Raya Hartshorne

May 9, 2025

Raya Hartshorne

About

Name	Raya Hartshorne
Pronouns	She / Her
Program	Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health
Major	Dietetics
Year	3
Hometown	White Rock, Canada

Raya is a third-year undergraduate student in the Food, Nutrition, and Health program. Raised in White Rock, BC, Raya was drawn to nutrition through her love for cooking, wellness, and supporting others in their health journeys. Her high school capstone project, focused on meal planning for mental health, which sparked her interest in dietetics and led her to pursue this passion academically at UBC.

Raya is an active member of the LFS community. She has volunteered with the LFS Outreach team and participated in the Land One program, which helped her build a strong foundation and lasting friendships. Her goal is to become a Registered Dietitian and continue creating content through her page, @rayashealthykitchen. Her biggest advice to new students is to reach out for support early and take advantage of programs like Land One and academic advising, which helped her feel grounded and empowered.

What are three adjectives that describe you?

Kind, Determined, Outgoing

What has been the best part of your university experience so far?

This year I took on something new and joined the LFS Outreach team, where I volunteered at recruitment events and led educational workshops for high school classes. I stumbled across the opportunity in an LFS Newslettuce and am so glad I decided to apply! I have had so much fun getting to connect with future students and sharing my LFS experience with them. Being a part of this team has also expanded my network by introducing me to so many more awesome people in the Faculty.

How did you first become interested in Food, Nutrition, and Health Program?

I was lucky to grow up surrounded by home-cooked, nourishing meals and a positive emphasis on wellness. I used to love going to health food stores with my mom and would read cookbooks to fall asleep! This followed me through my life as I continued to learn how to best take care of myself. While in high school, I took a big interest in foods classes and combined this with my passion for a holistic approach to health, to create a capstone project: a meal plan focusing on supporting mental health. This project opened my eyes to possible career choices and landed me in LFS to start my nutritional academic journey!

What kind of career do you hope to pursue after your degree?

My current vision for myself is to become a Registered Dietitian and get to explore my different niche interests in nutrition through my clients while helping them to achieve health and peace. I want to create a holistic approach and safe space in healthcare that empowers people to feel their best. I also love exploring content creation through my page @rayashealthykitchen to promote nutrition and wellness. I definitely see myself continuing this in my future. I got to explore this further in an academic setting through LFS 400: Audio Storytelling, and the audio skills I learnt have come in handy for my content.

What has been your favourite course and why?

I loved taking FNH 371: Human Nutrition Over the Lifespan with Dr. Liz Novak. We learned about key nutrition focuses at each point in the lifespan, starting at pregnancy and ending at the aging population. One of my favourite topics is pregnancy and lactation, so getting to explore these topics more and seeing how I could support people in these stages was amazing. Studying for this class became fun for me because I was so interested in it, which is the best feeling.

Can you share if you experienced a challenge during your time at UBC?

My first year at UBC was a big transition; there was a lot of change happening at once, and I struggled with my mental health. While my family and professionals helped me through this challenge, the LFS community also played a huge role. I met with an academic advisor at LFS Student Services who helped me adjust my course load and referred me to the Centre for Accessibility, which provided me with accommodations to allow me to truly do my best. I was also in Land One at the time, which had smaller class sizes and a strong support system to fall on. This challenge only made me grow stronger and closer to my community. There are so many people who are here to help you at UBC and within LFS, so my biggest advice is to just reach out!

What strategies would you recommend for adapting to the new university setting?

Applying to the Land One program for my first year shaped my transition and made me feel more settled at UBC. The smaller class sizes allowed me to make life-long friends, make one-on-one connections with professors, and feel supported. We also did several field trips and hands-on activities, which made my first year so fun. I recommend any incoming LFS and Forestry students to consider Land One!

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Categories: Profile Undergraduate, Uncategorized

Mark Paul Rivarez

April 30, 2025

Mark Paul Rivarez

Assistant Professor, Applied Biology

604-827-5274

paul.rivarez@ubc.ca

MCML 233 (Office), MCML 214 (Lab)

@viromehunter

Education

Balik Scientist, Philippine Genome Center–Visayas and University of the Philippines Visayas, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development; Philippines, 2024

Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University; USA, 2023

Balik Scientist, Caraga State University, funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development; Philippines, 2022

Doctoral (Doctor of Science program), National Institute of Biology and Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School; Slovenia, 2019-2022;

Secondments: (1) Abiopep, S.L. and Center for Edaphology and Applied Biology of Segura (CEBAS)–CSIC; Murcia, Spain and (2) French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE); Bordeaux, France

Predoctoral (Young Researcher Scholarship program), Institute of Integrative Systems Biology, Spanish National Research Council – University of Valencia; Spain, 2019

Masters (Master of Science program, major in Plant Pathology, minor in Plant Breeding), University of the Philippines and Institute of Plant Breeding; Philippines, 2015-2018

Instructor of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Biotechnology, University of the Philippines; Philippines, 2014-2018

Bachelors (Bachelor of Science program in Agricultural Biotechnology), magna cum laude, University of the Philippines and International Rice Research Institute; Philippines, 2010-2014

Research

At the Phytopathology + Virology (PPV) Laboratory, led by Dr. Mark Paul Rivarez, we study phytopathogens and viruses beginning in the field, where we diagnose plant diseases and collect diverse samples from crops, arthropods, wild plants or weeds, and the environment (soil and/or water). Our findings are further investigated under controlled conditions in greenhouses or growth chambers – to explore microbes’ biological properties and possible ecological and beneficial roles. Subsequent molecular diagnostics and high-throughput sequencing are performed in the ‘wet’ lab, generating vast datasets that are then processed and interpreted using bioinformatics tools, data mining, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based modeling approaches in the ‘dry’ lab.

This integrated approach, from field observations to computational analysis, allows us to explore phytopathogen and virus diversity, predict disease emergence and spread, and develop sustainable strategies to protect plant health.

Our Research Themes:

(Note: asterisk (*) means Greenhouse or Growth Chambers)

1. AgroViroMics Research (Exploration of Agroecosystem Viromes and Microbiomes (discovery and ecological approach))

Research Goal: To uncover diversity and reservoirs of viruses (and other pathogenic or beneficial microbes) in crops, wild or native/indigenous plants, arthropods, and environment within and at the interface of wild and cultivated agroecosystems in association with disease dynamics using high-throughput sequencing (HTS).

Work Mode (estimate): Field (30%), GH/GC* (10%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (30%)

Techniques: field survey and disease diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, high-throughput sequencing (HTS), bioinformatics

Publication for reference: In-depth study of tomato and weed viromes reveals undiscovered plant virus diversity in an agroecosystem. Microbiome 11:60. https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-023-01500-6

2. PhyloEcology Research (Predictive studies on virus evolution and epidemiology using Phylogenetics and Ecological approaches)

Research Goal: To proactively track global distribution and spread, host range expansion, and discover new ecological niche of viruses by employing exa-scale datamining of global sequencing databases, and subsequently, examine relationships of host-virus coevolutionary history and their ecology to better predict possible host range expansion, spread, or emergence of detected viruses.

Work Mode (estimate): Field (0%), GH/GC* (0%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (70%)

Techniques: high-throughput sequencing (HTS), bioinformatics, exa-scale datamining, AI-based modeling

Publication for reference: Diversity and pathobiology of an ilarvirus unexpectedly detected in diverse plants and global sequencing data. Phytopathology® 113:1729-1744. https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTO-12-22-0465-V

3. PhytoGuard Research (Sustainable solutions to guard plant health, e.g. biological control for plant pathogens, plant probiotics and stimulants, etc.)

Research Goal: To characterize the pathobiological properties or potential beneficial ecological roles of viruses and other microbes from agroecosystems to enhance risk assessment and mitigation strategies for pandemic preparedness.

Work Mode (estimate): Field (20%), GH/GC* (40%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (10%)

Techniques: field survey and disease diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, biological and GH/GC* assays, bioinformatics

Publication for reference: Influence of native endophytic bacteria on the growth and bacterial crown rot tolerance of papaya (Carica papaya). European Journal of Plant Pathology 161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021-02345-1

Interested in becoming a virus hunter or pathogen hunter? Join Us!

We welcome students and researchers at all levels from high school, undergraduate (Bachelors) to graduate (Masters or PhD), and Postdocs or Visiting Scientists, within and outside UBC or Canada. Our research can be interdisciplinary thus, we likewise welcome students from the computing sciences, chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Please contact Dr. Mark Paul Rivarez at paul.rivarez@ubc.ca for more information on how you could be a part of our vibrant and diverse team, including information on scholarships and funding opportunities.

Selected Publications

For a full list of publications, visit: Google Scholar.

Note: * co-first authors

^# (co-)corresponding author(s)

Rivarez MPS^#, Pecman A, Bačnik K, Carvalho Ferreira OM, Vučurović A, Seljak G, Mehle N, Gutiérrez-Aguirre I, Ravnikar M, Kutnjak D^#. 2023. In-depth study of tomato and weed viromes reveals undiscovered plant virus diversity in an agroecosystem. Microbiome 11:60. [LINK].

Rivarez MPS^#, Faure C, Svanella-D. L, Pecman A, Tušek-Ž. M, Schönegger D, De Jonghe K, Blouin A, Rasmussen DA, Massart S, Ravnikar M, Kutnjak D, Marais A, Candresse T^#. 2023. Diversity and pathobiology of an ilarvirus unexpectedly detected in diverse plants and global sequencing data. Phytopathology® 113:1729-1744. [LINK].

Fontdevila N, Khalili M, Maachi A, Rivarez MPS, Rollin J, Salavert F, Temple C, Fox A, Marais A, Trontin C, Kutnjak D, Petter F, Selmi I, Ravnikar M, Botermans M, Aranda M, Boonham N, Tahzima R, Candresse T, Wetzel T, Hernando T, Massart S. 2023. Managing the deluge of newly discovered plant viruses and viroids: an optimized scientific and regulatory framework for their characterization and risk analysis. Frontiers in Microbiology 14. [LINK]

Ferreira OM^#, Bačnik K, Rivarez MPS, Vučurović A, Mehle N, Ravnikar M, Gutiérrez-Aguirre I, Kutnjak D^#. Virome analysis of irrigation water sources provides extensive insights into the diversity and distribution of plant viruses in agroecosystems. Water Research (accepted for publication). [LINK]

Rivarez MPS, Kogej Z, Jakoš N, Pecman A, Seljak G, Vučurović A, Mehle N, Ravnikar M, Kutnjak D^#. 2022. First report of Ranunculus white mottle ophiovirus in Slovenia in pepper with yellow leaf curling symptom and in tomato. Plant Disease 106. [LINK]

Temple C, Blouin A, De Jonghe K, Foucart Y, Gentit P, Botermans M, Westenberg M, Schoen R, Gentit P, Visage M, Verdin E, Wipf-S. C, Ziebell H, Gaafar YZ, Zia A, Yan XH, Richert-P. KR, Ulrich R, Rivarez MPS, Kutnjak D, Vučurović A, Massart S. 2022. Biological and genetic characterization of Physostegia chlorotic mottle virus in Europe through host range, location, and time. Plant Disease 106. [LINK]

Rivarez MPS, Vućurovič A, Mehle N, Ravnikar M, Kutnjak D^#. 2021. Global advances in tomato virome research: current status and the impact of high-throughput sequencing. Frontiers in Microbiology 12. [LINK]

Rivarez MPS^#, Parac EP, Dimasingkil SF, Magdalita PM. 2021. Influence of native endophytic bacteria on the growth and bacterial crown rot tolerance of papaya (Carica papaya). European Journal of Plant Pathology 161. [LINK]

Butković A, González R, Rivarez MPS, Elena SF. 2021. A genome-wide association study identifies Arabidopsis thaliana genes that contribute to differences in the outcome of infection with two Turnip mosaic potyvirus strains that differ in their evolutionary history and degree of host specialization. Virus Evolution 7. [LINK]

González R, Butković, A, Rivarez MPS, Elena SF. 2020. Natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana rosette area unveils new genes involved in plant development. Scientific Reports 10. [LINK]

Awards & Honours

Balik Scientist Program Awardee of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippines, 2022 and 2024

Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Fellow and Early Career Researcher at the National Institute of Biology, Slovenia, 2019-2022

Becas Jovenes Investigadores (Young Researcher Scholarship) Awardee at the University of Valencia, Spain, 2019

Additional Information

Member, European Virus Bioinformatics Center. Profile: https://evbc.uni-jena.de/members/paul-rivarez/

Tagged with: Applied Biology, Faculty, Plant Science

Tagged with Applied Biology, Faculty, Plant Science
Categories: Profile Faculty

Postdoctoral Position in Grape Genomics

April 28, 2025

Postdoctoral Position in Grape Genomics

Posted on April 28, 2025

A two-year postdoctoral research position is available starting July 1, 2025 in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Drs. Simone D. Castellarin, and will be affiliated to the Applied Biology program. The Faculty of Land and Food System is located in the vibrant and beautiful city of Vancouver (BC, Canada). The expected salary range is $60,000 – $65,000 CAD.

The postdoctoral fellow will make a vital contribution to the funded project entitled: HEAT-GRAPE: Identification of transcripts and metabolites involved in HEAT-stress responses in GRAPEvine, and their responses to mitigation strategies. The project aims to: i) understand how major grape cultivars grown in British Columbia cope with heat stress and identify the biological mechanisms (pathways, genes, and metabolites) that are involved in heat-stress responses, ii) determine the impact of heat stress on grape productivity and quality in grapevines that are well-irrigated or exposed to water deficit due to limitations on irrigation water, and iii) understand the mode of action of biostimulants so that their application can be tuned specifically to mitigate heat stress.

Specific research activities include i) implementing irrigation and biostimulant treatments in research fields and growth chambers, ii) sampling leaf and grape samples from field and greenhouse experiments, iii) extracting RNA and metabolites from leaf and grape samples, iv) conducting bioinformatic analyses on RNA-Seq datasets, v) analyzing metabolites with mass spectrometers (LC-QTOF, SPME-GC-MS), and vi) disseminating results and knowledge generated to the academic community and sector partners.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Plant Science, Agricultural Sciences, Genomics, Molecular Biology, or a related field. Experience in plant physiology, applied genomics, metabolomics, and/or transcriptomics is preferred. Very strong communication skills (oral and written) are required. Student mentorship is expected.

Application process: Interested candidates should apply by May 15, 2025. Applicants can submit their CV and names of three referees to Dr. Simone D. Castellarin at simone.castellarin@ubc.ca.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Selection Criteria: The selection of the candidate will be based on the following criteria: 1) a PhD in an appropriate field of research, 2) a sound knowledge of and demonstrated experience in plant or crop physiology, stress physiology, horticulture, and/or applied genomics, 3) ability to conduct high quality independent and innovative research with documented experience to carry work through to publication, 4) very strong oral and written communication skills, and 5) ability to work effectively both in an independent role and collaboratively with others in a diverse academic and industry settings.

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Flavour of the Month: Contrasting Flavours

April 28, 2025

Flavour of the Month: Contrasting Flavours

From left to right: Silvana Itzpapalotl Escalante Hidalgo (Practicum Field Coordinator), Tim Carter (Field Manager), and Camile Dumont (CSFS Education Manager)

We asked Tim Carter, Field Manager at UBC Farm, what his favourite flavour was! Read more about Tim’s take on contrasting flavours.

What is your favourite flavour and why?

This feels like an impossible question. It’s a little like asking what my favourite musical note is. So much depends on context and the interplay of different flavours, many of which would be unpleasant on their own. Perhaps it’s not a flavour, but I’ll go with contrast. I love foods and meals that are full of contrast.

How long have you worked for the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and what is your role?

I’ve worked for LFS for a little over twenty years. I oversee field, sales, and site operations at the UBC Farm.

What are your highlights of working on UBC Farm?

Between the people, the place, and the food, there are lots of highlights. I love watching people’s lives be transformed by their experiences here, and I love watching plants grow. I particularly love watching the growth of cover crops at this time of year.

Which research collaboration at the UBC Farm have you enjoyed the most?

My favorite research collaboration is generally whatever project I’m working on at the moment. I get to work on the fun creative part of field research—the initial design, set up, and problem solving—and can then move on and leave the painstaking data collection and analysis to others.

Please share your top tips for students and alumni interested in working on farm, in the agriculture sector and in sustainability?

Get to know and love particular places and people wherever you are. This takes time; don’t be in too big of a rush. Ground your work in this.

What emerging technologies do you see being integrated into the work that you do?

In my line of work, technology transfer generally lags painfully far behind technology development. A large portion of my work involves applying existing technology well (I hope) in the context of the UBC Farm. I tend not to get excited about emerging technologies, but I’m thankful that there are others working in this area.

And finally, where on campus is your go-to place to eat and/or place to relax?

To eat: with colleagues at the farm. To relax: forest edges at the farm.

Tagged with: 2025, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Staff, UBC Farm

Tagged with 2025, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Staff, UBC Farm
Categories: News

Crafting a Career with Purpose: Pathway from LFS to Environmental Innovation

April 25, 2025

Crafting a Career with Purpose: Pathway from LFS to Environmental Innovation

About

Name	Maggie Lee
Title	Regional Head - Asia Pacific - Impact, Monitoring, and Reporting
Company	WWF – International
Grad year	2005
Program	Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health
Major	Food, Nutrition, and Health

Maggie is an award-winning alum of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS). She shared her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges, from her time as an LFS student to building her current career. She reflected on how the lessons she learned along the way helped her develop a deeper understanding of how to apply her skills effectively in her professional life.

Maggie also shared valuable advice to both current and prospective LFS students when it comes to navigating one’s career and figuring out if LFS is the right fit for you.

From your experience, what has been the value of having an LFS degree?

LFS showed me how the environment works in cohesion – no one species or component of the environment is separate or independent of other forces and entities. A healthy environment is also paramount to food systems. We have a finite amount of resources in the closed system that is our planet, it is up to those who help mould the food systems to conserve resources and attain sustainability.

What was the most challenging class or project you undertook. What did you learn from this experience?

As someone who was consistently on the honour roll, I will never forget how it felt to be utterly helpless and desperate after failing organic chemistry too many times. It taught me what it means to know one’s weaknesses, work hard on them, and remember that life isn’t about the weaknesses – it’s about how you overcome them. There are resources such as UBC AMS tutoring and the LFS Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) that students can utilize to get support for challenging courses.

What challenges did you face in launching your career?

My career took many sharp turns. Initially, I worked in fast food restaurants, then I found opportunities to work in a couple of supermarkets, where I went from food and beverage services to processed and fresh food products. After that, I went on to work for the largest food manufacturer and then the largest personal care manufacturer in the world. The challenges I experienced when launching my career were mostly grounded in my lack of understanding of what I wanted to do. Not only did I have difficulty focusing in class due to my attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), I also had poor focus in life after graduation, unlike many of my peers who knew exactly what they wanted to do.

What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?

My job can be challenging, as many environmental conservation organizations have yet to measure and communicate the impact they have, hence we have embarked on a journey to revolutionize how we do monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The fundamental learning of life sciences, ecology, environmental sciences, empirical research, data collection methodology, and statistics, all of which I’ve learned from being part of the Food, Nutrition, and Health Program (FNH), is critical in my current role.

Now that you have completed your undergrad and, in your career, what advice would you give to your past self or current LFS student?

I think you never take the wrong turns in life, because every step of the way is worthwhile if you learn something from it. I realized that none of my career was wasted when I look back. As irrelevant as burger-flipping and supermarket product-labelling may seem in environmental conservation, I put a majority of the knowledge and skills acquired during those days into very good use in my environmental work.

What advice would you give to a high school student considering your program in LFS?

As our world continues to evolve in an environment with much more volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) compared with any other time in history, being able to produce and distribute food for our world becomes far more challenging than ever. Are you interested in taking on this challenge to solve one of the world’s most pressing and significant problems? This problem not only requires the most brilliant and diverse minds to solve, but also the most empathetic and compassionate souls to unravel the layers of inequity and sociopolitical intricacies that encase the problem. The FNH Program at UBC allows you to attain the skills and knowledge to better understand and be able to solve the most difficult challenges of our times.

Are there any achievements you would want to share with us?

Incubator Seed Funding Award at UNLEASH 2018
Best Paper Award at the International Conference on Sustainable Development 2020
Kinship Conservation Fellow Cohort of 2022
Top 75 finalists of the Top Canadian Immigrant Awards 2023
Indo-Pacific Futures Fellow 2025 cohort
Author of environmental ethical books for children

Find out more about our undergraduate programs in our Future Students page.

Tagged with: 2005, Food Nutrition and Health

Tagged with 2005, Food Nutrition and Health
Categories: Profile Alumni, Profiles

Engaging the community through food systems initiatives

April 22, 2025

Engaging the community through food systems initiatives

Katherine Aske, Practicum Lead at UBC Farm

April 22, 2025 – Two projects co-led by LFS received 2024-25 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) funding. They are among 30 newly funded CUES projects that support faculty, staff and students in their community-engaged scholarship.

Katherine Aske, Practicum Lead at UBC Farm, is partnering with Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Society (LMNHS) on a project titled Growing Food and Community Together: A UBC Farm and Little Mountain Neighbourhood House Partnership. Their project focuses on enhancing collaboration between LMNH and UBC Farm to support impactful student learning opportunities through engagement in local food security initiatives focused on decolonization.

The project involves a series of activities designed to foster student skill development by way of reciprocal exchanges between LMNHS and UBC Farm partners, collaboration with sniw̓ Indigenous consultants and the Musqueam Nation, guidance from Master Gardeners, and engagement with community partners. Planned activities include redesigning the Learning Garden at Riley Park to work alongside community members to return culturally and ecologically important plant species and engaging with the land in ways that reflect Indigenous land practices.

Dr. Eduardo Jovel, Director of the Centre for Indigenous Land-Based Education, Research, and Wellness at xwci̓cə̓səm, will continue to partner with Musqueam Indian Band. Their project is called Spindling Food Sovereignty, Land-based Wellness, and Land Stewardship at Musqueam and xwc̓icə̓səm. This partnership seeks to enhance access to health and affordable food for people facing food insecurity through various initiatives.

To achieve their goal, they plan to deliver health and wellness workshops that provide opportunities to learn about traditional medicines, food preparation, and nutritional literacy. They will also offer medicine walking, medicine-making workshops and tours to introduce community members to healthy land-based activities and build skills in land stewardship.

Both projects received $25,000 in CUES funding, which, unlike traditional funding, is paid directly to community partners, ensuring that historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized communities can access the resources they need to collaborate meaningfully with UBC.

Read the full story from Community Engagement

Tagged with Applied Biology, Awards, Equity Diversity Inclusion and Indigeneity, Indigenous, UBC Farm
Categories: News

Sequencing Genes in Yeast Isolated from B.C. Wine Grapes

April 17, 2025

New Yeast Discovered in B.C. Wineries

UBC researchers are using genomics to isolate new yeasts that impart a flavour profile specific to B.C. soils.

Dr. Vivien Measday and PhD Student Jay Martiniuk in the Measday Lab.

For hundreds of years, humans have used a certain species of yeast to brew beer and ferment wine. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) is a powerhouse microorganism that is widely used for its reliability to convert the sugars in grapes into alcohol and create a consistent finished product.

However, some winemakers let the environment shape the flavour of their wines, using wild yeast to influence their fermentations. In the Okanagan Valley, Dr. Vivien Measday and her students have used whole genome sequencing to identify a new clade or family of wine yeast in BC vineyards and wineries.

“Yeast has been domesticated just like farm animals have,” Measday says. “These Pacific West Coast Wine yeasts are completely new! We are the first group to find wild S. cerevisiae strains in wine in Canada that are so different from European commercial strains.”

“Yeast is heavily involved in the flavour and aroma compounds of wine. A different genetic makeup could mean a novel flavour profile,” current PhD student Jay Martiniuk adds. “A profile that may be unique to B.C. growing regions.”

Martiniuk studying isolated yeast strains.

From her undergraduate in biochemistry to a PhD focused on S. cerevisiae as a model organism, Measday has spent over 30 years studying yeast. Now as an associate professor at the UBC Wine Research Centre, she is deeply interested in yeast diversity for applications in the wine industry.

Martiniuk brings industry experience to his research. After years of working in wineries, he entered UBC’s food science program to investigate the scientific why’s and how’s of winemaking. During his Master of Science program in Food Science, Martiniuk carried out the first wine grape yeast isolation research project in Measday’s lab. They have worked closely in wine sciences ever since.

The Process: From Field to Lab

The Measday lab tests samples from each step: from grapes sampled in the vineyard, to the initial crush of the grapes, then from early-, middle-, and late-stage fermentation. Researchers in the lab isolate dozens of yeast species and strains in each fermentation, noting which ones are able to outcompete and survive to the end product.

To get a full picture of the S. cerevisiae strains from each vineyard, Martiniuk developed a protocol that captures a DNA fingerprint of each yeast strain. He focuses on specific regions of the genome to categorize strains of similar makeup and differentiate strains that have been used commercially versus those that are unique.

“These wild yeasts may have a more unique winemaking traits, which could lead to a more interesting aroma and flavour profile in wines.”
– Jay Martiniuk

“So much of this work is collaborating with wineries, who are looking to define their terroir,” Martiniuk says, referring to the environmental factors that affect a crop of wine grapes. “These wild yeasts may have a more unique winemaking traits, which could lead to a more interesting aroma and flavour profile in wines.”

Measday and Martiniuk have collected isolates of several thousand yeasts, and Measday’s lab has identified over 200 S. cerevisiae strains in the Okanagan Valley. After isolating and prioritizing the strains, the lab sends particularly novel strains to another centre for whole genome sequencing.

“They report back every single facet of the DNA sequence,” Measday says. “This detailed view can tell us how the yeast may perform in fermentation and what traits may allow it to survive in the environment.” Measday’s other students, PhD candidates Alex Marr and Jackson Moore, analyzed the whole genome sequencing data to identify this new family of Pacific West Coast Wine yeast.

The lab now has a collection of yeasts from the region. If they find a specific genetic makeup that delivers a preferred flavour profile, they can grow and potentially commercialize that strain.

Measday and Martiniuk sampling the “genetic fingerprint” of their yeast samples.

Measday and Martiniuk have studied twelve vineyard sites and several different wineries in the Okanagan Valley. Their lab is now shifting towards Vancouver Island’s quickly growing wine industry.

“It’s geographically quite isolated from the rest of the province,” Martiniuk says. “We’re hoping that isolation has produced strains that are quite genetically different from the Valley.”

Although they have just started the DNA fingerprinting process on Vancouver Island, the lab has already seen a difference in yeast species. While the Okanagan Valley vineyards surveyed in their research were mostly populated by S. cerevisiae, Vancouver Island may also have other species such as Saccharomyces paradoxus and Saccharomyces uvarum. Martiniuk notes that S. uvarum behaves differently in fermentation, preferring colder temperatures as low as 12ºC compared to S. cerevisiae’s 25-30ºC range.

New Yeasts in B.C. Winemaking

Winemakers in B.C. have been excited to know what lives in their fields and tanks.

“It’s important to know what you want and don’t want in your tanks,” Measday says, explaining spontaneous fermentation, which uses wild yeasts. “The native microorganisms could overpower the wine or impart undesirable flavours altogether.”

“It’s important to know what you want and don’t want in your tanks.”
– Dr. Vivien Measday

One winery in the Okanagan, Okanagan Crush Pad, in collaboration with graduated MSc student Elia Castellanos, has already tested pilot-scale production with a couple of new Pacific West Coast Wine strains. Measday and Martiniuk hope that their research can add predictability and reliability to B.C.’s endemic yeasts.

Selected Papers:

Marr RA^, Moore J^, Formby S, Martiniuk JT, Hamilton J, Ralli S, Konwar K et al. Whole genome sequencing of Canadian Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine strains reveals four subpopulations with similarity to North American oak, sake, and commercial strains. G3: Genomes, Genes, Genetics, Volume 13, Issue 8, August 2023, jkad130

Cheng E^, Martiniuk JT^, Hamilton J, McCarthy GC, Castellarin SD, Measday V. 2020. Characterization of Sub-Regional Variation in Saccharomyces Populations and Grape Phenolic Composition in Pinot Noir Vineyards of a Canadian Wine Region. Frontiers in. Genetics. Aug 31; 11:908.

Martiniuk JT, Pacheco B, Russell G, Tong S, Backstrom I, Measday V. 2016. Impact of commercial strain use on Saccharomyces cerevisiae population structure and dynamics in Pinot Noir vineyards and spontaneous fermentations at a Canadian winery. PLOS ONE 11(8): e0160259.

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More Research in Food Science

NSERC Grants to Study Aging, Food and Nutrition, Plants and Packaging

Congratulations to LFS researchers who were successful in the 2025 NSERC Discovery Research Program and NSERC CREATE Program.

A Fast Read on Plastics in Our Food and Water

A new portable tool can give you a precise reading on how much plastic could be seeping from your plastic coffee cup and into your body.

Nature’s Weapon Against Food-Borne Pathogens

Microscopic bacteria-eating viruses, known as bacteriophages or phages, are coming into favour as a way to combat food-borne pathogens.

Tagged with Applied Biology, Plant Science, Wine Research Centre
Categories: ReachOut

Kyrene Tey

April 10, 2025

About

Name	Kyrene Tey
Pronouns	She / Her
Degree	Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition and Health
Major	Nutritional Sciences
Year	4
Hometown	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Transferred from:	Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia

Turning a Passion for Food into Purpose

Kyrene Tey is an undergraduate student in the Food, Nutrition and Health program at UBC. Her passion for food started with watching cooking videos online and was further shaped by her mom’s consistent encouragement of healthy eating at home. These early influences sparked her curiosity about the role of nutrition in everyday life and motivated her to study it more deeply in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS).

Kyrene shares that “learning about nutrition helps us make informed choices that support both individual health and community well-being.” She encourages students to stay open to new interests and pathways, as they often lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.

What are three adjectives that describe you?

Fun, spontaneous, open-minded

Why did you choose to transfer to LFS?

While I was exploring options for universities in North America to pursue my studies in food and nutrition, I came across the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC. As I did my further research on this Faculty, I discovered that this program at UBC has a huge focus on integrating learning on sustainability, health and the science behind what we eat as a whole to make positive impacts through improving our current food systems, which is something that continues to interest me up until today.

What is the greatest advantage of studying in a smaller Faculty at UBC?

You’ll get to know a lot of your peers and staff, and you will also have the chance to build closer connections with professors here in LFS! These relationships/connections can give you valuable insights into different career paths or specific fields of study. They can also create a strong support network throughout your university life! It just feels great to know that you are not alone when it comes to navigating exams, assignments, and everything in between.

How did you first become interested in Nutritional Sciences?

I’ve always been passionate about food, and watching those cooking videos on YouTube has definitely spiked my interest in learning how nutrition comes into play in the food we eat in our daily life. On top of that, my mom has always encouraged healthy eating habits in our family, which definitely influenced my passion for learning more about food and nutrition. That’s what led me to pursue a deeper, more scientific understanding of it here at UBC.

What has been your favourite course and why?

I have quite a few favourite courses and it’s really hard to pick just one! I think for now it would be FNH 342 Critical Perspectives on Consumer Food Practices! I enjoyed learning about the different perspectives affecting individual food choices, which includes perceptions on healthy eating, family structure, gender identity and more! This course has shown me that many factors shape one’s perception of healthy eating, and also that healthy eating can’t really be defined by just using one definition. It’s an interesting course that is less heavy on the nutritional composition of food but rather focuses on perspectives of food choices in life.

What strategies would you recommend for adapting to the new university setting?

For me, it was definitely stepping out of my comfort zone to volunteer at events. I made most of my current LFS friends through volunteering, as an LFS Orientation Leader, with the LFS ACE Team, and through LFS|US. It was such a great way to put myself out there and start building my own community. The first step is always the hardest, but it really does get easier the more you do it! Also, don’t be afraid to reach out for support because you are never alone on this journey, and there are so many resources at UBC to help you make the most of your university experience.

How has your experience in LFS shaped your vision for your future?

My experience in LFS has really helped me build the confidence to trust in myself, both in my future career and personal life. I came to UBC as a relatively quiet and shy person, but over time, I’ve grown into someone who feels more confident speaking in public and stepping into leadership roles. My journey here hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge or setback became an opportunity for growth. Each ‘hiccup’ taught me that I’m capable of overcoming obstacles (and I did!). That’s what makes me feel excited and positive about what’s ahead in life for me!

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Marina von Keyserlingk wins national graduate mentorship award

April 7, 2025

Marina von Keyserlingk wins national graduate mentorship award

April 9, 2025 – Dr. Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk, a professor in the Animal Welfare Program, has been awarded the 2024 Dr. Suning Wang Award for Outstanding Graduate Mentorship by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). She is the first UBC Professor to receive this award.

A globally recognized leader in animal welfare science, Dr. von Keyserlingk has made significant contributions through her extensive research, publishing over 350 peer-reviewed articles with strong student collaboration. Among her many accolades, Dr. von Keyserlingk has earned all three Killam Prizes for research, teaching, and mentorship, highlighting her profound impact on both her field and the academic development of her students.

Dr. von Keyserlingk is celebrated for her holistic, individualized approach to mentorship, fostering a supportive environment that encourages students’ personal and professional growth. She emphasizes early identification of student needs, collaborative learning, and the cultivation of leadership skills, while also assisting students in securing research funding and publishing their work. Her efforts to build a strong, inclusive community within her lab extend beyond graduation, as she continues to support former students in advancing their careers across academia, government, industry, and non-profit sectors. Her mentorship philosophy has created a lasting legacy, empowering a global network of scholars dedicated to improving animal welfare.

“My goal when mentoring graduate students is to inspire a passion for research and a dedication to rigorous, honest and creative scientific work. I strive to create a community of people that are proud of their growth while working in my lab, feel supported and develop the skills they need to embark on their next adventure.”

— Dr. Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk

Read the full story from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Tagged with 2025, Animal Welfare Program, Applied Animal Biology, Applied Biology, Awards, Faculty
Categories: News

Marina von Keyserlingk awarded honorary doctorate from Ghent University

April 7, 2025

Marina von Keyserlingk awarded honorary doctorate from Ghent University

Left to right: Dr. Christel Moons, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, Frédéric L. Agneessens, Canadian Embassy, Dr. von Keyserlingk herself, and Dr. Frank Tuyttens, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University

April 9, 2025 – Dr. Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk, a professor in the Animal Welfare Program, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Ghent University in recognition of her outstanding contributions to animal welfare.

Dr. von Keyserlingk has devoted her academic career to advancing animal welfare through an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on identifying measures and methods to improve the lives of the animals we keep. She is also among the first in her field to combine experimental and qualitative research methods. Her work has resulted in groundbreaking studies that have significantly improved the care of farm animals worldwide.

With over 350 peer-reviewed publications, she stands as one of the most influential scientists in animal and veterinary sciences. While much of her research focuses on dairy farming systems, she has also contributed to improving the welfare of other livestock, laboratory animals, and companion animals.

In addition to her research achievements, Dr. von Keyserlingk is a globally recognized leader and a valued mentor. Her commitment to supporting her students has helped many of them build successful careers in academic, government, and other sectors. She continues to inspire future generations through her leadership, passion, and dedication to the field of animal welfare.

I am indebted to my colleagues and our hard working graduate students who have devoted their time and passion to the research focusing on improving the lives of animals under our care. It is indeed a team effort!

— Dr. Marina (Nina) von Keyserlingk

Read the full story from Ghent University

Tagged with 2025, Animal Welfare Program, Applied Animal Biology, Applied Biology, Awards, Faculty
Categories: News