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CPS Grad Spotlight - Advikaa Dosajh

Name: Advikaa Dosajh

MSc or PhD Candidate: MSc Candidate

Location of Undergraduate Education: University of Toronto

Name of the Lab at CPS: Ogata Lab

Selected Awards: CPS Teaching Fellowship, Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology 

Selected Research Contributions: 

  1. Van Houten, J.^, Dosajh, A.^, Ogata, A.F., (in press). Multiplexed electrochemical detection of biomarkers in biological samples. Royal Society of Chemistry Specialist Report. ^ authors contributed equally

  2. Dosajh, A., Ogata, A.F., (2022). Development of an Impedance Bioresistor for COVID-19 Prognosis. Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition 2022, National Poster Presentation.

  3. Van Houten, J., Dosajh, A., Ogata, A.F., (2022). Investigating Structure Function Relationships in Copper Bipyridine Metal-Organic Frameworks for Rational Design of Nanozymes. CCCE 2022, National Oral Presentation.

  4. Dosajh, A., Gapinska-Serwin A., Luk V., (2021). OPTIMIZATION 101: Guidelines with Worked Example for Method Optimization: Reducing the Learning Curve of Optimizing Forensic Analysis. Canadian Society of Forensic Science 2021, National Poster Presentation.

 

Advikaa, please tell us about yourself and your journey as a MSc Candidate!

 

How did you come to UTM? What interested you to join a lab here?

I completed my undergraduate studies at UTM as a Forensic Biology Specialist and a Chemistry Major. As a Chemistry major, I took numerous analytical chemistry courses, and during the summer of my second year, I was fortunate enough to become a research volunteer in the Krull lab. This opportunity instilled my passion for analytical chemistry, which influenced my undergraduate studies, causing me to modify my pursuit of forensics to include an analytical chemistry twist. My experience at UTM was unforgettable, and I owe much of my success to the teaching staff, faculty, and advisors who made my experience exceptional. As an undergraduate student, I always wanted to pass along my wonderful experience with the Chemistry department to future cohorts. As I was wrapping up my final year thesis, Dr. Alana Ogata and I had a conversation about my potential role and project as an MSc in her lab. The research she was hoping to pursue was revolutionary and hit close to home for me. Not only was I motivated to study POC development for gynecological disease, but I also had personal experience with losing loved ones to diseases like uterine/ovarian cancer. I knew that this project would give me an opportunity to grow in this field and develop more readily available technology for early detection and treatment of gynecological diseases. Dr. Ogata's commitment to advancing the field of point-of-care sensors and to helping her graduate students grow was a major factor in my decision to join her lab at UTM.

 

When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a graduate study?

Several fortunate events led me to realize my passion for research and pursue graduate studies. The first was enrolling in UTM's CHM396/7 courses, which were life changing. I not only learned a lot from the amazing teaching team, but I also gained practical experience designing a protocol to analyze something that interested me, which sparked my passion for research. In my final year as an undergraduate student, I completed my thesis with Dr. Vivienne Luk, where I applied chemometrics to optimize a standard Forensic Chemistry protocol used by forensic laboratories worldwide to determine the concentration of various alcohols in a blood sample. During this project, I consulted Professor Paul Piunno for his expertise in chemometrics and its application in my work. I spent countless hours in the lab designing protocols, troubleshooting instruments, and essentially getting pseudo-graduate studies experience. I remember thinking that if this is what graduate studies are like, then it is perfect for me. The idea of doing something new every day and using research to solve problems is exactly what I wanted to do with my knowledge and skill set.

 

What are your research interests? Tell us few exciting things about your research.

My research interest is the development, validation, and implementation of point-of-care sensors for disease diagnosis. My Master's thesis focused on the development of a biosensor platform using electrochemical techniques for the detection and quantification of protein biomarkers in bodily fluids. This biosensor was designed to be a low-cost, field-ready, and label-free POC device, with gold leaf electrodes and antibodies encapsulated in biocompatible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to form the chemically active region. The interaction between the target analyte and the encapsulated antibodies was converted into a change in impedance that could be measured using a potentiostat. The biosensor provided a label-free quantitative detection technique for monitoring the concentration of the target analyte and assessing the prognosis and severity of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than six million deaths worldwide, and current testing methods can only determine whether a patient is infected but not the severity of their illness. Determining disease progression and severity is essential in resource-limited countries, as it can help efficiently allocate limited resources.

Within the scope of my Master’s thesis, I was able to fabricate and validate the new design of the biosensor, as well as the optimization of the chemically active film by identifying and solving issues associated with detecting a protein. My biosensor uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the detection and quantification of the S1 protein in biological fluids for COVID-19 progression and severity determination. This sensor offers an affordable and portable device for clinicians to monitor COVID-19 progression and allocate resources more efficiently.

 

What is your goal when you finish your degree?

As a graduate of the forensic science department and with my passion for chemistry, my goal has been to work at the Centre of Forensic Science (CFS) for as long as I can remember, ideally in the toxicology or chemistry section. During my time at UTM, I have had the opportunity to work with and troubleshoot various instruments, including but not limited to, the headspace GC-FID, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and my personal favorite, the SEM-EDX. Due to my extensive background and experience with instrumentation, it has always been my desire to apply my technical expertise in the field of forensic science. Upon completion of my MSc. degree, my goal remains to work in a forensic laboratory, preferably at CFS or Health Canada.

 

What are some of your achievements you'd like to share?

My Master’s experience was one of the most enriching times of my life. I had the opportunity to grow not only in the field of chemistry I was pursuing but on many different fronts like teaching, public speaking, writing grants, networking at conferences, designing and driving research projects, and many more. Some of the achievements from my MSc experience are as follows:

  • Teaching and mentoring are important to me and being a TA for courses such as Analytical and Physical Chemistry Instrumentation Laboratory I, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Microscopy was a highlight of my MSc. Many of my students not only grew as researchers but also pursued further education or research projects. I also mentored undergraduate researchers and their contributions to my project were remarkable, with two of them presenting at the undergraduate research colloquium and one being accepted into the MSc. program at UTM. Additionally, I mentored a group of Forensic Science specialist students at the University of Toronto, who worked under the guidance of Dr. Vivienne Luk. Their project focused on automating a protocol on a fieldable platform that is commonly used in the field of forensic science. I helped these students understand the protocol and apply chemometrics to optimize it for the new platform. These experiences enriched my passion for research and allowed me to help young researchers find their drive, making it one of my biggest achievements during my MSc.

  • In addition to the progress of my research, I collaborated with my lab members to publish a review paper and participated in the Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition in 2022. During the conference, I presented my first in-person poster and won second place in the analytical division among 70 other presenters. Subsequently, I received the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology from the University of Toronto, which was a gratifying recognition of my efforts and a motivating factor for my future endeavors.

 

  • One of my most significant accomplishments was being hired by the Centre of Forensic Science as a Forensic Analyst in the Toxicology section upon completing my MSc. The opportunities provided by the supportive community at UTM and my work in the Ogata lab enabled me to achieve the goal I had set for myself.

Do you have any advice for students considering to pursue graduate studies in research?

Graduate studies can be a truly transformative experience. It's not just about learning more about your chosen field of science, but also about personal growth and developing valuable skills such as teamwork, time management, and a love for the scientific process. My advice to students considering graduate studies is to reflect on their passions and find a lab that aligns with them, regardless of the specific field of science. It's important to take risks and not be afraid of failure, as even negative results can yield valuable insights.