Executive Team
Ricky Chang
Co-Chair
Ricky is a second year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Shirley Wu, studying the application of novel polymeric nanoparticles for amorphous solid dispersion and alcohol-resistance. He holds a HBSc. and MSc. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Toronto. Ricky has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry as a Scientist and Project Manager (and obtained his CAPM and PMP) prior to his return as a graduate student. His hobbies include board games and guitar.
Jackie Fule Liu
Co-Chair
Jackie is a 5th year PhD student working on developing advanced biomedical devices for therapeutics deliveries under the supervision of Dr. Shirley X.Y. Wu. She is passionate about bridging the gap between concept and clinical translation.
Tiffany Ho
Past Chair & Advisor
Tiffany is a 5th-year PhD student under the supervision of Dr. Gang Zheng. She obtained her BMSc from the University of Western Ontario in 2019. Her research focuses on the application and development of novel nanoparticles for photodynamic cancer therapy.
Mahya Rezaeifarimani
Vice-chair and Outreach Coordinator
Mahya is a first year MSc student in Dr. Shirley Wu’s lab. They completed a BSc Honors in Chemistry with specialization in Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry at York University in 2023. Mahya is currently working with BBB penetrative MnO2 nanoparticles as a theranostic agent for image-guided radiation therapy against glioblastoma multiforme.
Sabina Panfilov
Treasurer and Alumni Coordinator
Sabina is a fifth year PhD candidate at Dr. Keith Pardee’s lab. She completed her BSc in chemistry and biology in 2016 and MSc in biotechnology in 2019 at Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on expression of antibodies in a cell-free system and development of high-throughput platform for screening of optimal expression conditions.
Stephanie Skalitzky
Alumni Coordinator
Stephanie is a first year MSc student in Dr. Piquette-Miller’s lab. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Business at the University of Victoria in 2022. Her research focuses on determining the effect of dietary supplements on preventing neurodevelopmental changes due to maternal immune activation.
Angela Pollinzi
Social Media Coordinator
Angela is an MSc student in the Piquette-Miller lab. She received her BSc in Integrated Science with a major in Biochemistry from McMaster University in 2021. Her research focuses on examining the effect of various inflammatory conditions on the placental proteome, and how they alter integral transport systems in the organ.
Francine He
Social Media Coordinator
Francine is a first year MSc student in the Piquette-Miller Lab studying the efficacy, toxicity and biodistribution of a novel protein drug in treating ovarian and breast cancer. She completed her BMSc in Pathology and Pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario in 2023.
Arthur Chu
Secretary, Pharmaceutical Chemistry Representative
Arthur Chu is a first year MSc student in Dr. Raymond Reilly’s Lab, studying 197Hg labeled Panitumumab for the radioimmunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. He received his undergraduate degree in the University of Toronto in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Specialist and Biochemistry Major. Arthur is currently serving as the Secretary and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Representative.
Angela Liang
Webmaster
Angela Liang is a first year MSc student in the Zheng Lab. She is currently working on developing novel photosensitizers for targeting bacteria in the lungs using photodynamic therapy. Angela graduated from McMaster University in 2023 with a BSc in Chemical Biology Co-op and a minor in Classics.
Pei Zhi
Marketing
Pei Zhi is a 5th year PhD student in Dr. Shirley Wu’s lab.She obtained her BSc in pharmaceutical sciences from Zhejiang University in 2019. Her research focuses on the development of therapeutic nanoparticles for triple-negative breast cancer treatment.
Stephanie Borlase
Pharmaceutical Sciences Representative
Stephanie is a second year PhD student in Dr. Raymond Reilly’s research group. She received her BSc in Biochemistry in 2020 and her MSc in Biochemistry and Medical Genetics in 2022 both from the University of Manitoba. Her research focuses on the development of a radiopharmaceutical for the treatment of brain metastases in patients with lung cancer enhanced by MRI-guided focused ultrasound.
Tiana Young
Pharmaceutical Sciences Representative
Tiana is a 2nd year Master’s student in the Bowen Li lab studying the delivery of RNA-based next-generation gene editors using optimized lipid nanoparticles. She earned her H.BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Immunology from the University of Toronto in 2022.