Dr. Jake Pushie, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

A Chemist’s interdisciplinary journey in synchrotron science, human health, and disease models (or: Where my UPEI degree has taken me)

Some of the most complex human health and disease challenges we currently face require an understanding of a broad range of interdisciplinary topics, including organic and bioinorganic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and the list goes on. Since graduating from the University of Prince Edward Island, I have focused my love of chemistry and interest in biology, physics, and computational methods toward the study of complex topics in health research, including prion disease and other protein misfolding disorders, trace element trafficking, metabolic disorders, stroke, and cancer treatment. In addition to conventional techniques, I also employ synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) in order to obtain essential data that cannot be obtained by other conventional means. I will present an overview of how XAS and XFM experiments are carried out at the synchrotron, some of the methods we have developed, along with examples of how these methods have helped inform many of our investigations into vitally-important topics relating to human health and disease.

Dr. Jake Pushie graduated from UPEI with a BSc (honours) in Chemistry in 1999. He completed an MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry in 2002 and a PhD in Physical Bioinorganic Chemistry in 2007 (U Calgary). Dr. Pushie held highly competitive postdoctoral fellowships from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and has since been employed at the University of Saskatchewan. He currently oversees the academic research program for the Saskatchewan Cerebrovascular Centre and works directly with undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, as well as undergraduate medical students, medical residents, and physicians. Dr. Pushie also maintains an active independent research program with local and international collaborators and to date has 65 peer-reviewed publications.

 All are welcome!