PhD Molecular and Cellular Biology

I research epigenetic regulation in cells, which if gone wrong creates many human diseases. It is important for us to understand how healthy cells maintain their epigenome so we can harness the knowledge to reprogram diseased cells. I also get to teach undergraduate students as a TA, and this is where I make the most direct impact. It is satisfying to know that I am contributing to the education and campus experience of students. I try to alleviate the fear of making mistakes in the lab, and generate enthusiasm for science and research.

The University of Guelph is a renowned university and, as a former graduate student at U of G, it helped me build myself for the future. The graduate courses offered in the Molecular and Cellular Biology department are high-calibre and prepare students really well for the outside world. Also, you get to meet and benefit from world-known scientists who have made tremendous contributions to their areas of research.

During my undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph, I was able to join the MCB department in my third year as a work study student. It was my first exposure to an academic research lab and since then, I never wanted to leave! The department is filled with amazing faculty and other students who create an amazing workspace for conducting research. My advisor, Dr. Jasmin Lalonde, was an excellent mentor. His expertise in neuroscience and molecular biology allowed me to continuously grow as a researcher. He was always available to help me troubleshoot my experiments and gave me advice and support. His excellent teaching skills helped me continue to mature into a successful researcher over the course of my graduate studies.

I've always been fascinated by the brain and this interest only intensified when I did my undergraduate research projects at Guelph. I knew that I wanted to pursue research in neuroscience, but wanted to be able to learn many techniques along the way. Luckily, I am able to do that in my PhD work. The sense of community and collaboration within my home department is palpable and everyone is always ready to help. I've developed many friendships with both professors and graduate students alike.