1. Where do you work, what is your position, and who is your advisor?

I work at the Univeristy of British Columbia, at the Michael Smith Laboratories, as a researcher.

2. How do you describe your work to people who aren’t in your field?

I work with proteins that bond to fungal pathogen’s capsules, which can be specifically targeted by the immune system to better protect the body from these infections.

3. Other than glycomics, what areas of research do you think are important in advancing One Health(i.e. the health of people, animals, and the environment)?

I believe that research how to remove toxins, like microplastics or radiation, from both the body and the environment is key to understanding how to improve the planet.

4. What is your favourite aspect of your research?

I love being able to study things that are so far removed from what is considered human. Fungi operate so differently than anything I’ve ever learned about that its almost like studying alien life.

5. What do you do when you are not in the lab?

When I’m not in the lab, I love to play the banjo, read books, and bake!

6. If you had to choose a completely different career path, what would it be?

If strictly talking about biological research, tardigrades are fascinating. Their tun state being able to survive extreme thermal temperatures (ie extreme heat or the coldness of space) is so interesting. Its either that or my childhood dream of being a puppeteer on the Muppet show.

Short bio

Jack Paransky is a second year Chemical Biology student at the University of British Columbia. He has been involved with the Kronstad Lab since his first year of university, attending research group meetings and volunteering. He currently works with the Kronstad lab as an Assistant Geneticist. Jack is intensely interested in all aspects of mycology and aspires to pursue a graduate degree in fungal research after completing his undergraduate studies.