Mewis, Keith
Student Video
Research
High throughput screening of metagenomic libraries
Most microbes found in nature cannot be cultivated in the lab, and hence require different approaches to study them. DNA is extracted and cloned into a host organism, typically E. coli, in which it can be expressed and studied using standard biological techniques. By automating and decreasing the volumes of many lab processes involved in these methods, we can decrease costs and increase throughput. My work primarily involves the identification and characterization of enzymes valuable to both the academic and the industrial communities, focusing in particular on glycoside hydrolases, useful for the production of ethanol from plant matter.
Applying these approaches to environments ranging from the deep ocean, to coal bed methane samples, to forest soils, I hope to identify valuable enzymes and pathways used by these bacteria that are useful in a range of fields, from environmental ecology to biofuel research.
I've always had a passion for science and learning, and I feel I can use this to help benefit science and society in general. I plan to continue on to a PhD program and see where my passion for learning will eventually take me!
UBC has many researchers that are leaders in their field. The Genome Science and Technology program gave me the opportunity to work in three very different labs and choose the one that suited me the best. I was fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Carl Hansen, a pioneer in the hugely promising field of microfluidics, Dr. Sam Aparicio, a world leader in breast oncology at the B.C. Cancer Agency, and Dr. Steven Hallam, a leading researcher in genomic studies.
Take advantage of everything Vancouver has to offer! Vancouver offers a unique blend of arts, culture and recreation, so when you need a break from your research, head into town and see a show or relax at the beach. And during the bleak winter months when the rain seems endless, remember that means it's snowing on the mountains!
