Distinctions

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• • Recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell doctoral scholarship (CGS D3) by NSERC
  • Nominated for a Banting postdoctoral scholarship by the University of Saskatchewan
  • Nominated for a Killam doctoral scholarship by the University of British Columbia
  • Spearheading setting up an organoid and non-embryonic stem cell facility at the University of Saskatchewan
  • Holds a valid B.C. teaching certificate, and has over a decade of teaching experience
  • Over 1.5 million views across two youtube channels

Education

Ph.D. Thesis

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1. Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biochemistry & Molecular Biology ❖ University of British Columbia ❖ Kelowna, BC, Canada ❖ 2020
   
2. Chemistry credits not used towards a degree ❖ University of the Fraser Valley ❖ Abbotsford, BC, Canada ❖ 2016
3. Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Curricular Development and Instruction ❖ Simon Fraser University ❖ Burnaby, BC, Canada ❖ 2014
4. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Biological Sciences ❖ Simon Fraser University ❖ Burnaby, BC, Canada ❖ 2009-2013
5. Science credits used towards Bachelor of Science ❖ Douglas College ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2009-2012

Employment

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Postdoctoral Fellow ❖ University of Saskatchewan ❖ Saskatoon, SK, Canada ❖ 2020-2022

• • Spearheading setting up an organoid and non-embryonic stem cell facility
  • Characterizing cellular functions of brain organoids using a novel methodology with aims to subequently use this data to investigate therapies and diagnostic tools for age-related diseases in elderly and children

Teaching Assistant ❖ University of British Columbia ❖ Kelowna, BC, Canada ❖ 2017-2020

• • Taught statistics in a variety of courses, using R and Python for graphing and statistical analysis
  • Collaborated with instructors and professors to design scaffolded questions and learning-objective oriented questions for exams and assignments
  • Partnered with instructors and professors to improve curriculum design, leading to improved student learning (see #9,13 under presentations)
  • Assisted teaching the following courses: Biochemical Basis of Disease, Environmental Microbiology, Introductory Microbiology, Developmental Biology, Biology for Science Majors I, Biology for Science Majors II, Introduction to Biostatistics, 3rd Year Biochemistry Lab

Senior Lab Member ❖ University of British Columbia ❖ Kelowna, BC, Canada ❖ 2017-2020

• • Mentored several undergraduate and graduate students, leading to their publication of first-author primary manuscripts
  • Supervised several directed studies and honours projects of undergraduate and undergraduate students, respectively
  • Generated unique projects and research directions for the lab
  • Managed a relational database for chemical and biological inventory

Teacher ❖ Hope Secondary ❖ Hope, BC, Canada ❖ 2015-2016

• • Designed and taught problem-based curriculum for Biology 11 and Biology 12
  • Implemented modern scientific literacy into curriculum
  • Co-managed special education department, focusing on improving student’s academic and life skills
  • Designed individualized education plans (IEPs) for students, and implemented them into their yearly curriculum

Teacher ❖ Flying Colours Learning Centre ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2014-2015

• • Provided supplementary support to students completing their post-secondary degree
  • Designed and facilitated curriculum for grade 8 through second year university students, including advanced placement (AP), honours, international baccalaureate (IB), english as a second language (ESL) students, and students with documented learning disability

Teacher ❖ Cariboo High School ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2014

• • Taught Science 8, Science 10, Biology 11, and AP Biology 11 with 32 students
  • Coordinated with special education staff to appropriately support and assess students with individualized education plans (IEPs)
  • Engaged students with creative self-designed projects and labs focus on utilizing new media and creativity

Project Development ❖ Overmined Entertainment ❖ Vancouver, BC, Canada ❖ 2010-2015

• • Organized and coordinated a team of 9 people for filming events
  • Interacted with and organized large capacity events for underage persons
  • Created and maintained official website and social media of company
  • Delegated with clients to produce desired photography, cinematography and audio branding

Teacher ❖ Oxford Learning ❖ Coquitlam, BC, Canada ❖ 2012-2014

• • Taught grades eight through twelve biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and English
  • Taught over two dozen students each school year
  • Focused on relating current learning to their university and college educational interests
  • Adapted lesson plans to each student’s individual learning profile and preferences

Online Teaching Assistant ❖ Douglas College ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2010-2012

• • Tutored all levels of grade and post-secondary school in science, mathematics, nursing and English
  • Tutored over a four hundred different people, successfully helping them through their course
  • Tutored students through many applications such as Microsoft Word, Skype, online Tablet PC conferencing, and Jing
  • Taught PHYS 1110 temporarily and ran after class tutorial for PHYS 1110 under Kuros Gadareh
  • Ran after class tutorial for MATH 1120 under Larry Tomboulian

Media Designer ❖ ScrewAttack LLC ❖ Fort Worth, Texas, USA ❖ 2009-2010

• • Designed and coded physical, as well as digital, media for several DVD products, including Metal Gear Ben and Too Hot for the Internet

Publications

ORCID
Google Scholar

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a. Articles published or accepted in peer-reviewed journals

1. 1. Wenzel TJ, Haskey N, Kwong E, Gates EJ, Gibson DL, Klegeris A. (2022). Original Research: Dietary fats modulate neuroinflammation in mucin 2 knock out mice model of spontaneous colitis. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Mol. Basis Dis. 1868: 166336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166336
   2. Wenzel TJ, Ranger AL, McRae SA, Klegeris A. (2021). Original Research: Extracellular cardiolipin modulates microglial phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. J. Neuroimmunol. 353: 577496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577496
   3. Wenzel TJ, Gates EJ, Ranger AL, Klegeris A. (2020). Original Research: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) alone or in combination regulate select immune functions of microglia-like cells. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 105: 103493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103493
   4. Wenzel TJ, Kwong E, Bajwa E, Klegeris A. (2020). Review: Resolution-associated molecular patterns (RAMPs) as endogenous regulators of glia functions in neuroinflammatory disease. C.N.S. Neurol. Disord. Drug Targets 19: 483-94.  https://doi.org/10.2174/1871527319666200702143719
   5. Lowry JR, Marshall N, Wenzel TJ, Murray, TE, Klegeris A. (2020). Original Research: The dietary fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) selectively inhibit microglial nitric oxide production. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 109: 103569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103569
   6. Wenzel TJ, Bajwa E, Klegeris A. (2019). Original Research: Cytochrome c can be released into extracellular space and modulate functions of human astrocytes in a toll-like receptor 4-dependent manner. Biochim. Biophys. Acta Gen. Subj. 1863: 129400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.07.009
   7. Leitner G, Wenzel TJ, Marshall N, Gates E, Klegeris A. (2019). Review: Targeting toll-like receptor 4 to modulate neuroinflammation in central nervous system disorders.  Expert Opin. Ther. Targets. 23: 865-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728222.2019.1676416
   8. Pointer C, Wenzel TJ, Klegeris A. (2018). Original Research: Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of microglia and microglia-like cells. Brain Res. Bullet. 146: 153-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.01.002
   9. Wenzel TJ, Klegeris, A. (2018). Review: Novel multi-target directed ligand-based strategies for reducing neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. Life Sci. 207: 314-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2018.06.025

b. Articles submitted to peer-reviewed journals or in revision

1. 1. Murray TE, Wenzel TJ, Simtchouk S, Gibon J, Klegeris A. (2021). Original Research: Extracellular cardiolipin modulates select immune functions of astrocytes in toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. Mediators Inflamm. In revision.

Presentations

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1. Wenzel TJ. (2022). Search for a cure: modelling Alzheimer disease using animal models, cell monolayers and organoids. UBCO Biochemistry 407: Biochemical Basis of Disease. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Guest Lecture.
2. Murray TE, Wenzel TJ, Simtchouk S, Gibon J, Klegeris A. Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocyte-like cells in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2021. Online (pandemic): Poster Presentation.
3. Wenzel TJ. (cancelled due to COVID pandemic). Title to be determined. 2020 ISN-JNC Flagship School. Alpbach, Austria: Presentation Style To Be Determined. Competitive entry.
4. Murray T, Wenzel TJ, Klegeris A. (2021). Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocyte-like cells in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. Virtual Glia 2021. Online: Poster Presentation.
5. Wenzel TJ. (2020). An Introduction to the Gut-Brain Axis. USask Psychiatry 851: Introductory Neuroscience. Saskatoon, SK, Canada: Guest Lecture. https://wnzl.ca/PSIA851-GutBrainAxisVideos
6. Wenzel TJ, Ranger A, Murray T, McRae S, Klegeris A. (2020). Extracellular cardiolipin modulates glial phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor 4-dependent manner. Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2020. Online (pandemic): Poster Presentation. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.047338
7. Murray T, Wenzel TJ, Klegeris A. (2020). Cardiolipin regulates select functions of astrocytes dysregulated in chronic neuroinflammatory states. Cell-to-Cell Metabolic Cross-Talk in Physiology and Pathology. Online: Poster Presentation. https://doi.org/10.3390/Cells2020-08926 
8. Murray T, Wenzel TJ, Klegeris A. (2020). Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocytes in a TLR-4 dependent manner. Undergraduate Research Conference. Kelowna, BC: Poster Presentation.
9. Wenzel TJ, Ranger A, Klegeris A. (2019). Extracellular cardiolipin (CL) modulates microglial phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. 9th International DAMPs and Alarmins Symposium. Okayama, Japan: Poster Presentation.
10. Wenzel TJ, Ranger A, Klegeris A. (2019). Extracellular cardiolipin (CL) modulates microglial phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. UBCO Biology Graduate Symposium 2019. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Poster Presentation.
11. Wenzel TJ, Bajwa E, Rheault MR, Klegeris A. (2019). Extracellular cytochrome c modulates astrocyte functions in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. 15th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Lisbon, Portugal: Poster Presentation.
12. Wenzel TJ. (2019). Probiotics reduce cytokine secretions, as well as claudin 5 loss, induced by gut inflammation in vivo. Brown Bag Seminar. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Invited Oral Presentation.
13. Wenzel TJ. (2019). Host-microbial interactions: symbiotic associated and normal flora. UBCO Biology 232: Human Infectious Disease. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Guest Lecture.
14. Wenzel TJ. (2018). Research methods in pharmacology. UBCO Biochemistry 308: Pharmacology I.  Kelowna, BC, Canada: Guest Lecture.
15. Wenzel TJ, Bajwa E, Rheault MR, Klegeris A. (2018). Extracellular cytochrome c modulates astrocytic phagocytosis and cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. UBCO Biology Graduate Symposium 2018. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Poster Presentation.
16. Wenzel TJ, Gustafsson E, Hurren H, Klegeris A. (2018). Generic problem-solving skills are distinct from the academic ability of students and could be developed through experiential learning. 14th Annual Learning Conference. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Oral Presentation.
17. Wenzel TJ, Pointer C, Klegeris A. (2018). Extracellular cardiolipin modulates microglial phagocytosis and their cytokine secretion in a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-dependent manner. 12th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting. Vancouver, BC, Canada: Poster Presentation.
18. Wenzel TJ. (2018). The pharmacology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. UBCO Biochemistry 308: Pharmacology I. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Guest Lecture.
19. Wenzel TJ, Edwards C, Klegeris A. (2017). Pro-inflammatory molecules released by activated microglia are not attenuated by individual short-chain fatty acids. UBCO Biology Graduate Symposium 2017. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Poster Presentation.
20. Wenzel TJ, Hurren H, Klegeris A. (2017). Tutor-less problem-based learning: Effects on problem-solving skills in large science undergraduate classes. 13th Annual Learning Conference. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Poster Presentation.
21. Wenzel TJ. (2017). The pathophysiology of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. UBCO Biochemistry 407: Biochemical Basis of Disease. Kelowna, BC, Canada: Guest Lecture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJeo-mxxUek

Media Attention

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1. Wenzel TJ, Klegeris A. (2020). Extracellular cytochrome c: a novel damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) of the brain. Atlas of Science. https://atlasofscience.org/extracellular-cytochrome-c-a-novel-damage-associated-molecular-pattern-damp-of-the-brain/

Training

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1. Pluripotent Stem Cell (Organoid) Training Workshop ❖ STEMCELL Technologies ❖ Vancouver, BC, Canada ❖ 2020
2. Interactive Computational Neuroscience Workshop ❖ Neuromatch Academy ❖ Online ❖ 2020
3. British Columbia Teaching Certificate (Valid 2014 – Present) ❖ Simon Fraser University ❖ Burnaby, BC, Canada ❖ 2014
4. College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) Level III: Master Certified Tutor ❖ Douglas College ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2011

Techniques

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Science

1. Inducible pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) maintenance and differentiation
2. Organoid generation (e.g. brain with microglia, intestinal) and downstream data analysis
3. Cryosectioning
4. Western blotting
5. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)
6. Primary human and murine glia (non-neuronal cell) extraction (e.g. microglia and astrocytes)
7. Widefield and confocal fluorescence microscopy
8. Immunostaining
9. Molecular ligand-receptor docking in silico
10. Statistical analysis with R
11. Cell culturing (e.g. primary human cells, stem cells, primary mouse cells, cell lines)
12. Solid phase extractions
13. Liquid-chromatography mass-spectrophotometry analysis
14. Protein extraction from tissue and normalization (e.g. bicinchoninic acid assay and Bradford’s assay)
15. Independent manuscript preparation
16. Stereotaxic Injections

Education

1. Problem-based learning activities, culminating in a cumulative project
2. Learning-objective oriented curriculum development
3. Formative assesements and guided questioning
4. Implementing interim and self-assessment into curriculum design
5. Learning-objective oriented, balanced, summative assessments
6. Learning-objective based grading
7. Course content delivery using flipped classroom, didactic, and creative-learning teaching methods

Awards

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1. Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS D3) ❖ Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ❖ 2020
2. 2020 International Society of Neurochemistry-Journal of Neurochemistry (ISN-JNC) Flagship School Award ❖ ISN-JNC ❖ 2020
3. University Graduate Fellowship ❖ University of British Columbia ❖ 2018-2020
4. Graduate Travel Grant ❖ University of British Columbia ❖ 2018-2019
5. Irving K. Barber Transfer Scholarship ❖ Irving K Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society ❖ 2010
6. Ken Caple Entrance Scholarship ❖ Simon Fraser University ❖ 2010-2011
7. President’s Entrance Scholarship ❖ Douglas College ❖ 2009-2011

Volunteer & Service

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Volunteer Judge for Institutional Events ❖ University of Saskatchewan ❖ Saskatoon, SK, Canada ❖ 2020-2021

• Provided a score and feedback for presentations at the following institutional events: (1) 2021 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo, (2) 2020 University of Saskatchewan Student Union (USSU) Undergraduate Research Symposium , (3) 2020 and 2021 Student Undergraduate Research Experience Symposium, (4) 7th Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition

Volunteer Research Assistant ❖ Simon Fraser University ❖ Burnaby, BC, Canada ❖ 2015-2016

• Setup and disassembled water flow-through system containing salmon eggs
• Monitored the alkalinity, oxygenation, and flow rate of the water flow-through system
• Recorded developmental abnormalities of salmon in response to varying concentrations of agricultural pesticides

Student Ambassador ❖ Douglas College ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2009-2013

• Spearheaded several charity fundraisers which raised thousands of dollars
• Organized and led student orientation
• Facilitated graduation ceremonies

Student Representative for Scheduling Committee ❖ Douglas College ❖ New Westminster, BC, Canada ❖ 2010-2011

• Elected by senior institutional administration to be the student representative at meetings discussing course scheduling
• Responsible for collecting the concerns of other students about the course schedule
• Expressed the concerns of students about times that courses were scheduled, as well as the amount of sections offered for each course, at administrative meetings.

Associations

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• Canadian Association of Neuroscience
• International Society for Neurochemistry