Team
Principal Investigator
Shyamchand Mayengbam, PhD
I am an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University. My primary research lies in understanding the intricate relationship between dietary nutrients and gut-host interactions. My investigations involves unraveling novel roles of gut microbiota and their metabolites by using advanced technologies, including 16S RNA sequencing and high-throughput mass spectrometry platforms. These technologies enable us to probe the interactions between gut microbes and human health at a molecular level. Through these innovative techniques, I aim to unlock the secrets of the gut microbiota and shed light on its profound impact on our metabolism and overall health.
Milestone
2020: Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University.
2016: Postdoctoral Research, University of Calgary.
2015 : PhD, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
2008: MSc, Food Technology, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India.
2006: BSc, Agriculture, Unviersity of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
Graduate Students
Sathya Amarasena, BVS
I am a PhD candidate working under the supervision of Dr. Mayengbam at the Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland. My research focuses on the role of dietary nutrients in the gut-brain axis, which ultimately influences cognitive function. I examine microbial composition and investigate how these microorganisms synthesize key neurotransmitters that impact brain function. As a veterinarian, my passion for animal health and welfare has also driven my curiosity to explore the effects of diet on gut-brain interactions using animal models.
Education
Ph.D. Student in Biochemistry (In progress)
Memorial University of Newfoundland, NL, Canada
MSc. in Biostatistics , University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (2018), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sathya-Amarasena
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?hl=en&user=eqZ-0DIAAAAJ
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathya-a-75a179197/
K. Shaharina Hossain
Shaharina grew up in southern Bangladesh, Khulna, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering from Khulna University in 2019. After graduation, she also worked there as a research assistant in the field of microbiology. She joined Mayengbam lab in the Fall of 2021 to work on the association between vitamin B9 and B12 deficiencies and their effect on gut microbes. Outside academia, she loves hiking, doodling, and cooking.
Ava Rasouli
I joined Dr. mayengbam's lab in September 2021 to work on Dietary vitamin B6 and the pathophysiology of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. I grew up in the southeast of Iran and got a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences before moving to Canada, I worked in a clinical laboratory for covid diagnosis. Outside of the science world, she has been a barista in a café in my hometown, and I love making coffee! Since I move to St. John’s, I have been enjoying hiking, exploring new cafes, and playing volleyball and board games with her friends.