Rachel
Tell me about yourself and what you are currently studying/ working on at UVic.
My name is Rachel, and I am in my third year studying biology with a concentration in neuroscience here at UVic.
What are your future career goals?
I am a premed student. I am interested in neurology, but my interest in biology is broader as I learn more about it.
Is there any field of research you are involved with or particularly interested in currently?
I am a research assistant at the Nashmi Lab. I help genotype mice. They are using transgenic mice for experiments, and I help ensure they have an established line of mice with their desired genes. They are studying nicotinic receptors and the effects of acetylcholine in areas of the brain.
Some people discover that they are interested in science at a young age, while others discover it much later. Tell us about your experience.
I was initially interested in psychology as a kid. My mom is a doctor and noticed what I was interested in and what projects I was doing. She asked if I had ever heard of Neuroscience because she saw I was interested in the brain's structures. From a young age, I have always been interested in why people do things. I started from a more social perspective and slowly became more interested in the science part, and the more I learned about biology, the more I loved it.
What is your favourite non-stem hobby or activity?
I love playing squash here at UVic. There is an excellent squash community, but unfortunately, women are underrepresented in squash. If you really want to wack something really hard, it is great! There is a drop-in on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30, and equipment is available. Everyone is lovely, and if you don't know how to play, they will teach you!
What is one piece of advice for people looking to enter your field?
If you are in your first year of taking biology courses and don't love them because they are so general, that's okay; not everyone loves them at first. There is a lot of important information in these courses, and it is an excellent time to learn how to study. Don't let these courses stop you from going into science as a whole. As for getting into research, I recommend cold-emailing people and using your connections through peers to get involved.
What is your favourite way to relieve stress and recharge after a hard day?
Talking to my roommate! I have a great roommate. We study completely different subjects, but we come home and have little debriefs, which is often one of the highlights of my day.
What media are you currently consuming? Music, podcasts, books, movies?
I have two favourite "nerd" books. One is excellent if you are getting into biology. It is called The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean; it explains how different brain disorders were discovered. The other is this giant book called Behave by Robert M. Sapolsky. That is super cool. I read it before I started university and have been meaning to go back and see what I understand now.
Who is someone that inspires you and why?
My Mom! She is a doctor, and my grandmother didn't graduate high school. My mom's most prominent female role model did not graduate high school, and she managed to become a doctor. That is amazing, and she often underplays that.
What do you find most challenging about your degree?
Sometimes, there are just units and professors you are not clicking with, and it all piles up. Sometimes, the rest of my life begins to slip away. Last term, I wasn't playing squash at all, I wasn't eating very healthy, and I felt like crap, but my studies were going well. That is often the most challenging part; I want to do so well in my degree that I let the rest of my life take the backseat.
What do you feel you have gained by being part of WIS?
Women in biology are almost a majority now, and they are so supportive of each other. I have had so many people open up, support, and guide me. It is amazing to be a part of it!
