Arinjay Banerjee

Arinjay Banerjee is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan. He completed his PhD in 2018 at the same institution, earning the Best Life Sciences Thesis Award and the Governor General’s Gold Medal. His postdoctoral training at McMaster University (2018–2021) included a visiting role at the University of Toronto during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. His research focuses on zoonotic viruses, particularly bat-borne coronaviruses, and explores immune responses in reservoir and spillover species.

Education:

• PhD in Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan (2018)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, McMaster University (2018–2021)

Research Interests:

• Zoonotic virus discovery and pathogenesis
• Virus-host interactions in reservoir species (e.g., bats) and spillover mammals
• Mechanisms of viral persistence and antiviral immunity
• Bat immunology and evolutionary adaptations

Publications: Over 70 peer-reviewed articles, including seminal work on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, bat immunity, and viral spillover dynamics. Recent studies highlight bat-specific immune adaptations and the development of broadly protective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Awards:

• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018–2021)
• University of Saskatchewan’s Best Life Sciences Thesis (2018)
• Governor General’s Gold Medal (2018)

Grants & Labs:

• Principal Investigator at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO)
• Recipient of grants from CIHR, NSERC, and international collaborations
• Leading projects on bat immune systems and viral emergence

Labs/Teams: Active in the VIDO research group, collaborating globally on zoonotic disease surveillance and vaccine development.