Year in Program: 3
The excitement to learn about embryonic development and stem cells is what inspired me to pursue my PhD. I am always curious and wondering about how decisions and communications are made at the cellular level to make a successful fetus. UBC and the School of Biomedical Engineering allow me to explore such questions in a collaborative environment where I can chat and discuss ideas with a group of people who have interdisciplinary backgrounds.
I think UBC is one of the leading Canadian universities in the field of stem cells. Further, knowing the exciting research program of Dr. Nika Shakiba’s lab made me excited to move to Vancouver. Her lab studies the dynamics of multicellular stem cell systems.
I am interested in exploring the genetic basis of how stem cells develop into a final cell type such as brain cells, in developing embryos. Since cells live in multicellular communities, I plan to identify key genes that will influence the lineage trajectory of individual cells due to their interactions with neighbouring cells. Throughout my degree, I am using an interdisciplinary approach combining genetic engineering and stem cell-based models to study how stem cells develop.
I would love to participate in an international competitive chess tournament.