for his graduate studies where he completed an M.Sc. in the lab of Dr. Zhou Xing investigating the role of memory alveolar macrophages in control of tuberculosis. Michael will be elucidating the mechanisms behind original antigenic sin within the scope of repeated influenza vaccination.

In his free time, Michael enjoys concerts, catching up with his friends, watching/playing sports, the gym, Netflix and playing with his dog. Not necessarily in that order.

Art Marzok

Ph.D. Candidate

Art is a PhD candidate in the Miller laboratory. He completed his Honours Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Human Biology: Health and Disease at the University of Toronto, where he developed a strong interest for host-pathogen interactions and immunological responses. His research focuses on examining the relationship between viral infections and the development of ALS.

Art began his research career as a Research Assistant at SickKids hospital in the Paediatric Emergency Medicine department. He is excited to transition into the wet lab environment where he can expand his research skills. In his spare time, Art enjoys hiking, reading, playing basketball and boardgames. Especially, beating people in Catan

Vithushan Surendran

MD PhD Candidate

Vithushan is a MD/PhD candidate in the Miller laboratory. He completed his Honours Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Toronto. During that time, he developed an interest in the interaction between neurological disorders and the immune system from his work in the field of spinal cord injury and epilepsy.

His research in the Miller laboratory focuses on understanding the intersection between senataxin (SETX), viral infection, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Outside of the lab, Vithushan enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and watching movies.

Yona Tugg

M.Sc Candidate

Yona is a MSc student in the Miller Laboratory. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science degree at McMaster in the Integrated Science program with a concentration in biochemistry. Her fourth-year thesis project focused on characterizing a broadly-neutralizing antibody as a potential therapeutic treatment against influenza virus infections. Her graduate research focuses on understanding the mechanisms through which IgA broadly neutralizing antibodies provide protection against influenza viruses.

In her free time, Yona enjoys listening to musicals, baking, and knitting.

Elizabeth Li

4th yr Thesis Student

Elizabeth is a fourth-year undergraduate student in the Miller Laboratory. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Health Sciences degree in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program at McMaster University. Her project aims to investigate the differences between subtypes of broadly-neutralizing

immunoglobulin A in the protection against influenza A infection. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys paddling with the dragon boat team, hiking, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family

Yasmine Kollar

4th yr Thesis Student

Yasmine is a fourth-year thesis student in the Miller laboratory, currently enrolled in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program at McMaster University. Her research focuses on identifying novel treatments for respiratory viral infections.

On her free time, Yasmine enjoys playing volleyball and tennis, hanging out with friends, and crushing people in Mario Kart. She still doesn’t know how to drive though.

Angelina Lam

4th yr Thesis Student

Angelina is a fourth-year thesis student in the Miller laboratory, currently studying in McMaster’s Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program.

Angelina’s thesis project will be focused on exploring the effects of oseltamivir on IgA broadly neutralizing antibody function during influenza A infection. In her spare time, Angelina enjoys spending time with friends and family, whether that is through traveling, playing video games, drawing, or just hanging out.

Josh Russell

Summer Scholar

Josh Is entering his third year as a Conservation Biology student at Trent University. He joined the lab May 2022 as a Biomedical and Biochemical Summer Scholar. Josh currently researches compounds that may reduce Coronavirus and Influenza A replication in vitro, and the role of the unfolded protein response during viral replication. On his spare time, Josh enjoys birdwatching, bouldering, and board games.