Hometown: Vancouver, BC
Program: Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
What attracted you to your field?
I was drawn to medical laboratory science because of its dynamic, interdisciplinary approach and the opportunity to engage in hands-on laboratory work. My fascination with pathology and lab medicine stems from a deep curiosity about the underlying mechanisms of disease and a passion for uncovering not only what goes wrong at the cellular and molecular levels, but also why it happens and how we can improve the outcome. The pursuit of decoding medical mysteries, combined with a strong desire to contribute to patient care and public health, solidified my commitment to advancing healthcare through the vital work of laboratory science.
What is your favourite moment from your time at UBC?
Some of my favourite moments were seeing the beautiful staining patterns in immunohistochemistry (which reveal where proteins are located within cells and tissues) and watching cells thrive in lab settings without contamination. Even when results didn’t turn out as expected, working alongside my classmates to uncover the reasons behind them was incredibly meaningful and rewarding. These moments reminded me that science is not just about outcomes, but about curiosity, perseverance and collaboration. They made me proud of how far we had come and excited for all that lies ahead.
What is one piece of advice you have for students entering your program?
Embrace every mistake as part of your journey! Mistakes are an inevitable and essential part of learning, especially in a field as complex and hands-on as medical laboratory science. What matters most is how you respond – take the time to reflect, understand where things went wrong and use those experiences to grow. Every setback is an opportunity to build resilience, deepen your understanding and sharpen your skills. Embrace challenges with an open mind, seek feedback and remember that improvement comes with persistence. Trust the process, stay curious and never lose sight of the passion that brought you here.
Tell us briefly about your research.
Last summer, I was honoured to receive the Summer Student Research Fellowship Award. Under the guidance of Dr. Junyan Shi and Dr. Tao Huan, I contributed to developing and validating a test to minimize organ rejection and medication toxicity for post-transplant patients. In another project supervised by Dr. Martial Guillaud, I applied machine learning and computational models to analyze tissue architecture and nuclear features to better predict prostate cancer aggressiveness. The ultimate goal of both projects is to advance personalized medicine and improve patient outcomes.
What’s next for you?
I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Open Education Resource (OER) Pathology: From the Tissue Level to Clinical Manifestations and Inter-professional Care, where I will be assisting with content development and ensuring accessibility standards for the resource to be used on B.C. university campuses. Looking ahead, I hope to continue building on my research experience, further exploring the intersections between laboratory science, technology and patient care. I am also planning to pursue further studies through graduate programs and professional schools. I look forward to embracing new challenges and making a meaningful difference in the communities I serve.