CURRICULUM VITAE
MARTHA ROSALIE BAJEC

Rue de l’Hôpital 20, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
+41 32 721 1106;     mbajec@the-contact-network.com
Citizenship: Canadian & Slovenian (European Union)
Swiss B-permit (annual residence permit) holder

EDUCATION

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Brock University --- Biological Sciences – Plant Sciences & Oenology & Viticulture
    • September 2005 – 2011; Advisor: Gary J. Pickering, Ph.D
    • Thesis defended: November 2010. Degree conference: June 2011
    • Thesis Title: Astringency and other oral sensations: biological sources of individual variation and association with food and beverage behaviour.
  • Master of Science, University of Toronto --- Physiology & Program in Neuroscience
    • September 2000 - September 2002; Advisor: Harold L. Atwood, Ph.D., D.Sc., F.R.S.C.
    • Thesis Title: Consequences of Altered Frequenin Expression at Arthropod Neuromuscular Junctions
  • Bachelor of Science (Honours), Brock University --- Biological Sciences - Neuroscience
    • September 1996–May 2000; Advisor: A. Joffre Mercier, Ph.D.
    • Thesis Title: The NO-cGMP Pathway in Modulation of Crayfish Neuromuscular Junctions by a Neuropeptide
  • Diploma, Mohawk College --- Chemical/Medical Laboratory
    • September 1993–May 1995; Technician

AWARDS

  • NSERC Visiting Fellowships (VF) in Canadian Government Laboratories (Postdoctoral Fellowship; 2009)
  • American Wine Society Educational Foundation Scholarship (2009)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Scholarship (NSERC PGS-D; 2007-2009)
  • Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium Student Bursary (2007)
  • Rose Marie Pangborn Sensory Science Scholarship (2007)
  • W.D. Hatch Memorial Scholarship (Brock University; 2007)
  • American Wine Society Eastern Pennsylvania Region Scholarship (2006)
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (OGSST; 2006)
  • Frederick P. Ide Graduate Award in Zoology (University of Toronto; 2003)
  • University of Toronto, Department of Physiology Scholarship Top-Up Award (2000-2002)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Scholarship (NSERC PGS-A; 2000-2002)
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) (award won, but not held; 2000)
  • University of Toronto, Department of Physiology - Life Sciences Award (2000)
  • Brock University, Program in Neuroscience Distinguished Student and Graduate Award (2000)
  • Brock University, Undergraduate In-course Scholarship (1997-2000)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Scholarship (USRA; 1999)
  • Slovenian Canadian Scholarship Foundation Scholarship (1997-1999)
  • Brock University, Deans’ Honours (1997-1998)
  • Brock University, Department of Biological Sciences Year Two Book Prize (1997-1998)

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

  • Research Assistant, Department of Physiology, University of Toronto (2000)
    • Supervisor: Harold L. Atwood, Ph.D., D.Sc., F.R.S.C.
    • recorded intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potentials from crayfish muscles
  • Research Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University (1999)
    • Supervisor: A. Joffre Mercier, Ph.D.
    • worked towards the development of an ELISA for FMRF-amide related peptides; recorded intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potentials from crayfish muscles
  • Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Brock University (1998)
    • Supervisor: Stephan Brudzynski, Ph.D.
    • recorded rat ultrasonic vocalizations

OTHER APPOINTMENTS

  • Sensory Scientist – Philip Morris International, Neuchâtel CH; January 2010 - present
  • Research Grants Facilitator - Office of Research Services; Brock University, St. Catharines ON; January 2005-June 2007
  • User Services Coordinator - The Blueprint Initiative, Toronto ON; October 2003-January 2005
  • Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND) Indexer - The Blueprint Initiative, Toronto ON; May 2003-Ocotber 2003
  • Laboratory Technician, Haematology - MDS Laboratories, St. Catharines ON; 1996-1999
  • Laboratory Technician, Sample Sorting - MDS Laboratories. Burlington ON; 1995-1996

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION/EDUCATION

  • Philip Morris Project Management – Level 1 (2010)
  • CCOVI/Brock University Continuing Education- Growing Concerns: How Farming Practices Influence Wine Quality (2008)
  • Advanced Wine Flavour Chemistry (BIOL5P73)- Brock University (2006)
  • Sensory Evaluation of Wines with Wine Descriptive Analysis Practicum (BIOL5P20) - Brock University (2005)
  • Hands on Sensory Statistics- Short Course (2005)
  • Canadian Genetic Diseases Network- Canadian Bioinformatics Workshop (2004)
  • McMaster University- Rodent Survival Surgery Course (1998)
  • Brock University CAF- Short Course on Animal Care and Use (1998)
  • Colorado Association for Continuing Medical Laboratory Education (CACMLE) Self-study course #36- HIV: Challenges for the clinical laboratory professional (1996)
  • CACMLE Self-study course #35- Drugs of abuse (1996)

MEMBERHIPS

  • European Chemoreception Research Organization
  • Association for Chemoreception Sciences
  • Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology
  • Brock University Status of Women in Science Committee

TEACHING ROLES

  • Co-supervisor: Department of Psychology 4th year thesis student, Brock University. Sept. 2008 – present.
  • Co-supervisor: Oenology and Viticulture Program 4th year thesis student, Brock University. Jan. – Sept. 2008.
  • Guest Lecturer: Sensory Evaluation of Wine, Brock University, Jan. 2009. ‘Everybody’s Different! Individual Variation in Taste and Oral Sensation and its Relevance to Wine.’ Professor: Dr. Gary Pickering, Ph.D.
  • Guest Lecturer: Wine Appreciation, Brock University, Sept. 2008. ‘Individual Variation in Oral Sensation and Why it Should Matter to You!’ Instructor: Mr. Christopher Waters.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant: Introduction to Wines, Brock University, Oenology and Viticulture Program. Fall 2007. Professors: Dr. Andrew Reynolds, Ph.D., Mr. David Hulley.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant: Animal Physiology, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Division of Life Sciences. Fall 2002. Professor: Dr. Stephen Reid, Ph.D.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant: Human Physiology, University of Toronto, Department of Physiology. Fall/Winter, 2000/01 & 2001/02. Professor: Various.
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant: Human Physiology, University of Toronto, Department of Department of Zoology. Winter, 2000 & 2002. Professor: Dr. Les Buck, Ph.D.
  • Marker: Sensory Evaluation of Wine, Brock University, Oenology and Viticulture Program. Fall 2007. Professor: Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve, Ph.D.
  • Marker: Developmental Neurobiology, University of Toronto at Scarborough, Division of Life Sciences, Winter, 2003. Professor: Dr. Brian Stewart, Ph.D.
  • Assistant Instructor: Physiology for Acupuncture. The Michener Institute for Applied Science. Fall, 2001.
  • Demonstrator: Scientifically Yours -residential science camp for grade 11 girls. Brock University, Faculty of Mathematics and Science. May 1999 & 2000.

ORIGINAL PUBLICATIONS IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS (Accepted, Submitted & In Preparation)

  • Pickering, G.J., Asikyan, M., Inglis, D. & Bajec, M.R. 2011. Use of SDS-PAGE for determining salivary protein composition and application to astringency perception elicited by red wine. (In preparation).
  • Pickering, G. J., McDermott, M. & Bajec, M.R. 2011. Variation in Perception of Orthonasal and Retronasal Intensities Between Thermal Tasters and Thermal non-Tasters. (In preparation).
  • Bajec, M.R. & Pickering, G.J. 2011. Influence of Stimulus Temperature on Orosensation and Variation with Taste Phenotype. (In preparation).
  • Bajec, M.R. & Pickering G.J. 2011. Biological-based variation in perception of oral sensation and liking of alcoholic beverages: role of gender, PROP responsiveness, and thermal taste (In preparation).
  • Pickering, G.J., Bartolini, J.-A. & Bajec, M.R. (2010) Perception of Beer Flavour Associates with Thermal Taster Status. Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 116:239–244.
  • Pickering, G.J., Moyes, A., Bajec, M.R. & DeCourville, N. (2010) Thermal taster status associates with oral sensations elicited by wine. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research,16:361–367.
  • Bajec, M. R. & Pickering, G. J. (2010) Association of thermal taste and PROP responsiveness with food liking, neophobia, body mass index, and waist circumference. Food Quality and Preference, 21:589-601.
  • Bajec, M.R., Pickering G.J. 2008. Thermal taste, PROP sensitivity, and the perception of oral sensations. Physiology & Behavior. 95:581-590.
  • Bajec, M.R., Pickering, GJ. 2008. Astringency: mechanisms and perception. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 48:858-875.
  • Stewart, B.A., Pearce, J., Bajec, M., Khorana, R. Disruption of Synaptic Development and Ultrastructure by Drosophila NSF2 Alleles. 2005. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 488: 101-111.
  • Alfarano, C., Andrade, C.E., Anthony, K., Bahroos, N., Bajec, M., et al. The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database and related tools 2005 update. Nucleic Acids Research, 2005. 33 (Database Issue): D418-24.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS (Presenting Author Underlined)

  • Bajec, M.R. & Pickering, G.J. ‘Perception of orosensory stimuli: influence of temperature and sources of individual variation.’ AChemS 33rd Annual Meeting. St. Pete Beach, FL. (2011, submitted).
  • Bajec, M.R. & Pickering, G.J. ‘Perception of Orosensory Stimuli Varies with Taste Phenotype and Stimulus Temperature.’ 12th European Congress of Psychology. Istanbul, TR. (2011, submitted).
  • Bajec, M,R. & Pickering, G.J. ‘The influence of temperature on the perceived intensity of orosensory stimuli: A time-intensity study.’ Taste and Food Acceptance: Chemistry and Molecular Biology of Sweet, Bitter and Umami Tastes Workshop. Procida, IT (April 2010).
  • Bajec, M.R. & Pickering, G.J. ‘Biological-based variation in perception of oral sensations and liking of alcoholic beverages: role of gender, PROP responsiveness, and thermal taste.’ Proceedings of the 8th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium. Florence, IT (July 2009).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Pickering, G.J. (2009). ‘Association of thermal taste phenotypes with food liking.’ Proceedings of the 8th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium, 26-30 July 2009, Florence, Italy (July, 2009).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Pickering, G.J. ‘Thermal taste: association with perception of oral sensations and food and beverage behavior.’ AChemS 31st Annual Meeting. Sarasota, FL. (April, 2009; accepted).
  • Bajec, M.R. ‘PROP, Thermal Taste and Individual Variation: Discovering the Hidden Taster Within.’ Bacchus at Brock, International Interdisciplinary Wine Conference (Invited presentation), St. Catharines ON (June 2007).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Pickering, G.J. ‘Channels into Perception: The Perceptual Properties of Thermal Taste and its Molecular Basis.’ XVIII Congress of European Chemoreception Research Organisation, Portoroz, SI (September 2008).
  • Bajec, M.R. ‘Individual Variation: Discovering the Hidden Taster Within.’ Bacchus at Brock, International Interdisciplinary Wine Conference (Invited presentation), St. Catharines ON (June 2007).
  • Bajec, M.R. ‘Everybody’s Different! Individual Variation in Oral Sensation and its Relevance to Wine.’ The American Wine Society Meeting, Baltimore MA (November 2006; Invited scholarship presentation); Bacchus at Brock, International Interdisciplinary Wine Conference, St. Catharines ON (June 2007).

ABSTRACTS & POSTER PRESENTATIONS (Presenting Author Underlined)

  • Bajec, M.R. and Pickering, G.J. ‘Individual Variation in Astringency Perception and Implications for Food Preference and Health.’ Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention. St. Catharines ON (March 2008); Proceedings of the 7th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium. Minneapolis, USA. (August 2007).
  • Pickering, G.J. and Bajec, M.R. ‘Genetic basis for individual differences in wine flavour perception.’ Proceedings of the 13th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference. Adelaide, AU. (July 2007).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Pickering, G.J. ‘Astringency: perception and mechanisms.’ International Conference on Psychology. Athens, GR. (July 2007).
  • Bajec, M.R., Pierce, J. and Stewart, B.A. ‘Ultrastructural Analysis of Drosophila NSF Mutants with Impaired Synaptic Transmission.’ The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting, Toronto, ON. (January 2003).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Atwood, H.L. ‘Differential Localisation of Frequenin at Crayfish Nerve Terminals.’ East Coast Nerve Net Meeting, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, USA. (April 2001).
  • Bajec, M.R. and Mercier, A.J. ‘The NO-cGMP Pathway in Modulation of Crayfish Neuromuscular Junctions by a Neuropeptide.’ Ontario Biology Honours Conference, Peterborough, ON. (March 2000).

INDUSTRY PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

  • The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database and Associated Tools. Presented at:
    • University of Waterloo, Department of Computer Science, Waterloo, ON (2004)
    • Hospital for Sick Children (Research section), Toronto, ON (2004)
    • Brock University, Biological Sciences, St. Catharines, ON (2004)
  • Bajec, M. BIND Submission Tutorial, a Brief Guide for the Submission of an Elemental BIND Interaction Record (online tutorial). 2004. The Blueprint Initiative. Toronto, ON.
  • Alfarano, C., Anthony, K., Bajec, M., et al. BIND Curation Reference Manual: First Principles in the Curation of BIND. 2004. The Blueprint Initiative. Toronto, ON.
  • Alfarano, C., Bajec, M., et al. BIND Curation Training Manual: Practical Direction in the Curation of BIND. 2004. The Blueprint Initiative. Toronto, ON.

ACTIVITIES

  • Biology Project Judge, Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair (2009)
  • Grant writer, Brock University Status of Women in Science Committee (2006- present)
  • Mentor, Scientifically Yours Residential Girls Science Camp (Brock University; 2007 & 2008)
  • Social coordinator, Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (Brock University; 2007)
  • Member-at-large, Brock University Senate (2006 - 2007)
  • Executive member, Bled Slovenian Society, Beamsville CA (2005 - 2006)
  • Volunteer, Annex Cat Rescue, Toronto CA (2003 - 2004)
  • Social convener, University of Toronto Graduate Association of Students in Physiology (2000-2001)
  • Coordinator, Brock University Math and Science Semi-Formal Dinner and Dance (March 1999-2000)
  • Student representative, Brock University Department of Biological Sciences (1997-2000)
  • Volunteer, St. Catharines General Hospital Mental Health Department (1998)