Members of the biological facility

Division Facility Manager, Biological Mass Spectrometrist

Zoran Minic received his M.Sc. in Integrative Systems Biology and Pharmacology in 1995 and his Ph.D. degree in Plant Biology and Ecology (1998) at the Université de Paris XI, France. In 2004, he obtained accreditation to direct research (HDR) at the Université de Paris VII. During his research career, he has worked on various projects related to biochemistry, analytical chemistry and systems biology (proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) utilising model organisms such as humans, animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms.  

After graduation, he was employed at the French institute INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique). He participated in industrial projects to develop lactose fermenting bacteria. At the same institute, he worked for four years on projects pertaining to the remodulation of plant polysaccharides in order to engineer a satisfactorily digestible product which is important for animal feeding and bioproducts. The previously described projects relied on collaborations with industrial partners.  

After relocating to Canada, he initially worked as a professional research associate at the University of Saskatchewan. His project focused on developing a new generation of antifungal and antimicrobial agents for crop protection. At the University of Regina, he worked as a Facility Manager responsible for operating and maintaining the high-throughput proteomics platforms in the Proteomics and Genomics core facility. His key responsibilities included preparing and processing samples and developing methods for large-scale proteomic projects using the state-of-the-art Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer coupled to EASY nLC 1000. Since 2017, he has been working as a Biological Mass Spectrometrist at the University of Ottawa’s John L. Holmes Mass Spectrometry Facility. His main responsibilities include the preparation and processing of biological samples and the development of large-scale proteomics and metabolomics analysis methods using state-of-the-art mass spectrometers: Orbitrap Fusion, Q-Exactive and Waters SYNAPT G2HDMS. His duties also include providing scientific consultation, designing sample preparation protocols and assisting in the development and implementation of experimental mass spectrometry-based methods. He has led and supervised technical training courses and workshops on mass spectrometry for researchers, graduate and non-graduate students. In the last four years, he has organized workshops and taught the graduate course CHM 8352. 

During his research and managerial career, Zoran has acquired a strong background in proteomics, metabolomics, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and bio-molecular purification, characterization, quantification and identification techniques. His work in the research facility at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina, and Ottawa encompassed maintenance, calibration and troubleshooting of sophisticated analytical instrumentation such as different types of Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, UPLC or nLC and FPLC) and High Resolution Mass Spectrometers (HRMS). 

He has contributed to grant writing and actively pursues research partnership opportunities by collaborating with industry and academia. His facility provides services for different users in Canada, USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, China, Serbia and Russia. He is the author/co-author of more than 70 academic journal articles, book chapters and patents.