Janice Strap
PhD
Associate Professor
Biology
Faculty of Science
The over arching theme of my research program is the investigation of how microbes synthesize and interact with biomaterials. Understanding the mechanisms that drive biosynthesis and degradation of biomaterials has wide reaching implications and applications in diverse fields such as medicine, agriculture and material science. Current research in my lab includes: (1) Molecular genetic and biochemical characterization of cellulose biosynthesis in Acetic Acid Bacteria (AAB); (2) Molecular characterization of plant-microbe interactions facilitated by natural biopolymers; (3) Microbial delignification of biofuel feedstock.
Contact information
Science Building - Room 4055
North Oshawa
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5
905.721.8668 ext. 2935
905-721-3304 (fax)
Janice.Strap@ontariotechu.ca
https://mmbl-straplab.weebly.com/
Research topics
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Gluconacetobacter
- AAB
- Komagataeibacter
- Bacterial Cellulose
- Phytohormones
- Biopolymers
- Cellulose Biosynthesis
- Lignocellulose Degradation
- Streptomyces
- Natural Products
- Microbe-microbe Interactions
- Cell Signalling
- Biofilm
- Regulation, Microbial Peptides
Areas of expertise
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
- Microbial Genetics
- Biochemistry
- Biofilm
- Genetic Regulation
- Biodegradation
- Natural Products
- Cellulose
Background
Dr. Janice Strap attended the University of Alberta where she earned her PhD in 2000 in the lab of Dr. Brenda Leskiw. She moved to the University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho) where she was a post-doctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Don Crawford until 2003. She then worked with Dr. Ron Crawford at the Environmental Biotechnology Institute and was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department (University of Idaho). In 2006, Dr. Strap joined the Faculty of Science at the Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech) as an Assistant Professor. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013.Education
- BSc University of Alberta 1990
- MSc University of Alberta 1993
- PhD University of Alberta 2000
Courses taught
- APBS 6010 Research in Applied Bioscience
- APBS 6300 Advanced Topics in Biological Chemistry
- BIOL 4070 Advanced Biochemistry
- BIOL 4060 Functional Genomics and Proteomics
- BIOL 4050 Advanced Topics in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- BIOL 4020 Environmental Risk Characterization
- BIOL 4430 Directed Studies
- BIOL 4410 Biology Thesis Project I
- BIOL 4410 Biology Thesis Project II
- BIOL 3080 Biochemistry II
- BIOL 1020 Biology II
- CHEM 4410 Chemistry Thesis Project I; co-supervised
- CHEM 4410 Chemistry Thesis Project II; co-supervised
