for Gene Researcher for a Week Application
GRFAW Alumni - Where are they now?
Philip Edgecumbe
“The GRFAW certainly positively influenced towards choosing a career in science!
Thus, thanks again!”
- Philippe Edgecumbe, 2013Philip had the privilege of spending a week with Dr. Bulman at OHRI in 2005. Following Philip’s Gene Researcher for a Week, he went on to do summer studentships in the Brain Research Centre, win medals at various science fairs and placed first at the 2006 Sanofi-Aventis Biotech Challenge in 2006.
The Gene Reseracher for a Week program sparked Philip's interest in science and genetics. He is now a 2nd year student in the UBC MD/PhD program and is working towards a PhD in Biomedical Engineering. He continues to do some part time research at the UBC Brain Research Center.
Michelle Ning
“This is an eye opening experience. It's not every day that a teenager can have the opportunity to work alongside some of the most brilliant minds of our country. This is also a great way to understand what research is all about- the day to day of it. This experience can help you focus your aspirations and solidify your interests in the genetics field.”
- Michelle NingFollowing Michelle’s 2008 experience as a Gene Researcher for a Week in Dr. Jack Chen’s lab at SFU, she was inspired to major in Cell biology and Genetics at University of British Columbia. Throughout her studies, she conducted genetics wet lab research on stickle backs and literary research for a medical geneticist at BC Children’s Hospital. She has now graduated and is employed as a community manager for healthcare professionals in oncology.
Christina Chiu
Shortly after completing Gene Researcher for a Week, Christina spent her summer studying at the University of Toronto's DEEP Biomedical Engineering Senior Stream. She received first place honours at the Sanofi-Aventis Biotech Challenge in November 2006, which enabled her to work at the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Her project, manipulating glucose-responsive non-pancreas cells to produce insulin under a drug inducible promoter, won first prize at the British Columbia Sanofi-Aventis Biotech Challenge. She recently received a Millennium Excellence Award Scholarship of $4000.
Catey McKay
“My experience working with Dr. Sladek during my week as a GRFAW student was an exceptional experience that absolutely fueled my desire to study medical sciences. It has also provided me with many advantages both in the capacity of a student researcher during my work in wet labs during the summer, and also theoretically in the many genetics courses I have and am taking at university.”
- Catey McKayCatey is a student at The University of Western Ontario in London registered in the faculty of Science with an Honours Specialization in Medical Sciences and a Major in French Language & Literature. During her time at Western, she has earned designation on the Deans Honour List, and continues to take courses in the field of genetics. She also works as a Research Associate with Dr. Alp Sener at University Hospital on a study involving kidney transplants. She has also done a Medical Student Mission trip to Haiti where she worked at various hospitals under the guidance of Dr. William Forgey.
Catey’s ultimate goal is to gain admission to medical school and work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in different countries around the world. Having been a Type 1 Diabetic since the age of six, she may also be pursue a career in endocrinology no doubt further inspired by her time with Dr. Robert Sladek during her GRFAW experience in 2010.