Departmental Teaching Assistant Achievement Award

Paolo Giuliana is a fourth-year PhD student in the department of Pharmacology & Toxicology under the supervision of Dr. Landon Edgar. His research is focused on the development of nanoparticle technologies to map carbohydrate-protein interactions, and using these technologies to uncover new mechanisms of cancer immune evasion. He received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Toronto. 

Paolo has been a teaching assistant for PCL469: Systems Pharmacology I for the past three years. Over this time, he has had the opportunity to engage with many third- and fourth-year students in the department, helping them to better understand complex concepts and think about pharmacology at a systems-wide level. As a former undergraduate student in the department, he appreciates the chance to support current pharmacology students. He has enjoyed his time as a teaching assistant and plans to continue throughout his graduate degree.    

Hani Choksi is a PhD student in the laboratory of Dr. Landon Edgar in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology. Her PhD research is focused on deciphering how cell surface carbohydrates regulate the immunological functions of T cells using a variety of chemical biology, immunology, and glycobiology tools. For the past three years, she has had the pleasure of serving as a teaching assistant for the PCL469 - Systems Pharmacology course. She enjoys working with PharmTox undergraduate students and discussing how pharmacological interventions can have a myriad of intended or unintended effects on interconnected physiological systems, such as immune, cardiovascular, and nervous. Hani is grateful to receive this year's Departmental Teaching Assistant Achievement Award and hopes to continue teaching integrative courses such as PCL469 in the future.

  Pavel Powlowski - profile not provided

Lola Zovko is a fourth year PhD student in the department of Pharmacology & Toxicology under the supervision of Dr. Ali Salahpour. Her research interests involve uncovering the mechanisms behind how endocannabinoid modulation can alter Parkinson's disease therapies. She received her H.Bachelor's at the University of Windsor studying Behavioural Cognitive Neuroscience.

Lola is a Teaching Assistant for PCL218: Cannabis the Drug, taught by Dr. Ruth Ross, where she has been a Teaching Assistant for the past 2 years. Lola's role in this course has allowed her to meet and educate many students from diverse backgrounds on the general knowledge of cannabis and how to better digest scientific material. Lola hopes to continue teaching and helping others learn, as well as learn from others.

Emma Russo is a fourth year PhD student in the department of Pharmacology & Toxicology under the supervision of Dr. Ali Salahpour. Her research interests involve uncovering new ways to treat diseases caused by protein misfolding, specifically regarding membrane transport proteins. She received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience from the University of Vermont.

Emma is a Teaching Assistant for PCL200: Drugs in the Brain, taught by Dr. Amy Ramsey, where she has been a Teaching Assistant for the past four years. Emma's role in this breadth course allows her to meet students with a wide array of academic backgrounds, where she enjoys making science interesting and enjoyable for all.

Sierra Codeluppi is a fourth year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology under the supervision of Dr. Mounira Banasr in the Neurobiology of Depression and Aging Lab at CAMH. Sierra also holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Neuroscience and Philosophy. This year Sierra was the head teaching assistant for PCL201 - Introduction to Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics course of over 250 students. Sierra played an active role in helping to formulate and mark assessments, answering discussion board questions, providing feedback to students, and assisting in marking the final exam

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Ersi Zabzuni completed her Honours BSc in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and is now a second-year MSc student in the Applied Clinical Pharmacology Program in the same department. Her research interests are focused around pediatric drug dosing, specifically that of monoclonal antibody rituximab. She conducted her research project at the Hospital for Sick Children under the supervision of Dr. Ruud Verstegen.  

Ersi was a teaching assistant for PCL389: Understanding the Role of Pharmacology and Toxicology in Society for two years; this is a hands-on course in which students get multi-faceted knowledge on recreational drug use and substance abuse disorders. She played a role in matching students to placements, marking assessments, including regular reflections, oral debates, final exams, arranging regular check-ins with students to ensure their progress and excellent understanding of the course material, and answering discussion board and email questions.

Haidy Giratallah is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, working under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Tyndale. She received her training as a pharmacist in Cairo, Egypt, obtaining a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Later, she relocated to the United States, where she pursued her studies as a Fulbright Scholar in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Philadelphia, PA. During her master's thesis project, she focused on the study, design, and synthesis of small molecules that target serotonin receptors.

In her current PhD studies, Haidy's research centers around interindividual variability in Cytochrome P450 2A6, utilizing computational and big-data tools to gain a better understanding of disease risks specifically associated with nicotine and nitrosamine metabolism. She believes that these tools bring us closer to achieving precision medicine.

Additionally, Haidy holds the position of head teaching assistant for PCL218 - Cannabis the Drug, where she actively contributes to enhancing the students' learning experience. Throughout the pandemic, Haidy has made significant efforts to increase accessibility for students through creative utilization of available technological tools.