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.
Mohammed Nakhuda
Thesis Student
McMaster Biology
Mohammed is writing his honors Biology thesis on developing an imaging platform for developing zebrafish embryos. He aims to pursue a graduate career in academia. Mohammed is active in the leadership team of department’s near and dear student society BioSoc, and likes to do volunteering in his times outside the lab.
Hamdan Raneef
Thesis Student
McMaster Biology
Hamdan is in the Molecular Biology and Genetics program and pursuing his thesis research on regulations of the ERK pathway in developing embryo. He aims to pursue a career in molecular biology/biomedical research. Outside of academics, Hamdan is an avid soccer fan, enjoys volunteering at the community center and food bank, and loves traveling.
Alina Altinbaeva
Undergraduate Student
McMaster Biochemistry
Alina is a third-year student pursuing Bachelor’s of Health Sciences in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization. She joined pBODS lab in May 2024 through the McMaster O.U.R. Summer Research Experience Award. Her current research is building on pharmaceutical recovery of somite segmentation with various drugs.
Ciara Kinsella
Undergraduate 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
Undergraduate Student
McMaster Integrated Science (Biology Concentration)
Russell joined the lab in Winter 2025 as an independent research project student and will continue 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
Undergraduate 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. 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!