Joseph Monaghan

Joseph Monaghan completed his BSc in 2019 at Vancouver Island University (Major: Biology; Minor: Chemistry). He then pursued a PhD in Environmental Analytical Chemistry through the University of Victoria through the support of an Alexander Graham Bell CGS-D scholarship. Throughout his PhD, Joseph developed high-throughput chemical measurement strategies for aquatic contaminants related to tire-wear and the oil & gas industry. These techniques leverage the inherent sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry, allowing for molecular level information to be collected on a sample in minutes. Building on this skillset, Joseph will transition into cancer and health research as a Health Research BC Trainee. This project uses a direct mass spectrometry strategy – nano-desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) to generate ‘chemical images’ of thin tissue sections. This emerging chemical imaging strategy will help unravel why certain cancer treatments fail by revealing the spatial distribution of metabolites within- and between heterogeneous tumor sections.