Our People

Adam Damry

Assistant Professor

Hey, it’s me! I’ll be joining the uOttawa Department of Chemistry in July to launch a Synthetic Biology research group. We’ll be studying how proteins interact with solids, and how we can harness these interactions to make useful biological tools. If you want to know more, take a look at our projects!

My background ranges from an undergrad in Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering, to a PhD in Structural Biology, and a postdoc in Synthetic Biology. Along the way, I’ve worked with experts across the natural sciences, medicine, and computer science, both in academia and industry. Now, I’m interested in harnessing this multidisciplinary background to think outside of the box and do some cool science!

Kailey Petz

Ph.D. Candidate

Hi! My name is Kailey and I’m a Masters’ student in chemistry exploring the characteristics of plastic degrading enzymes. I joined the Damry Lab when it was created in 2022. I have an Honours Bachelor of Science with a Major in Biochemistry and a Minor in Biology from the University of Ottawa. I’m from a small town in Southern Ontario where I learned to enjoy nature and developed an interest in the building blocks of life and the fundamental interactions that make life possible. I like volunteering for science education, conservation, and sustainability programs and I am currently focused on characterizing plastic degrading enzymes to aid in enzyme engineering efforts.

My next goal is to transfer to the PhD program to expand on my research of plastic degrading enzymes. In the future I hope to use the skills I’ve developed to work in enzyme characterization and engineering, with a focus on the environment and sustainability.

Arnaud Boudigou

Ph.D. Candidate

Bonjour! I’m Arnaud from France and presently pursuing a PhD on the topic of enzyme engineering for plastic degradation. I joined the Damry lab since its creation in 2022. I have a Master’s in systems and synthetic biology from Université Paris-Saclay. I like to travel abroad and take all the opportunities to do internships in different countries. I went to Vietnam at the Hanoï University of Pharmacy during my undergrad, to Boston to defend my team’s iGEM project, and to Denmark at DTU for my master’s internship. I am grateful to be able to specialize in enzyme engineering while also tackling a universal problem, which is plastic pollution. For now, I picture my next goal to use the skills gained during my Ph.D. in protein engineering to work on the production or recycling of waste compounds with a strong focus on sustainability.

Niki Dadgari

Ph.D. Candidate

Hello! I’m Niki from Iran and am pursuing a PhD on the topic of continuous insulin biosensors. I joined the Damry lab since its creation in 2022. I have a master’s in Material and Metallurgical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology. Yes! I am way out of the field! After I graduated, I worked for 4 years on developing products based on electrospun nanofibers. I was lucky to be able to explore different fields of science and engineering, and that is why I was interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in a completely different field from my experience. During my time at the company, I encountered many projects focused on health issues, which is one of the reasons I was interested in the insulin project the minute I saw it! As I got to know the biochemistry field more this past year, I feel more interested in the protein engineering part of the project. Therefore, I like to picture myself as a protein engineer after graduating with a bunch of hands-on experience in different fields and maybe come up with an interesting product using all the skills gained during my Ph.D. and combine them with my previous experience.

Robert Demerjian

M.Sc. Candidate

Hello, I’m Robert, a master’s student hailing from the beautiful country of Lebanon. I’ve been part of the Damry Lab journey right from its inception in 2022. I completed my undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa, during which I undertook an honours project with the lab. I was immediately drawn to our research, as well as the innovative and sustainable solutions that the lab strives to develop for global challenges.

Currently, I’m pursuing my master’s degree, delving deeper into the realm of plastic degradation research as well as gaining more scientific skills and knowledge to advance my scientific career. Beyond the lab, I enjoy cycling, rowing, and a good cup of coffee. In the summer you can probably spot me exploring scenic cycling routes around Ottawa and Gatineau, gliding across serene waters, or getting caffeinated at the nearest coffee shop.

Nic Graf

Honours Student

Hi! I’m Nic, an undergraduate student in biochemistry, and I’m currently doing my Honours project at the Damry Lab. My project started as an NSERC USRA over the summer of 2024, and it consists of building a biosensor based on a bacterial enzyme in order to quantify the organic pollutant, pyridine. This project has been a frustrating and humbling brainchild, but I am thankful for Adam and the lab’s support in its progress. Outside of the lab, I could be found running, reading, or rewatching Breaking Bad for the umpteenth time.

Emily Thompson

Honours Student

Hi! I’m Emily, and I am currently completing my Honours BSc in Biochemistry and BASc in Chemical Engineering. I joined the Damry Lab as an Honours student working on the enzyme engineering and plastics degradation project. I feel grateful to be part of a group with such fascinating research interests, and I look forward to learning more about the sustainability aspects of scientific research. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me at the rink playing hockey, spending time with my new puppy, or trying out new dessert recipes.

Noah Baillargeon

Honours Student

My name is Noah and I am currently one of the honours students in the lab. I am in the biochem program specializing in chemical biology. Thankfully, I am not from Ottawa; shoutout to all the people in the GTA! Currently in the lab, I am working on the hydrogel project making cleavable sugar based hydrogels (You should be really excited about this because it’s really cool!) When I am not in the lab, I am usually walking around enjoying the city or doing my own cafe crawl (think bar crawl). My favourite fact is that you would need to eat 385 McChickens to achieve the same body fat percentage as a Beluga Whale (poor chickens)!

Gillian Carey

Honours Student

Hi! My name is Gillian and I’m a 5th year Honors Biochemistry student specializing in Microbiology and Immunology! I’ve recently taken an interest in biotechnological applications, specifically with research related to bioremediation and environmental sustainability. This has led me to work with the Damry Lab and focus my Honors project on investigating the structure / function relationship of plastic degrading enzymes. Apart from my academic side, I enjoy cooking new recipes, photography, spending time outdoors, and I’m also a massive foodie – any good restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated 🙂