Pursuing my doctoral degree has been a unique experience that has equipped me with capabilities to overcome a lot of challenges in life. This journey would not have been possible without the guidance and assistance of many people.Firstly, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr.

David Eisenstat for the continuous support and encouragement. This PhD would not have been achievable without your guidance and feedback. I am truly grateful for all your mentorship throughout these six years.

I would also like to express my gratitude to my thesis committee members Dr. Michael Walter, Dr. Sarah Hughes and Dr. Alan Underhill for their insightful comments and valuable advice. Specifically, I would like to thank Dr. Michael Walter who has supported me both professionally and personally and has shown me how to be a good scientist and more importantly a genuine person.I thankfully acknowledge the funding received from NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) for my PhD project.I thank my fellow lab mates for providing a very fun and supportive environment to overcome the challenges of research.

I am especially grateful to Dr. Jamie Zagozewski and Dr. Qiang Jiang for teaching me so many techniques.

My dear friends Dr. Ping Wee and soon to be Dr. Vanessa Carias, thank you for always being there for me. I will miss our coffee breaks and the laughter’s and cries we shared all these years. I am very happy to know I will carry your friendships for life.

I would like to thank my parents, whose love and guidance are with me throughout my life. You are my ultimate role models and I am very proud to call you my parents. I am also grateful to my brother, Sina, who has always provided me emotional support.Most importantly, I wish to thank my loving husband, Fardin. Thank you for believing in me and always pushing me to overcome my fears and doubts.

I am forever grateful for your support throughout w