Graduate student

Zahra Davoodi, BSc

Zahra (she/her) is a first-year MSc student in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, supervised by Dr. Melissa Brouwers and Dr. Giorgia Sulis. Passionate about advancing vaccine research, her thesis focuses on creating a comprehensive risk-of-bias assessment tool for vaccine effectiveness studies. Currently, she contributes to a scoping review addressing specific concerns about risk-of-bias concepts or sources in these studies. With a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University, Zahra engaged in diverse projects. These experiences provided insights into holistic healthcare and underscored the importance of public health initiatives, including immunization programs. She aims to play a role in developing guidelines that assist researchers in publishing evidence-based studies, ultimately promoting improved decision-making for enhanced healthcare outcomes. Zahra enjoys spending her free time hiking and cooking for her loved ones.

Research Assistant

Angela Li, BSc

Angela (she/her) is a first-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. She completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences with a specialization in Global and Population Health at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. During her undergraduate degree, she was involved in public health research involving disability, mental health, and bullying, specifically in the adolescent population. Her current research interests focus on communicable diseases including population-based preventive medicine and outbreak management. She hopes to integrate research and clinical medicine in a public health setting to contribute to the health of Canadians at a population level. At the Sulis Lab, Angela is assisting with a scoping review addressing risk-of-bias concepts in vaccine effectiveness studies. In her free time, Angela enjoys travelling, playing badminton, and spending time outdoors.

Research Coordinator

Nawal Maredia, MSc

Nawal Maredia (she/her) is a healthcare professional and clinical researcher, holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management. With over two years of experience in clinical research, Nawal has expertise in coordinating studies on diseases like COVID-19, malaria, and rotavirus vaccine impact assessment. She has contributed to an adaptive platform trial focused on finding treatments for COVID-19. Nawal's primary interest lies in infectious diseases, where she aims to make significant contributions through research. In her free time, she finds joy in cooking and practicing yoga, balancing her passion for healthcare with personal wellness pursuits.

Research Assistant

Sarah Pascale Ngassa Detchaptche, MSc

Sarah Pascale (She/Her) is deeply committed to public health and epidemiology, holding a Master of Science in Public Health, where she focused on evaluating the nutritional status of infants born to HIV-infected mothers. At the Bruyère Research Institute, she has worked on various research projects, including the development of the Born Fyne prenatal management system, a digital health initiative designed to enhance maternal and child health outcomes. Sarah's research is centered on tackling infectious diseases, fueled by an intense awareness of their global impact and the critical need for innovative solutions. She is dedicated to advancing public health by addressing the challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and the disproportionate burden these diseases place on diverse populations. Through her work, Sarah strives to contribute to public health preparedness and equity, ensuring that advancements in prevention and treatment benefit those who need them most. In her free time, she enjoys music and movies. 

Research Coordinator

Cassandra Laurie, MSc

Before joining the team as a research coordinator, Cassandra received a BSc Microbiology (Honours) from the University of Victoria and an MSc Epidemiology from McGill University. Her MSc work focused on analyzing data from a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a carrageenan-based gel against human papillomavirus (HPV). Other projects following graduation involved several knowledge syntheses, including reviews on the association between carrageenan and HPV, male circumcision and HPV, HPV detectability and cervical cancer prognosis, and HPV and prostate cancer, as well as the ethical and legal implications of gender-neutral HPV vaccination. Cassandra is mostly interested in infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, painting with watercolor, and walking her dog, Selva.

Undergraduate student

Aaya Adnan Mahdi

Aaya is an aspiring student at the University of Ottawa, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Translational and Molecular Medicine. She has made significant contributions as a Research Assistant, working on the PainCaRe-F Project to help parents and children manage pediatric cancer pain.  With prior lab experience in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Aaya is looking to broaden her expertise into epidemiology, public health, and applied health research domains. Currently, she is collaborating on projects related to AMR and antibiotic prescribing practices and will complete her Honours project on this topic. Beyond research, Aaya has a passion for education, serving as an Instructor at Little Medical School, a uOttawa Student Ambassador and a VP at Women in Science uOttawa. 

Research Assistant

Sumali Mehta, BSc

Sumali is a second-year MSc in Epidemiology student at the University of Ottawa, pursuing a Concentration in Global Health and Social Accountability.  She grew up in Montreal, Quebec, where she completed her BSc in Biohemistry from McGill University. Previously, she has worked as a Policy Intern at Global Strategy Lab, based at York University, where she helped cultivate a research strategy to develop case studies analyzing AMR-related domestic policies in numerous LMICs and how these affect their positions and priorities in international negotiations. At the Sulis Lab, Sumali is  assisting with ongoing scoping reviews assessing different dimensions of AMR. In her free time, Sumali enjoys reading and painting. 

Graduate student

Yashi Wijayakulathilake, Bsc

Yashi is a first year MSc Epidemiology student at the University of Ottawa. She obtained her BSc. Honours in Biology, Life Sciences Specialization from the University of Prince Edward Island. Upon graduation from her undergraduate program, she joined the Chief Public Health Office of Prince Edward Island as a Team Lead where she assisted with executing and managing point of care COVID-19 testing and coordinating with Health PEI and the Chief Public Health Office regarding patient test results. Her most recent work in the Biotechnology Industry have been greatly towards advancing and streamlining pharmacokinetic assays and establishing robust cell-based assays for clinical trials of various Biosimilars and these come in the form of modules ranging from assay development, validation, sample testing, and troubleshooting. As an MSc student, she will work primarily on vaccine research, with particular focus on healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices with respect to the use of vaccines in adult populations. During her free time, Yashi enjoys reading and relaxing at the beach.