Michael is a M.Sc. student in Applied Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan, in Dr. Tim Sharbel’s lab. He has been working hands-on with medicinal cannabis for over a decade and has spent the last four years researching cannabis/cannabinoids from a pharmacological perspective as a member of Dr. Robert Laprairie’s lab.
His current research will utilize genomic tools and an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the diversity of Cannabis sativa present among a massive collection of seeds acquired from a vast geographical and temporal origin, including many purported landraces. This will allow for the identification of pharmaceutically relevant chemovars for further development, potential discovery of novel traits to improve production, and an overall solid foundation with which to begin scientifically validated breeding efforts. He is also working on polyploidization of Cannabis sativa to generate triploids with improved productivity and potential infertility which would allow for seedless outdoor cannabis production regardless of pollination; in addition, looking into the Y chromosome and sex-determination factors involved to better understand what underlies manipulations such as feminized seeds generated from induced female pollen.