Meet KPU: Abhinaya Venkatesan

Abhinaya Venkatesan is the research and partners manager at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Applied Genomics Centre (AGC), a role she has held since last month. Venkatesan oversees collaborative research projects, student training, and external partnerships.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics in 2016 in India and worked in the biotech field for a couple of years, before moving to Canada and earning a PhD from the University of Calgary.

With a background rooted in molecular biology and a drive to connect research with practical outcomes, Venkatesan contributed to a discovery at the AGC: a potential new species of parasitic roundworm that shows resistance to existing treatment, called Trichuris incognita. The study, which she led as part of her PhD thesis under the supervision of the University of Calgary professor John Gilleard, was published in Emerging Infectious Diseases at the start of this year.

The following responses were sent in an email statement to The Runner.

When did you join the KPU community and why?

I joined the AGC at KPU in August 2023 as a molecular geneticist. In July 2024, I transitioned into a new role as the research and partners manager. I was drawn to KPU for its strong focus on applied research and have found the community here to be incredibly supportive. Over the past two years, I’ve gained valuable insights into how colleges operate in B.C. and across Canada — an academic environment that was relatively new to me at the time.

What’s your favourite story of your time at KPU?

It’s hard to pinpoint a single moment, but what stands out most for me at KPU is the people. What I love most about working here is the incredibly positive and supportive environment. Everyone I’ve interacted with has been helpful in so many ways, and I truly appreciate the strong sense of community that exists across the institution.

What’s something you’d like to say to people new to the KPU community?

What I’ve come to appreciate during my time here is that KPU truly grows on you. In just a few months, you start to feel a genuine sense of belonging — a reflection of how welcoming and supportive this community is.

What are you working on or doing right now?

As the research and partners manager at the AGC, I manage research and development projects, from initial consultations and project setup to implementation and reporting, working closely with the rest of the team to ensure everything runs smoothly. I also lead student training initiatives and the development of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) protocols, while supporting our media and outreach efforts to build new partnerships. In addition to these roles, I serve as the scientific lead on several applied research projects at the centre.

What’s something you’d like people to know about you?

Something I’d like people to know about me is that I genuinely enjoy bridging research and real-world impact. Whether it’s working with students and staff in the lab or collaborating with partners in industry, I’m always looking for ways to translate scientific ideas into something meaningful and accessible. I’m passionate about creating spaces where people feel supported and excited to learn, because I believe that a positive environment fuels creativity and innovation.