Scientific Journey

Riley received Bachelor’s degrees in cellular biology and psychology from the University of Montana and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Vermont. During her PhD, she worked in the lab of Dr. Bryan Ballif, using biochemical and proteomic approaches to study how proteins behave within nervous system cells. In collaboration with Dr. Alicia Ebert, she also investigated the role these proteins play in vertebrate development using zebrafish as a model.

After earning her PhD, Riley moved to Vancouver, British Columbia to join the lab of Dr. Kota Mizumoto as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of British Columbia. There, she used genetic techniques and the small and mighty nematode C. elegans to study how the cells of our nervous system form connections with the rest of our body during development.

In addition to her research in molecular biology and neuroscience, Riley is also passionate about science communication, improving public trust in science, and helping to make science more accessible.

Games & Play in the College Classroom

Riley leads the Life Sciences Education Research Group at Quest University, which investigates how games and play can be used to increase accessibility, engagement and topic comprehension in Life Science concepts. Here, students design and implement evidence-based learning activities in the college classroom focused on topics such as biology, neuroscience and science communication.

Interested in joining?

If you have an enthusiasm for research and an interest in creating innovation education materials, email Riley for more details.

June 2022

The Life Sciences Education Research Group gets started at Quest! Summer research assistants Ali Oumar, Alyzea Merchant, Julia van Kralingen and Syrine Gamra are working on creating evidence-based educational tools. These activities and games are focused on increasing engagement and comprehension in topics including antibiotic resistance, anxiety and vaccines.

Thanks to QUSA for providing support for these summer projects!

→ See here for Riley’s complete publication list.

• Helaina Stergas, Zoë Kalbag, Riley St Clair, Jared Talbot, Bryan Ballif, Alicia Ebert (2022). Crk adaptor proteins are necessary for the development of the zebrafish retina. Developmental Dynamics, 251(2):362-376. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.402.
• Liam Kelley, Anja Nylander, Lionel Arnaud, Anna Schmoker, Riley St Clair, Lindsey Gleason, Jessica Souza, Jill Storry, Martin Olsson, Bryan Ballif (2020). Dimerization of Small Integral Membrane Protein 1 (SMIM1) promotes cell surface presentation of the Vel blood group system epitope. FEBS Letters, 594(8):1261-1270. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13726.
• **Riley St Clair, Caroline Dumas, Kori Williams, Matthew Goldstein, Elizabeth Stant, Alicia Ebert, Bryan Ballif (2019). PKC induces release of a functional ectodomain of the guidance cue Semaphorin6A. FEBS Letters, 593(21):3015-3028. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13561.

**selected as Editor’s Choice and highlighted on the cover of FEBS Letters Volume 593, Number 21

• Riley St Clair, Sarah Emerson, Kristen D’Elia, Marion Weir, Anna Schmoker, Alicia Ebert, Bryan Ballif (2018). Fyn-dependent phosphorylation of PlexinA1 and PlexinA2 at conserved tyrosines is essential for zebrafish eye development. FEBS Journal, 285(1):72-86. doi: 10.1111/febs.14313.
• Judith Keller, Bryan Ballif, Riley St Clair, James Vincent, Carlota Monroy, Lori Stevens (2017). Chagas disease vector blood meal sources identified by protein mass spectrometry. PLoS ONE, 12(12):e0189647. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189647
• Sarah E. Emerson, Riley St Clair, Ashley Waldron, Sierra Bruno, Anna Duong, Heather Driscoll, Alicia Ebert (2017). Identification of target genes downstream of semaphorin6A/plexinA2 signaling in zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics, 246(7):539-549. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.24512.