Dr. Che Colpitts was born and raised in Saskatchewan. She obtained BSc and MSc degrees in biochemistry at the University of Regina, where she became fascinated by viruses and how viruses hijack host cells. Dr. Colpitts obtained her PhD in virology from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she trained with Dr. Luis Schang and characterized the mechanisms of novel broad-spectrum antivirals targeting the entry of unrelated viruses. She then moved to the lab of Dr. Thomas Baumert at the University of Strasbourg (France) to focus on hepatitis B and C virus entry and to identify novel antiviral strategies targeting entry of these viruses. Most recently, she has been working with Dr. Greg Towers at University College London (UK) to understand how hepatitis C virus uses a host protein, cyclophilin A, to evade intrinsic cellular antiviral responses. Dr. Colpitts is now an Associate Professor of molecular virology in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen’s University in Kingston.

Callum completed an Honours BSc in Applied Bioscience at the University of Glasgow, which sparked a love of virology, specifically influenza. He completed his MSc in 2019 under the supervision of Dr. Pablo Murcia at the Center of Virus Research (CVR), studying the adaption of avian influenza to horses. Prior to joining the lab, he worked as a research assistant studying 3D bovine bronchial air liquid interface models before returning to CVR to investigate influenza’s ability to infect new host species. Callum is now investigating influenza virus-host interactions and broad-spectrum antivirals. He likes cooking, brewing, and hanging out with his friends.

Debanjana completed her integrated five-year BS–MS degree at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India. Her Master’s thesis investigated how human β-coronavirus OC43 infection alters the expression of tight junction proteins, sparking her interest in coronavirus-host interactions. Her PhD research focuses on characterizing thapsigargin-based prodrugs as coronavirus antivirals and aims to define how thapsigargin and its analogues inhibit coronavirus replication. Her work combines antiviral screening, mechanistic virology, and ER-stress/host-response pathways to develop a more targeted therapeutic approach.
Debanjana is currently supported by Bruce Mitchell PhD funding.

Trinity completed her Honours BSc in Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University. She quickly became interested in microbiology during her first-year research project focused on antibiotic discovery. Trinity was eager to expand her interest in microbiology to better understand virus-host interactions. Working under the supervision of Dr. Craig McCormick, Trinity’s research focused on developing a reverse genetics system for HCoV-OC43 in yeast. Her honours thesis aimed to characterize a relationship between a host post-translational modification and coronavirus infection. Trinity’s passion for fundamental virology and virus-host immunologic interactions led her to join the Colpitts lab for graduate studies! Currently, she is investigating how viruses in the Flaviviridae family, including hepatitis C and dengue virus, are able to modulate ER stress responses.
Trinity has been supported by the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (MSc studentship), NSERC CGS-M (2024-2025), and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2025-2028).

Abbey completed her Honours BSc in the Life Sciences Specialization program at Queen’s University. Following summer research and a MICR 499 project in her fourth year, she is continuing her research through graduate studies in the Colpitts lab. She has developed a strong interest in virology throughout her time at Queen’s, which inspired her to pursue research in the field. Her current project focuses on the entry mechanisms and virus-host interactions of both seasonal (H1N1) and avian (H5N1) influenza A viruses. Outside of the lab, she enjoys discovering new music and spending time outdoors.

Ivan is currently completing his Honours BSc in the Life Sciences Specialization program at Queen’s University. He developed a strong interest in virology through coursework at Queen’s, including MICR 221 and MICR 451, which led him to pursue summer research in the Colpitts Lab. His research focuses on how influenza proteins, including NS1, PB2, and NP, help the virus evade the host immune system. Ivan will continue his research in the Colpitts Lab in the fall through a MICR 598/599 project. Outside of the lab, Ivan enjoys playing sports and spending time outdoors with friends.

Sofia is completing her Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a specialization in Biotechnology at Queen’s University. She previously worked for the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute at the University of Calgary, studying hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. She has also worked for the Queen’s Genetically Engineered Machine, focused on synthetic biology projects. Through her coursework and research, she discovered her fascination with pathogen-host interactions. This interest led her to joining the Colpitts lab for her 4th year thesis. Here, she is investigating interactions between dengue virus NS1 protein and TLR4, and the role it plays in the pathogenesis of dengue virus infection.

Stella is in the third year of her Honours BSc in the Life Sciences major program at Queen’s University. Throughout her studies, she has developed a strong interest in microbiology, particularly in virus–host interactions and innate immune responses. This interest led her to pursue an Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship in the Colpitts lab, where her research examines how bat and human TLR4 receptors respond differently to viral glycoproteins and lipopolysaccharides. Outside of the lab, Stella enjoys spending time with friends, exploring fashion, and listening to music.

Nathan is a third-year biochemistry student who from a young age has always been interested in how viruses work and how viral infections can be treated. This led him to pursue research work in the Colpitts lab, where he is studying how hepatitis C proteins modulate ER stress responses. Outside of research, Nathan enjoys musical theatre, spending time at his family’s cottage, and being with his friends.