John V. L. Nguyen
Ph.D. Candidate

Biological and Biomedical Engineering

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Lidija Malic

Email: john.nguyen2@mail.mcgill.ca

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Education Background:

Master of Science in Biology, Department of Biology, York University (2021)

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Department of Biology, York University (2019)

Favourite Lab Equipment:

Emergency Shower and Eyewash Station

I should have become the other type of doctor
— John V. L. Nguyen

Research Projects and Interests:

My current research focus is on high-throughput screening of DNA-based aptamers using microfluidics and surface plasmon resonance. More broadly, my research interests span bioinstrumentation, biosensors, high-throughput screening, lab-on-a-chip, medical devices, microfluidics, and point-of-care testing.

  • Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Sante (FRQS) Doctoral Scholarship (2024)

    Kostas Tsotsos Graduate Award (2020)

    Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master's (2020)

    Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2020)

  • Peer-Reviewed Articles:

    Nguyen JVL, Ghafar-Zadeh E. Biointerface Materials for Cellular Adhesion: Recent Progress and Future Prospects. Actuators. 2020; 9(4):137. https://doi.org/10.3390/act9040137

    Media Publications:

    1. Nguyen J. V. L. With AI, Canada cannot risk another Nortel moment. Toronto Star (Toronto, ON), January 18, 2024. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/with-ai-canada-cannot-risk-another-nortel-moment/article_bde2bb24-b557-11ee-8571-0b5ce89cf54a.html (accessed 2024-01-18).

    2a. Nguyen J. V. L.; Tabrizian M. It’s time for Canada to adopt open access for taxpayer-funded research too. University Affairs (Ottawa, ON), December 16, 2022. https://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/in-my-opinion/its-time-for-canada-to-adopt-open-access-for-taxpayer-funded-research-too/ (accessed 2022-12-16).
    2b. Nguyen J. V. L.; Tabrizian M. Le Canada doit lui aussi assurer le libre accès à la recherche financée à même les fonds publics. Affaires universitaires (Ottawa, ON), January 20, 2023. https://www.affairesuniversitaires.ca/opinion/a-mon-avis/le-canada-doit-lui-aussi-assurer-le-libre-acces-a-la-recherche-financee-a-meme-les-fonds-publics/ (accessed 2023-01-20).

    Media Coverage (indirect contributions):

    1. Savage, H. Forging the future of disease diagnostics and treatments. McGill University (Montreal, QC), August 25, 2022. https://www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/article/forging-future-disease-diagnostics-and-treatments (accessed 2022-08-25).
    a. Featured on the McGill University home page from October 17, 2022 – November 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018121008/https://www.mcgill.ca/
    b. Savage, H. Forging the future of disease diagnostics and treatments. McGill University (Montreal, QC), October 17, 2022. https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/article/forging-future-disease-diagnostics-and-treatments (accessed 2022-10-17).

  • Conferences:

    Nguyen, J. V. L. Surface plasmon resonance imaging for single-step DNA aptamer discovery. Presented at the Bruker Surface Plasmon Resonance User Meeting North America, Billerica, MA, September 13-14, 2023. (oral presentation)

    Nguyen, J. V. L. Malic, L.; Tabrizian, M. SPRi for ultra-sensitive and real-time monitoring of interferon gamma-aptamer interactions. Presented at the American Chemical Society Fall 2023 National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA, August 13-17, 2023; Paper 3910024. (poster presentation)

    Nguyen, J. V. L. Malic, L.; Tabrizian, M. Ultra-sensitive and real-time monitoring of aptamer-binding assays by surface plasmon resonance imaging. Presented at the 7th Biological and Biomedical Engineering Symposium, Montreal, Canada, May 10-11, 2023. (poster presentation)

    Nguyen J. 2020. Time Flies When You’re Having Fun: A Fruit Fly Study on Aging. York University Undergraduate Research Fair, Toronto, Canada. (poster presentation)

    Nguyen J., Alidina I., Elias M., Mahmood N. 2019. The Cure to ALS is Flying Around You: Using Fruit Flies to Investigate a Fatal Disease. York University Undergraduate Research Fair, Toronto, Canada. (poster presentation)

    Invite Talks:

    Jain, S.*; Legere, E.-A.*; Nguyen, J.*; Salaciak, M.*; Sirmakesyan, S.*; Yu, Y.* Presented at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Student RoundTable, Montreal, Canada, May 4, 2022. (*These authors contributed equally.)

  • During my master's, I conducted research on the use of various biomaterials in microfluidic devices in order to screen and analyze white blood cells from oral rinses. During my undergraduate honours thesis, I conducted research on the genetics of condensed regions of DNA and their role in the process of cellular aging.