The MSL welcomes new faculty member Dr. Sabrina Leslie

The Michael Smith Laboratories and the Department of Physics and Astronomy are pleased to announce that Dr. Sabrina Leslie will be joining UBC in the new year.  Dr. Leslie uses single-molecule microscopy to measure biomolecular interactions in the complex and stochastic environments of living cells in real-time. Her work has already provided novel biomolecular insights into DNA interactions and her inspiration is to extend this research to make a transformative contribution to improved human health.

Dr. Leslie’s excellent interdisciplinary fundamental and applied research is exemplified by her unique Convex Lens-Induced Confinement (CLiC) imaging platform. CLiC makes it possible to watch individual, naturally fluctuating biomolecules as they search for and bind to each other, allowing for measurements that are simply not possible with other methods. By controlling variables which mimic cellular conditions and affect interactions, she can measure their impact and predict molecular behaviour for improved drug design and delivery.

“Dr. Leslie’s work on single-molecule biophysics lies in the intersection of MSL’s research clusters Engineering and Analysis of Complex Biological Systems and Translational Biotechnology in Health and Disease. Her research fits a strategic priority at the MSL: to develop new biotechnologies and therapies to understand, identify, and combat both emerging and known diseases. We are very excited to welcome her to our community”
– Dr. Peter Zandstra, Director of Michael Smith Laboratories

Her lengthy list of impactful innovations has already garnered a remarkable number of awards, notably her recent announcement as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Other distinguished recognitions include the Biophysical Society of Canada Young Investigator Award, the Women in Entrepreneurship Award, the NSERC Accelerator Award and the adMare and Clark Executive Leadership Fellowships.

After completing her BSc in Math and Physics at UBC, she went on to do a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley in optical physics. In transitioning to biophysics, she was a Mary Fieser postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University in Chemistry and Chemical Biology where she co-invented CLiC imaging. Dr. Leslie joins UBC as Associate Professor from McGill University.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Leslie.