Shaeleen Mihalynuk

Shaeleen Mihalynuk is a recent UVic Microbiology graduate working as a research assistant in the Helbing Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. She has been named one of eleven Rhodes Scholars in Canada for 2025 and will be heading to Oxford University in the fall to begin her MSc in Genomic Medicine at Balliol College.

What inspired you to study microbiology?

My interest in microbiology has early roots. Childhood experiences living abroad demonstrated to me the impact of infectious diseases on individuals and communities. Observations that I made as a child prompted me to wonder and ask questions about the microbial culprits behind the diseases that had impacted my friends and really the entire first community I can remember. As my perspectives on my experiences matured, I wanted to understand the causes and impacts of diseases at an increasingly complex level. I think that this desire, and human-centred motive at the core of my curiosity, pushed me to seek an undergraduate degree that could study biological systems at the molecular level while maintaining the ultimate aim of using this knowledge to help others live healthy lives. I was fortunate to have found just that in the microbiology program at UVic. 

What was the educational pathway you took to become a microbiologist?

I started in general sciences at UVic and went into BCMB for the opportunity to study biological systems at the molecular level. It is incredibly satisfying to be able to explain what is going on in such detail and use that knowledge to guide diagnosis, treatment, and eventual disease prevention and control, for individuals and populations. Some of my favourite science courses of my degree, including Virology and Molecular Epidemiology, provided that molecular level study while also considering the greater societal impacts of diseases and scientific research. That said, I also took the opportunity to diversify my studies with electives and would recommend doing so. Electives I took, such as Latin and English Literature to 1660, were major highlights of my undergrad and I continue to use and think about what I learned in these courses today.

Was there anyone who was particularly influential to you during your studies?

Yes, several people within my personal, extracurricular, and professional lives come immediately to mind.

Firstly, my mom has been a wonderful role model for me throughout my life, including during my studies. Despite how busy and stretched she is, she always finds extra time to make sure people feel appreciated, respected, and loved. I have tried to embrace the values she embodies in daily life, knowing that, despite how wrapped up I get in work, the most precious part of life is connecting with others.

One way I have strived to care for others is by volunteering as an English teacher to refugees and newcomers. Yet, as it happens, my students have helped me beyond measure. They continually inspire me to be dedicated to my studies and work hard towards my goals; to have faith in my abilities and be brave in chasing opportunities; to enjoy each day that I get to live and cherish moments with family and friends.

Another wonderful influence was my co-op supervisor at UVic’s Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC) and the BioInnovation Hub, Becky Hof. When I first showed her my design for a biotech device and interest in entrepreneurship, I remember feeling like she knew me better than I knew myself. During my co-op terms, she was an incredible supervisor, recognizing the unique skills and potential I had and giving me the opportunity to be creative in my co-op role and pursue my interests. When I was deciding to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship, she was a tremendous support and encouraged me to go for it and to believe in myself. 

How do you maintain work/school-life balance?

This is something I have been working on my whole life and will continue to work on. I find maintaining a work-life balance difficult as I get very wrapped up in the work I am doing and have discovered that my moments of inspiration often come outside of work hours. For me, however, having outlets that allow me to be social, creative, and physically active has helped me to maintain balance while finding time for other things that I enjoy. From volunteering to dance, music, running, and sometimes a combination of these, I get both a feeling of balance and contribute to my health and sense of fulfilment.

What are your research interests? What was your favourite research project that you participated in?

My primary research interests are in infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). For the past three years, I’ve been working on a research project tackling AMR in the poultry industry. One of my favourite parts of the project is the multidisciplinary team I have the privilege of collaborating with, including poultry farmers, bioinformaticians, and chemists. Additionally, I value the translational emphasis of the project and admire its One Health approach in targeting an under-researched, but incredibly crucial industry in the impact and spread of AMR.

What about the field of microbiology excites you the most in terms of future potential?

How much we have to discover! Microbiology is fascinating in the way that it seeks to understand another dimension of reality around and inside of us, from the bacteria, archaea, and protists, that are single-celled organisms, to viruses, whose nonliving status help us to probe the origin of life itself. The technology we have now, such as single-cell omics and genome editing devices, lets us dive so much further into this new dimension to understand how microbes are functioning, how they may be helping or harming us, and how they can be engineered to help combat pressing global health concerns, energy demands, and climate change. It is so cool to me that as scientists we could help tackle such immense challenges by peering through microscopes at the tiniest units of life. This fills me with hope, and I am excited to see how microbiology will evolve with further technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs.

Congratulations for becoming a Rhodes Scholar for UVic! What are you most looking forward to about your time at Oxford University?

In terms of studying at Oxford, I am so excited to be constantly learning, exploring both my own field of study and other fascinating fields, including during lectures, seminars, and even dinner table conversations.

I am also beyond excited to meet the Rhodes cohort and wider Rhodes community. I feel so fortunate to have the chance to meet these people who have already done such incredible things, who are driven to make the world a better place, and, especially, who are resilient optimists. Considering the uncertainties and tragedies we hear about every day, from climate change to turbulent politics, brutal conflicts, and imminent global health crises, I am tremendously looking forward to meeting and being inspired by people who believe in humanity.  

What will you most miss about Victoria? 

Above all, I will miss my partner, family, friends, and communities. I will also miss the landscapes and access to nature that Victoria has- to be able to see the Pacific Ocean, snow-capped mountains, coniferous forests, and Garry Oak Meadow in a single glance is something spectacular.


What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing a similar path to yourself? 

I would recommend students to complete the following homework assignment. Write down in one column a list of your core values and in another column your academic and career goals, extracurricular activities, and anything else that you do. Think of ways in which the things that you do now and the things that you are working towards reflect your values. Draw lines to connect items in each column and keep coming back to this list. Perhaps you will find yourself revising it, realising that a certain career or extracurricular is not for you or discovering a new way to approach your studies. Hopefully, you will find yourself living with greater intention and awareness, and energized by intrinsic, value-centred motivators which will help you find meaning and fulfilment in life. 

Do you have any long term goals for yourself?

I definitely see a dynamic career ahead of me. I am keenly interested in health and I love both the opportunity to connect with people that medicine offers and the opportunity scientists have to be at the cutting edge of their field. In addition, I value the role of entrepreneurship in translating academic science into clinical practice and industry. Ultimately, perhaps by combining these roles, I hope to use my knowledge to improve the health of my global community. 

Five fun facts about Shaeleen:

1. What are some of your hobbies?

I love learning and creating so I have many hobbies and am constantly struggling to focus on a manageable few. My top activities I have enjoyed throughout my life include dance, music, running, and learning languages. I have done Ukrainian Dance for 18 years and currently dance as part of an ensemble with some of my closest friends. We pull together traditional Ukrainian steps, ballet, character dance, and contemporary movements into choreography pieces and storyline productions.

Growing up with Ukrainian folk music definitely contributed to my love of music. I used to play several instruments but now I am just focused on piano. Every so often on the weekend, I can’t resist the urge to take out all my music albums and get lost in them by sightreading for hours.

I also love running- it is both exercise and meditation for me. Living in Victoria, I feel so lucky that I can run year-round and take the opportunity that running provides to enjoy the beautiful nature around the city, let go of unnecessary stress, and exist in the moment.

Finally, I have an unsatisfiable appetite for learning. By learning languages, both ‘live’ and ‘dead’ ones, I simultaneously unlock courses in history and opportunities to further connect with others.


2. Do you have a favourite cuisine? If so, what and why?
I would say Mediterranean cuisine, including dishes from Northern Africa, the Levant, and Southern Europe. I know I am cheating on this one as there are so many different cuisines represented here, but I really can’t narrow it down further- the food is all so delicious.

3. Any media you enjoyed lately- anything from books, music, podcast, to films!

I’m definitely a big podcast person. One science podcast I love, particularly for its focus on immunology and infectious disease, is called This Podcast Will Kill You. Not a very nice title but the episodes are really well done. A typical episode will focus on a particular disease, go over its epidemiology, pathophysiology, historical and current impacts, treatment options, and future directions, and even provide research sources and further reading recommendations.

4. Do you have a favourite study spot either on campus or around Victoria?

I’m often on the move, so much of my studying has taken place during free moments in the lab, between classes, and at the Ukrainian Culture Centre. When I did have a chance to study on campus, the loft in the main library got me through first-year courses like PHYS 110 and 111. On the other hand, in my final year, I enjoyed group study sessions in the law library and found that slowly talking through lectures and key concepts with friends was super effective.

5. Is there anything you want to take up (language, instrument, sport etc) in the near future?

I hope to find more time for music and am currently working to finish up my piano diploma. I also used to play viola and would like to pick that up again and improve my abilities- I love the instrument and it offers so much in terms of chamber and orchestral music. Other than that, I plan to continue dancing, teaching dance, and learning languages, which are all longstanding passions of mine.