Graduate Student
Volunteer
Volunteer
About our team
Dr. Julia Totosy de Zepetnek is the director of the CArdiovascular MEtabolic Research Opportunites Laboratories (CAMEROlabs). Her research focuses on the effects of exercise and nutrition on cardiovascular health, exercise metabolism, and food intake/appetite regulation. She completed her BSc at Dalhousie University (thermoregulation), MSc at the University of Waterloo (bone physiology), PhD at McMaster University (cardiovascular physiology), and Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Toronto Metropolitan University (nutrition). She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Regina. In her spare time, she likes to run marathons and triathlons, and in the summer, she enjoys camping with her family (three young children).
Dr. Jamie Mantesso teaches in the Nursing program at the University of Regina. Her focus area is mental health and she has just completed her doctoral degree. Now Jaime is embarking on a number of new and exciting projects, including working with us at CAMEROlabs since Winter 2022! Jaime adores her cat and dog and enjoys working on her saltwater aquarium. When she isn’t working, she also loves to read, visit friends, and travel.
Priya Verma is completing an Interdisciplinary Master of Science co-supervised by Dr. Totosy de Zepetnek (KHS) and Dr. Andrew Cameron (Biology). Her project focuses on the cardiometabolic, mental, and gut health of fit older adults. Priya has been part of CAMEROlabs since Fall 2021, when she began her honours working on the GUt and Metabolism Study with Dr. Totosy de Zepetnek. She graduated with a BSc Honours in Biology this June. Priya continued helping out with various studies as a Research Assistant during the summer and is excited to now be working on her Master’s. In her free time, Priya likes reading and doing origami, which can be spotted around the lab. She also enjoys spending time with friends.
Raha Nafisi is completing her Master of Science in Kinesiology and Health Studies, supervised by Dr. Totosy de Zepetnek. Her project focuses on the cardiometabolic, mental, and gut health of individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Raha has been part of CAMEROlabs since Fall 2022. She graduated this October with a BSc in Biology, minoring in Kinesiology, and is excited to be working on her Master’s. In her free time, Raha likes to try out new ice cream flavors. She also enjoys kayaking and walking around Wascana.
Parul Acharya is a first year student in the Master of Science in Kinesiology and Health Studies, supervised by Dr. Totosy de Zepetnek. Her thesis focuses on program evaluation of diabetes wellness series offered by Saskatechewan Health Authority. In her free time, Parul enjoys cooking for her family and reading books which enhances here intellectually and spiritually.
Omkaar Persaud has completed a BSc in Biochemistry and a BSc in Psychology. He is interested in how the interplay between energy intake and expenditure affects metabolic health. Omkaar has been part of CAMEROlabs since Summer 2022 when he joined as a volunteer. He is now working as a Research Assistant on the Trikafta study. In his free time Omkaar likes traveling and going to the gym.
Prabjyot Bajwa is a 4th year BKin student majoring in human kinetics. She is interested in cardiometabolic, physical, and mental health. Prabjyot has been a part of CAMEROlabs since Fall 2022, when she joined as a volunteer. She just finished a BIOL 396 with Dr. Totosy de Zepetnek in Winter 2023 and has become the lead for the low-carb high fat diet study. In her free time, Prabjyot loves to be outdoors and go on adventures through the woods. She also loves swimming, badminton, and spending time with family and friends.
Summer 2023 Interns
Saundarya Prakash is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in BS-MS and majoring in Biological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal. Her research interests lie at the intersection of exercise physiology and brain research. She is fascinated by the physiological responses to exercise and the effects of physical activity on health and performance. Additionally, she is intrigued by the field of brain research, particularly cognition and behavioral neuroscience. She likes to dance, work out, and be around friends and family in her spare time.
Sophie Ewin is in her 2nd year studying Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity (BA) at Durham University in the UK. Sophie is interested in nutrition, exercise physiology and mental health within sport and exercise. She is visiting CAMEROlabs for this summer (2023) as a Mitacs Global Link Internship student. Sophie will be helping with the low carbohydrate – high fat in endurance athletes study as well as the Parkrun study. In her free time Sophie enjoys playing netball and spending time with her family and friends in the outdoors.
Megan Paget is a Summer Mitacs Internship student from the University of Manchester in the UK, where she is currently pursuing a BSc in Psychology. Megan is interested in how psychology can be used to positively influence health behaviours, both at an individual and environmental level. In CAMEROlabs, she is helping with a scoping review paper about the impact of psychological stress on food intake regulation, and helping design a study exploring factors which may facilitate the activation of the motor cortex. In her free time she enjoys baking, and hiking.
Former students
- Breanna Foster [Undergraduate Research Fellow] (2022)
- Drew Clause-Walford, MSc (2018-2020)
- Kirrat Ahmad, MSc (2019-2020)
- Bahar Ghomeshi, BSc [Honours] (2019-2020)
- Celina Earl, BSc [Honours] [Undergraduate Research Fellow] (2019-2020)
- Zehra Rizvi, Undergraduate Research Fellow] (2019)
- Lucas McPhee, BSc [Undergraduate Research Fellow] (2020)
- Nishi Patel, BSc [Volunteer] (2021)
- Jeel Patel, BSc [Independent Research Student] (2022)
- Sameer Ahmad [Independent Research Student] (2021-2023)
