Dr. Farnaz Pournia

Dr. Farnaz Pournia received her PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from UBC in 2023. She worked under supervision of Dr. Linda Matsuuchi (Department of Zoology) and the title of her dissertation was “The role of Connexin43 carboxyl terminal domain in regulating various signaling-induced cytoskeleton-dependent cellular processes in B-lymphocytes.”

During her PhD work, she was able to show an unconventional role for a channel forming protein, Connexin43, in various cellular processes that are important for development and responses of one of the cells of our immune system (B-lymphocytes).

During her PhD training, Dr. Pournia discovered a passion for teaching and higher education through teaching assistant (TA) experiences as well as outreach and community events. Consequently, she decided to pursue a career in teaching and higher education and worked towards it by completing multiple training programs offered by UBC Centre for Teaching and Learning. After completing her PhD program in Fall 2023, she started teaching at UBC.

At the same time, she participated in the Teaching and Development Program (TDP) for new faculty at UBC as well as course design intensive (CDI) to be able to advance her skills in teaching and learning, pedagogy development and use of new technology, as well as communication.

Dr. Pournia believes in student-centered learning approach where a respectful and inspiring learning environment is facilitated by the instructor to help students thrive and reach their full potential.

Discipline

Biology

Education

PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology, UBC (2023) 

Publications

  • Pournia, F., Dang-Lawson, M. Choi, K., Mo, V., Lampe, P.D. and Matsuuchi, L. (2020). Identification of serine residues in the Connexin43 carboxyl tail important for BCR- mediated spreading of B-lymphocytes. J Cell Sci 10,133 (5).  https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.237925
  • Machtaler, S., Choi, K., Dang-Lawson, M., Falk, M., Pournia, F., Naus, C.C., and Matsuuchi, L. (2014). The role of gap junction forming protein Connexin43 in B Lymphocyte motility and migration. FEBS Letters 588, 1249-1258.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.027
  • Falk, L., Dang-Lawson, M., Vega, J.L., Pournia, F., Choi, K., Jang, C., Naus, C.C and Matsuuchi, L. (2014). Mutations of Cx43 that affect B Cell spreading in response to BCR Signaling. Biology Open 3, 1-7.  https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.20147328

Professional Societies

Society of Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST)

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