We are kicking off the 2023 BIOCAPS Spotlight Series with Maricela Garcia-Castaneda, the lab manager in the Van Petegem lab!
Lab Manager, Van Petegem Lab
Maricela’s research background is in Biochemistry and Electrophysiology. She holds a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the IPN in Mexico City, where she started her journey developing an understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying muscular dystrophy. Following her graduate studies, Maricela conducted research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rochester expanding her expertise on the electrical activity of excitable cells and ion channels by studying how genetic mutations involved in the development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy can induce dysregulation of calcium storage. More recently, she has gained experience in the field of Structural Biology through her ongoing position and academic collaborations.
Currently, Maricela works as a research scientist and lab manager in the Life Sciences Institute at the University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Filip Van Petegem. In this role, she leads two original projects applying various structural biology, cellular and molecular biology techniques to understand the impact of genetic mutations on skeletal and cardiac muscle function. Additionally, she supports the lab’s day-to-day operations and troubleshoot multiple problems, from equipment malfunction to experimental setup issues. Furthermore, she trains and supervises undergraduate and grad students, teaching them lab techniques and providing guidance in developing their experiment.
What does a typical day in the Van Petegem lab look like?
Every day is different, and this is what I like most about my job. One day, I will be running a challenging/complex experiment and getting exciting results. But on another day, an instrument alarm will go off, calling for my attention to contact Adam from the workshop or Sophia from Building Operations to help me fix the problem; they are truly amazing!
What do you find the most exciting and challenging about your job?
The most exciting thing about my job is seeing how my research projects are shaping into an exciting story, which could eventually lead to a publication, expanding the scientific knowledge and helping develop therapeutic treatments for muscular diseases. The most challenging part of my job is keeping up with my experimental schedule while simultaneously managing the lab and helping other lab members in their experiments.
Maricela joined our lab a few years ago as an experienced physiologist, but has gradually transformed into a protein biochemist, purifying challenging membrane proteins for structural studies. She is the go-to person for all mammalian cell experiments, providing hands-on training for multiple lab members. As she is also taking care of ordering and other lab management tasks, she is a true cornerstone that we all depend on.
Dr. Filip Van Petegem, Professor
How would you describe the year of 2022?
It was a year of reconnecting with friends and expand my social circle. I focused on family, personal growth, and the possibility of what’s to come.
What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I love spending quality time with my husband. We both try to have an active lifestyle, so if we are not hiking in the mountains or biking to explore hidden parts of Vancouver, I like to take the stairs down the beach and enjoy the landscape on a clear day or when the mountains are covered with snow.