Bahram Samanfar, Ph.D.

Image Bahram Samanfar
Research Scientist, and Functional Genomics Team Lead

Dr. Samanfar is a Research Scientist, and Team Lead (functional genomics team) at AAFC, Ottawa-RDC and an Adjunct Professor at Department of Biology, Carleton University. He is a Molecular Geneticist and Applied Genomicist with expertise in Allele-Specific Molecular Marker Developments, Recombination Mapping, Marker-Assisted Selection (Breeding), Functional Genomics, RNA and DNA Sequencing, Proteomics, Transcriptomics, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, particularly in relation to Soybean (Barley, Bluberry, and Lupin).

Current research and/or projects

Soybean is one of the most important and economically valuable crops in the world. It is the source of vegetative oil and protein for human and animal consumption. Canadian soybean cultivation has a positive slope (increasing) since 2000. Interestingly, there is an increase in soybean production in western Canada recently. Canada has all the resources needed to expand soybean cultivation; so the plan is to expand soybean cultivation further north and west.  In order to do that, one has to face some challenges such as time of flowering and maturity, level of protein, pests and diseases. In my lab, we are trying to address these challenges by genomics, functional genomic, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics approaches.

Dr. Samanfar is a Research Scientist and a Team Lead at AAFC, Ottawa-RDC and an Adjunct Professor at Department of Biology, Carleton University. He is a Molecular Geneticist and Applied Genomicist with expertise in Allele-Specific Molecular Marker Developments, Recombination Mapping, Marker-Assisted Selection (Breeding), Functional Genomics,  Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, particularly in relation to Soybean.

Research and/or project statements

  • Identification and characterization of novel soybean genes involved in:
    • Time of flowering and maturity
    • Seed protein synthesis
    • Economically important pathways
  • Allele-specific marker development (Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) in soybean)
  • Host-pathogen interaction analysis in soybean (SCN-Soybean)
  • Identification and characterization of novel genes involved in health attributes of soybean consumption (human health and allergy)
  • Genomics and Functional Genomics (Systems Biology) of soybean (barley, blueberry, Lupine, yeast & E. coil)
  • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Soybean and SCN Functional Genomics)

Professional activities / interests

Genomics /Proteomics and Transcriptomics for Soybean (+ Barley, SCN, Blueberry, Lupine, etc.), Cell and Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Genetics and Genomics, DNA-based Markers, Allele-Specific Marker Developments, Systems Biology, Molecular Breeding, Host-pathogen Interactions, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, QTL and GWAS Analysis, Time of Flowering and Maturity (Genetics of Photoperiod Sensitivity) in Soybean, Soybean Seed Protein content, Allergy, Microbiology.

Education and awards

Ph.D. (Carleton University, Canada)

M.Sc. (Paul Sabatier University, France)

M.Sc. (University of Tehran, Iran)

B.Sc. (University of Tehran, Iran)

Key publications

  1. Bahram Samanfar, Nour Nissan, Benjamin Mimee, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani: Development of a Proteome-Wide Data Mining Pipeline to Discover Novel Soybean Genes Associated with Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) Resistance. Plant and Animal Genome (PAG-31), 2024, Sandiego, USA [Oral].

    2024 - View publication details

  2. Bahram Samanfar, Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani: Differential gene expression offers insights into the environmentally regulated protein content of soybean seeds, with emphasis on Asparagine synthesis pathway. Plant and Animal Genome (PAG-31), 2024, Sandiego, USA [Oral].

    2024 - View publication details

  3. Bahram Samanfar, Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober: Differential gene expression of higher latitudes in soybean. World Soybean Research Conference 11 (WSRC11), 2023, Vienna, Austria [Oral].

    2023 - View publication details

  4. Bahram Samanfar, Nour Nissan, James Green, Benjamin Mimee, Elroy Cober: A method to obtaining novel sources of resistance in soybean against SCN. World Soybean Research Conference 11 (WSRC11), 2023, Vienna, Austria [Oral].

    2023 - View publication details

  5. Elizabeth Brauer, Doris Luckert, Stephanie Poncos, Hannah Morrison, Whynn Bosnich, Melodie Laniel, Martin Charette, Andrew Burt, James Tucker, Raja Khanal, Bahram Samanfar: Bacterial detection and induced immune responses in barley. Canadian Society of Plant Biologists(CSPB), 2023, Quebec City, Canada.

    2023 - View publication details

  6. Julia C. Hooker, Elroy R. Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: GmSWEET29 and Paralog GmSWEET34 Are Differentially Expressed between Soybeans Grown in Eastern and Western Canada. Carleton Life Science day 6, 2023 Canada.

    2023 - View publication details

  7. Siwar Haidar, Simon Lackey, Elroy Cober, Malcolm Morrison, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Genome-wide analysis of cold imbibition stress in soybean, Glycine max. Carleton Life Science day 6, 2023 Canada.

    2023 - View publication details

  8. Siwar Haidar, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Identification of the Underlying Candidate Gene for the E7 Maturity Locus in Soybean (Glycine max). 20thAnnual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology, 2023 Canada [Oral].

    2023 - View publication details

  9. Simon Lackey, Siwar Haidar, Elroy Cober, Malcolm Morrison, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Genome-wide analysis of cold imbibition stress in soybean, Glycine max. 20thAnnual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology, 2023 Canada.

    2023 - View publication details

  10. Julia C. Hooker, Elroy R. Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: GmSWEET29 and Paralog GmSWEET34 Are Differentially Expressed between Soybeans Grown in Eastern and Western Canada. 20thAnnual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology, 2023 Canada [Oral].

    2023 - View publication details

  11. Nour Nissan, Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Steve Molnar, James Green, Ashkan Golshani: Large-Scale Data Mining Pipeline for Identifying Novel Soybean Genes Involved in Resistance Against a Terrible Yield Robber, SCN. 20thAnnual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology, 2023 Canada [Oral].

    2023 - View publication details

  12. Nour Nissan, Elroy R. Cober, James Green, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: A Bioinformatics In-Silico Approach to Obtaining a Short-List of Candidates for Novel Sources of Resistance Against a Terrible Yield Robber, SCN. Plant and Animal Genome (PAG30) 2023, San Diego, USA.

    2023 - View publication details

  13. Julia C. Hooker, Elroy R. Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: SWEET sugar transporters are differentially expressed between soybeans grown in Eastern and Western Canada. Soy2022 (Virtual), 2022 USA

    2022 - View publication details

  14. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Jim Green, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Approach to Identifying Novel Sources of Resistance Against a Terrible Yield Robber, SCN. Soy2022

    2022 - View publication details

  15. Simon Lackey, Elroy Cober, Andrew Bird, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Introgression of early maturity alleles from wild soybean (Glycine soja) to domesticated cultivars (Glycine max). 19th Annual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology, 2022 Canada

    2022 - View publication details

  16. Western Soybean Protein. Presentation at Northern Soybean Summit. Soy Canada. 25 January 2022.

    2022 - View publication details

  17. Simon Lackey, Elroy Cober, Andrew Bird, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Identification of novel maturity-related QTLs in a G.max/G.soja RIL population. Canadian Society of Plant Biologists(CSPB-SCBV), eastern meeting, 2021 Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  18. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Steve Molner, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Revealing the Truth Behind A Previously Presumed Locus, E6, in Soybean Variety Paranagoiana.Canadian Society of Plant Biologists(CSPB-SCBV) eastern meeting, 2021 Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  19. Arezo Pattang, Elroy Cober, Stephen J. Molnar, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Moving Soybean to Western Canada and Northern Regions, an Attempt to Identify the Underlying Gene for the E7 Maturity Locus. Carleton University Life science day 4.1, 2021 Canada; and 18th Annual OCIB, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology Symposium, 2021 Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  20. Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Identifying differentially expressed genes involved in low seed protein in western Canadian soybeans. 18th Annual OCIB Symposium, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology , 2021 Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

Research facility

960 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6
Canada

Affiliations

-Adjunct research professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University.

Language

English

Other languages

French (Intermediate); Persian (Native); Azerbaijani (Native); Turkish (Fluent)