Amanda Zacharias
Education
Queen's University 2022 - present: Doctoral Student of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
- Topic: Multi-omics of circadian rhythms and neuroimmunology
- Supervisors: Nader Ghasemlou, Qingling Duan
Queen's University 2021 - 2022: Masters of Biomedical Informatics
- Topic: Analyzing transcriptomic data to discover circadian genes and pathways that
regulate chronic pain
- Supervisors: Nader Ghasemlou, Qingling Duan
Queen's University 2017 - 2021: Bachelor of Science Honours, Biology
Awards
- Queen's Graduate Award, May 2023 - April 2024; $3000 CAD
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Conference Travel Award, November 2023; $200 CAD
- Ontario Gradate Scholarship, September 2023 - April 2024; $15,000 CAD
- Queen's 25th Annual Meeting for Health Sciences Research Trainees, Top Poster, June 2023; $100 CAD
- Queen's University 44th Annual Anesthesiology Research Day, Best Research Trainee Presentation; April 2023
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Conference Travel Award, December 2022; $200 CAD
- Queen's Graduate Award, May 2022 - April 2023; $3000 CAD
- Biomedical Informatics Award of Excellence, May 2022; $2000 CAD
- Dean's Honour List; 2019-20, 2020-21
Oral Presentations
- Amanda Zacharias, Danai Topouza, Hanlin Chen,
Helia Ghazinejad, Qingling Duan*, Nader Ghasemlou*.
Sixth Conference of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology;
2023 June 14-15; Kingston, Ontario. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias, Danai Topouza, Hanlin Chen,
Helia Ghazinejad, Qingling Duan*, Nader Ghasemlou*.
Queen's University 44th Annual Anesthesiology Research Day;
2023 April 21; Kingston, Ontario. *co-senior authors
Poster Presentations
- Amanda Zacharias,
Hailey Gowdy, Mitra Knezic, Doriana Taccardi,
Etienne Bisson, Lesley Norris Singer, Nader Ghasemlou*,
Qingling Duan*.
American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting;
2023 November 2; Washington D.C., USA. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias,
Amirthagowri Ambalavanan, Courtney Bannerman,
Olivia Smith, Zhi Yi Fang, Qingling Duan*,
Nader Ghasemlou*.
Queen's 25th Annual Meeting for Health Sciences Research Trainees;
2023 June 27; Kingston, Ontario. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias,
Amirthagowri Ambalavanan, Courtney Bannerman,
Olivia Smith, Zhi Yi Fang, Qingling Duan*,
Nader Ghasemlou*.
Queen's University 43rd Annual
Anesthesiology Research Day;
2023 April 8; Kingston, Ontario. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias,
Jihoon Choi, Courtney Bannerman, Margot Gunning,
Scott Duggan, Qingling Duan*, Nader Ghasemlou*.
International Association on the Study of Pain's World Congress on Pain;
2022 September 19-23; Toronto, Ontario. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias,
Amirthagowri Ambalavanan, Courtney Bannerman,
Olivia Smith, Zhi Yi Fang, Qingling Duan*,
Nader Ghasemlou*.
Queen's 24th Annual Meeting for Health Sciences Research Trainees;
2022 June 28; Kingston, Ontario. *co-senior authors
- Amanda Zacharias,
Jihoon Choi, Courtney Bannerman, Margot Gunning,
Qingling Duan*, Nader Ghasemlou*.
Canadian Pain Society's 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting;
2022 May 10-13; Montreal, Quebec. *co-senior authors
Teaching
- BMED 866/CISC 875/BMIF 804: Methods in Bioinformatics; Guest Instructor; 2023 - Present
- BCHM 370: Genetics and Genomics; Teaching Assistant; 2023 - Present
- CISC 251: Data analytics; Teaching Assistant; 2022
Supervision
Research volunteer supervision 2023 - present
- Mentoring 2 undergraduate student volunteers in total.
- Teaching students minimal computing experience how to code in R and Linux with the use of good coding practices.
- Training students in downloading, evaluating, and processing public bulk RNA-sequencing data.
- Ensuring students understand the underlying theory of bioinformatics tools and can critically compare different approaches.
Volunteering
Poster Judge 2024
19th Annual Canadian Undergraduate Conference on Healthcare
- Judging research poster presentations by undergraduate students from across Canada.
- Providing constructive feedback to ensure students learn and grow as scientists.
Mentor, Women in Stem and Engineering Student 2023 - Present
- Meeting with woman identifying undergraduate students in STEM to provide support and advice.
Mentor, IgNITE Medical Case Competition 2022
- Guiding two undergraduate student groups through the process of developing a research proposal.
- Explaining scientific concepts and provided supplemental resources for learning.
Data Entry Assistant 2019 - 2020
Fowler Herbarium
- Transcribing hundreds of handwritten specimen information into the herbarium's database (Excel).
- Practiced attention to detail to prevent information loss and assist future data analysis.
- Utilizing online resources to resolve uncertainty and fill gaps in knowledge.
Professional Experience
Team Member 2015 - 2017, Shift Leader 2017 - 2021
Caribou Coffee
- Training new team members in both practical skills and soft skills, ex. interacting with upset customers.
- Managing tasks to ensure that high-quality work is completed beyond expectations.
- Concisely communicating concerns with team members.
Summer Camp Counselor 2016
YMCA of the USA
- Providing a positive, fun, and accepting atmosphere for children and adolescents.
- Helping the development of youth.
Lifeguard
Minnetonka Public Schools
- Monitoring designated areas to ensure safety of patrons.
- Participating in regular training to respond to emergencies rapidly and effectively.