Bio
Steven Harland is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UBC. His research focuses on understanding the structural maintenance of photoreceptor outer segments, specifically the molecular interactions that govern the precise stacking and spacing of photoreceptor discs-an essential process for vision. To investigate this, he employs co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and BioID to characterize key protein-protein interactions, alongside gene editing approaches to study PRPH2 disease mutants and their impact on retinal degenerations.
Beyond his research, Steven is the Social Coordinator for the BMB Graduate Student Association (BMB-GSA), where he organizes events and fosters a strong research community within the department. He is also the co-founder of SHS Illustrations, a scientific visualization initiative specializing in 3D modelling and animations for research communication. Through SHS, he creates high-quality scientific graphics and educational content to make complex biological concepts more digestible.