Dr. Shawna MacKinnon

Research Scientist, Phytochemist

Natural products chemistry: profiling and structure elucidation of secondary metabolities (i.e. carotenoids, glucosinolates, anthocyanins, glycoalkaloids, plant growth hormones, etc.) in terrestrial plants (berries, medicinal plants, vegetables, etc.), marine seaweeds and microalgae.

Chemical compositional analysis of fruit, wine (primary and secondary fermentations) and vine buds as it relates to viticulture and enological research.

Hydroponic controlled environment agriculture (i.e. containerized hydroponic systems using supplemental lighting)

Current research and/or projects

Northern Agriculture: Growth of nutrient-rich plants for northern and remote communities; Inuit-led agriculture in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
The study of vine performance and how it effects wine quality and chemistry
Lace plant anthocyanins: their role in window formation and anticancer activity
Improvement of quality attributes in strawberry, raspberry and blackberry using metabolomic and genomic approaches
Carotenoid producing yeast of biotechnological importance

1985 BSc (1st class honors) University of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)

1988 MSc (Pharmacy) Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS)

1995 PhD (Chemistry) University of Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)

Denbigh GL, MacKinnon S, Pitcher G, Wright AH, Lacroix C, Gunawardena A. 2019. (oral) Profiling anthocyanin species involved in developmentally regulated programmed cell death in lace plant (Aponogeton madagascariensis) leaf development. Plant Canada 2019 (Guelph, Ontario, Canada)
2019 - View publication details
Rayirath, P., Benkel, B., Mark Hodges, D., Allan-Wojtas, P., MacKinnon, S., Critchley, A.T., Prithiviraj, B. (2009). Lipophilic components of the brown seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, enhance freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Planta, [online] 230(1), 135-147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00425-009-0920-8
2009 - View publication details
Kalt, W., MacKinnon, S., McDonald, J., Vinqvist, M., Craft, C., Howell, A. (2008). Phenolics of Vaccinium berries and other fruit crops. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, [online] 88(1), 68-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2991
2008 - View publication details
Kalt, W., Howell, A.B., MacKinnon, S.L., Goldman, I.L. (2007). Selected bioactivities of Vaccinium berries and other fruit crops in relation to their phenolic contents. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, [online] 87(12), 2279-2285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2985
2007 - View publication details