M. Fethullah Simsek
mfsimsek @mcmaster.ca
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Muhammed is a physicist by training from his alma mater Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. He holds a Ph.D. from Physics Department of University at Buffalo (cell membrane biophysics) and did postdoctoral research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (developmental systems biology) before joining McMaster University.
Dila Aycan
aycand1@mcmaster.ca
Ph.D. Student
McMaster Biology
Dila started in the lab in January 2024 and she works on the mechanisms of regulation of the Fgf signalling gradient. Dila graduated from U of T in 2019 and did her Master’s in the Univ of Ottawa. After her MSc, Dila worked as a Research Assistant at BlueRock Therapeutics in Cambridge, MA and as a Science Editor at Xtalks in Toronto, ON.
Vy Phuong Vu
vuv1@mcmaster.ca
Ph.D. Student
McMaster Physics & Astronomy
Vy started in the lab in September 2025. She completed her undergraduate education at U of T Physics and finished her Master’s degree at University of Waterloo in Systems Engineering. Vy is interested in learning more about developmental biology and understand how protein movements influence cellular decisions during development.
Mohammed Nakhuda
nakhudam@mcmaster.ca
M.Sc. Student
McMaster Biology
Mohammed wrote his Honours Biology thesis on developing an imaging platform for developing zebrafish embryos. He currently pursues a Master’s degree in the lab. Mohammed has been active in department’s student societies BioSoc and BGSS, and likes to do volunteering in his times outside the lab.
Ciara Kinsella
Thesis Student
McMaster Biology
Ciara joined the lab in May 2024 as a recipient of a Summer Research Experience Award. She has loved science since she was a kid and is thrilled to be working on a project exploring the use of pulsate drug treatments to recover somites in clock-mutant embryos. She aims to pursue graduate studies in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and have a career in research.
Russell Beltran
Thesis Student
McMaster Integrated Science (Biology Concentration)
Russell joined the lab in Winter 2025 as an independent research project student and now continues his work as fulfillment of his undergraduate thesis. Russell aims to attend graduate school in biophysics or molecular genetics. Outside of school, Russell enjoys reading and loves coffee.
Shashwati Sanjay
Thesis Student
McMaster Biology
Shashwati is in the Molecular Biology & Genetics Research Program at McMaster University. Passionate about both developmental biology and biophysics, she joined the lab as a volunteer. Moving into her thesis project, Shashwati works on the molecular diffusion dynamics in live zebrafish embryos. Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, baking, and playing video games.
Muzainah Majid
Undergraduate Student
McMaster Biology
Muzainah joined the lab in January 2025 as a volunteer and she currently is a practicum student. Her research focuses on assessing how vertebrate embryo somites translate into further phenotypes using various molecular tools. She is passionate about pursuing a career in research, and in her free time, you can find her painting or walking along a scenic trail!
Brooke Bibby
Undergraduate Student
McMaster Biochemistry
Brooke is a third-year student in the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program. She joined the lab in the fall of 2025 to conduct an independent research project. Her work focuses on phenotyping changes in somites following application of drugs targeting the ERK signaling pathway. Outside of academics, Brooke enjoys hiking, reading and painting.
Bahtinur Yilmaz
Undergraduate Student
McMaster Biology
Bahtinur is a third-year Bio-PNB student who joined the lab in 2025 Summer as a research practicum student. Her current research focuses on quantifying dynamics of the fgf gradient in zebrafish embryos. Bahtinur is eager to pursue a career in research. Outside the lab, she enjoys building intricate 3D puzzles.
Lab Alumni
Hamdan Raneef
2024-2025 Honours Thesis Student
McMaster Biology Molecular Biology and Genetics Program
Alina Altinbaeva
2024-2025 Undergraduate Student
McMaster Biochemistry Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program