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. 3- Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Proteome-wide computational approaches to identify novel genes involved in soybean resistance to SCN. 18th Annual OCIB, Ottawa Carleton Institute of Biology Symposium, 2021 Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Differentially expressed genes involved in low seed protein content in western-Canadian soybeans (Glycine max) identified through transcriptomics. Canadian Society of Plant Biologists(CSPB-SCBV) 2021 Canada [Oral].

    2021 - View publication details

  3. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Uncovering A New Allelic Variation j-x Previously Presumed to be a Linked Gene, E6, In Soybean (Glycine max). Carleton University Life science day 4.1, 2021, Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Transcriptome -wide approach to identifying differentially expressed genes involved in low seed protein content in western-Canadian soybeans, Glycine max. Carleton University Life science day 4.1, 2021, Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  5. Nissan, N., Cober, E.R., Sadowski, M., Charette, M., Golshani, A., Samanfar, B. (2021). Identifying new variation at the J locus, previously identified as e6, in long juvenile ‘Paranagoiana’ soybean. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (TAG), [online] 134(4), 1007-1014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-020-03746-2

    2021 - View publication details

  6. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN): overcoming the tiny beast below the surface. Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee (OSACC), 2021, Canada [Oral].

    2021 - View publication details

  7. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Identifying new variation and the J locus previously known as E6 in soybean (Glycine max). Soybean breeders workshop, 2021, Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  8. Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in seed protein content in soybean, Glycine max. Soybean breeders workshop, 2021, Canada.

    2021 - View publication details

  9. Dick, K., Samanfar, B., Barnes, B., Cober, E.R., Mimee, B., Tan, L.H., Molnar, S.J., Biggar, K.K., Golshani, A., Dehne, F., Green, J.R. (2020). PIPE4: Fast PPI Predictor for Comprehensive Inter- and Cross-Species Interactomes. Scientific Reports, [online] 10(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56895-w

    2020 - View publication details

  10. Julia Hooker, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: DTranscriptome-wide approach to address lower seed protein content in soybean grown in Western Canada, Canadian Society of Plant Biologists(CSPB-SCBV) eastern meeting, 2021 Canada.

    2020 - View publication details

  11. Arezo Pattang, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: A functional genomics approach in identifying the underlying gene for the E8 maturity locus in soybean (Glycine max). Canadian Society of Plant Biology (CSPB) virtual conference, 2020, Canada [oral].

    2020 - View publication details

  12. Julia Hooker, Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani: Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in seed protein content in soybean, Glycine max. Canadian Society of Plant Biology (CSPB) virtual conference, 2020, Canada [oral].

    2020 - View publication details

  13. Nour Nissan, Elroy Cober, Ashkan Golshani, Bahram Samanfar: Soybean cyst nematode (SCN): Overcoming the tiny beast below the surface. Canadian Society of Plant Biology (CSPB) virtual conference, 2020, Canada [oral].

    2020 - View publication details

  14. Samanfar, B., Cober, E.R., Charette, M., Tan, L.H., Bekele, W.A., Morrison, M.J., Kilian, A., Belzile, F., Molnar, S.J. (2019). Genetic Analysis of High Protein Content in ‘AC Proteus’ Related Soybean Populations Using SSR, SNP, DArT and DArTseq Markers. Scientific Reports, [online] 9(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55862-9

    2019 - View publication details

  15. Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Stephen Molnar, Brad Barnes, James Green, Frank Dehne, Ashkan Golshani: (Soybean-Human PIPE): A Computational Approach in Soybean-Human Functional Genomics. Plant Biology, 2018, Montreal, Canada.

    2019 - View publication details

  16. Bahram Samanfar, Kevin Dick, Brad Barnes, Elroy Cober, Stephen Molnar, Frank Dehne, Ashkan Golshani, James Green: PIPE4: Ultra-Fast PPI prediction for comprehensive Inter- and Cross- species interactomes. Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) 2019, San Diego, USA.

    2019 - View publication details

  17. Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Stephen Molnar, Brad Barnes, James Green, Frank Dehne, Ashkan Golshani: (Soybean-SCN PIPE): A Cross Computational Approach in Soybean Functional Genomics. Soy2018, 2018, Athens, USA.

    2018 - View publication details

  18. Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Stephen Molnar, Brad Barnes, James Green, Frank Dehne, Ashkan Golshani: Soybean-Human PIPE: A Computational Approach in Soybean-Human Functional Genomics. Plant Biology, 2018, Montreal, Canada.

    2018 - View publication details

  19. Márquez, I.G., Ghiyasvand, M., Massarsky, A., Babu, M., Samanfar, B., Omidi, K., Moon, T.W., Smith, M.L., Golshani, A. (2018). Zinc oxide and silver nanoparticles toxicity in the baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS ONE, [online] 13(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193111

    2018 - View publication details

  20. Bahram Samanfar, Elroy Cober, Stephen Molnar, Brad Barnes, James Green, Frank Dehne, Ashkan Golshani: (Soybean-PIPE): A Computational Approach in Soybean Functional Genomics. Plant and Animal Genome (PAG) 2018, San Diego, USA.

    2018 - 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)