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Christine Szymanski

Blurred image of the arch used as background for stylistic purposes.
Professor, Associate Department Head

We are a microbial glycobiology lab using multidisciplinary techniques and model systems to: 1) characterize pathways responsible for generating bacterial glycoconjugates, 2) exploit bacteriophage recognition proteins that bind to these structures, and 3) differentiate the protective benefits of host milk oligosaccharides to develop novel therapeutics and vaccines for the prevention of diarrheal diseases and post-infectious neuropathies such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. These studies have also expanded our knowledge of carbohydrate metabolism by the gut microbiota and the transfer of antibiotic resistance between bacteria.

Education:

Ph.D. University of Alberta, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 1996

B.Sc. University of Winnipeg, dual majors in Chemistry Co-op and Molecular Biology, 1991

Labs (via personnel):
Labs:
Selected Publications:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=szymanski+cm

 

Of note:

Employment History

Adjunct Professorships, University of Georgia, Department of Infectious Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Center for Vaccines and Immunology, Athens, Georgia, 2017-Present               

Adjunct Professor, University of Alberta, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and DentistryEdmonton, Alberta, 2008-Present               

Professor (Associate, Full), University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Edmonton, Alberta, 2008-2016

Adjunct Professor, University of Ottawa, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, Ontario, 2007-2009                                  

Research Officer (Assistant, Associate, Senior), National Research Council, Institute for Biological Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario, 2000-2008

Postdoctoral Fellow, Naval Medical Research Center, Enteric Disease Vaccine Program, Silver Spring, Maryland, 1996-2000

Chemistry Co-op Student Work Terms, ABI/Apotex Biotechnology Inc. (1988, 1989), SynPhar Laboratories Inc. (1990), University of Alberta (1991)

 

Courses Regularly Taught

MIBO 4220-6220, Bacterial Pathogenesis

 

Events featuring Christine Szymanski
Articles Featuring Christine Szymanski

Bibi Zhou of the Szymanski Lab is awarded the 2023 Dr. Joy Porter Williams Fellowship in Microbiology.

The award was presented to Bibi during a special department seminar by Dr. Erin Dolan on November 2, 2023.

Congratulations Dr. Szymanski! Link to original article below.

Silke Andresen awarded the 2022 "William Jackson and Jane Marshall Payne Graduate Fellowship in Microbiology" during our annual Jack Payne Alumni Seminar by alumna Dr. Chelsey VanDrisse on November 3, 2022. 

The Microbiology Department would like to congratulate these Graduate Students on receiving a Graduate School Travel Grant! The Department of Microbiology will have scientists representing us at conferences all over the world this summer! 

Lab Personnel

Graduate Students

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