Puja Biswas

Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Program: PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology (CELL)

What attracted you to your field?

From an early age, I was fascinated by how the same environment affects people differently. Observing my mother with low blood pressure and my father with high blood pressure — despite similar diets and lifestyles — sparked my curiosity about sex differences in metabolism. This personal observation inspired my pursuit of the biological basis of these differences. The CELL program offered the ideal environment to explore this question through its collaborative and interdisciplinary focus on physiology, molecular biology and genetics. Its supportive and inclusive research community has provided the mentorship and freedom that continue to shape my growth as a researcher.

What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?

It’s hard to choose a single favourite moment during my PhD study because every new dataset that advanced my project gave me goosebumps. One of the most memorable moments was uncovering a factor that regulates fat storage only in females, which opened an entirely new direction in my research. That breakthrough deepened my curiosity and highlighted the impact of my work. Sharing these discoveries with the scientific community and receiving national and international recognition was incredibly fulfilling. It also reminded me why I love research — the excitement of uncovering something new and meaningful that contributes to scientific understanding.

What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?

Enjoy the process of learning rather than just focusing on the outcome; that mindset will keep your passion for discovery alive and let you accept any failure. Research and academics can be unpredictable, but persistence and an open mind often lead to the most rewarding discoveries. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek feedback, learn new techniques and collaborate. Science thrives on teamwork and shared ideas.

Tell us about your research.

My research explored why females naturally store more body fat than males. I identified that higher activity in the insulin signaling pathway and specific gut hormones enable females to accumulate more fat. Understanding these biological differences is important because it helps explain how metabolism works differently in males and females. This knowledge moves us closer to precision medicine — developing treatments for metabolic diseases that are tailored to each sex, leading to more effective and equitable healthcare.

What’s next for you?

Building on the experience gained during my PhD, I am now pursuing postdoctoral research at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, investigating how vascular damage develops in children with type 1 diabetes. My long-term goal is to establish an independent research program focused on metabolism and cardiovascular health, with an emphasis on sex-based biological differences. I aim to integrate research, teaching, and mentorship to promote equity, inspire curiosity, and foster innovation in biomedical science — training the next generation of researchers to consider both sexes in their study design.