Tony RussellView profile
Associate Professor
Tony Russell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of British Columbia and completed postdoctoral research at Dalhousie University, focusing on small RNA structure and evolution in unicellular eukaryotes. Education: PhD, University of British Columbia (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Postdoctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University The Russell lab investigates RNA biology and evolution through studies of small RNAs and protein-RNA complexes in protists. Key research areas include spliceosome evolution, intron dynamics, and genomic strategies to identify non-coding RNAs. Organisms under study include Euglena gracilis , Giardia lamblia , and Phytophthora species, with implications for understanding human diseases and pathogen biology. His publications in journals like Nature and RNA highlight discoveries such as ancient spliceosomal introns and novel snoRNA structures. The lab employs biochemical, structural, and bioinformatic approaches to unravel RNA functions and their evolutionary trajectories. Current research involves sequencing protist genomes to annotate small RNA genes and developing methods for identifying RNA modifications. The lab's work contributes to foundational knowledge in eukaryotic biology and potential applications in combating parasitic pathogens.







