Alumnus Neal Callaghan wins Mount Allison’s only 2015-2016 NSERC CGS-M

Dieni Research Group alumnus Neal Callaghan (BSc Hons Biochem ’14) has just won a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master’s Program (NSERC CGS-M) to fund his research and studies over the 2015-2016 academic year. The highly-competitive evaluation process assesses candidates based on their academic excellence, research potential, and personal characteristics and interpersonal skills. Currently, Mount Allison University is allocated only a single CGS-M by NSERC, and Neal is the successful awardee.

During his time in the DRG, Neal participated in research and collection of results that led to two peer-reviewed publications while still an undergrad; a third publication followed once Neal began graduate studies, and more are forthcoming. Neal also won multiple travel awards totaling $1,100, including an EPCOR Water Ltd Student Travel Award, facilitating his travel and participation at the 2013 Canadian Society of Zoologists Annual Meeting, where he was also selected as a finalist for two student poster awards. Approaching his graduation, Neal received the Biochemistry award for an outstanding graduating student from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He maintained an exemplary GPA throughout his studies and consistently ranked on the Dean’s List.

Neal is presently a master’s student in the lab of Dr. Tyson MacCormack, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Mount Allison University.

Neal’s publications:

Bessemer RA, Butler KMA, Tunnah L, Callaghan NI, Rundle A, Currie S, Dieni CA, MacCormack TJ. Cardiorespiratory toxicity of environmentally relevant zinc oxide nanoparticles in the freshwater fish Catostomus commersonii. Nanotoxicology in press. Link
Dieni CA, Callaghan NI, Gormley PT, Butler KMA, MacCormack TJ (2014) Physiological hepatic response to zinc oxide nanoparticle exposure in the white sucker,Catostomus commersonii. Comp Biochem Physiol Toxicol Pharmacol 162: 51-61. Link
Dieni CA, Stone CJL, Armstrong ML, Callaghan NI, MacCormack TJ (2013) Spherical gold nanoparticles impede the function of bovine serum albumin in vitro: a new consideration for studies in nanotoxicology. J Nanomater Mol Nanotechnol 2: 6 Link | Free PDF available (Open Access option)