BrainWaves: The Neuroscience Graduate Program Newsletter - Brain Waves Posts , The MiNDS of our StudentsBrainWaves: The Neuroscience Graduate Program Newsletter - Brain Waves Posts , The MiNDS of our Studentshttps://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/the-minds-of-our-studentsSun, 14 Dec 2025 14:40:16 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[What's Happening the Hammer? SUMMER EDITION]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/Whats-Happening-the-Hammer-SUMMER-EDITION

AUTHOR: Jasmine Turna

It’s the summer and even graduate students sometimes need a break to enjoy the amazing weather. Maybe you’ve recently moved to Hamilton or have lived here for quite some time. Fortunately for you, there are always exciting things happening, so get outside and explore what this city has to offer!

Check out the green space:

Living in the middle of the greenbelt comes with its perks. Take a chance and explore the many green spaces Hamilton has to offer. If you’re on campus, take a stroll through Cootes Paradise (there are access points behind the residence buildings) or head out to Dundas Peak and get an amazing picturesque view. The city has also put a lot of work into revitalizing the waterfront, so take advantage of Bayfront and Pier 4 Park. For anyone living downtown, Gage Park may also be of interest.

Art Crawl: Every SECOND Friday of the month is Art Crawl on James St N (north of Jackson Square). Artists open up their studios for you to explore, galleries and restaurants extend their hours, food trucks are everywhere and the street is blocked off making it pedestrian friendly. The next Art Crawl date for the summer is August 11th, 2017. I hope to see you there!


Lower City Runners: Need to let off some steam? The LCR is an inclusive community of runners that hosts weekly runs that start at City Hall (Tuesday evening, 7pm) and finish at a bar in the city.

                                                

Supercrawl: Although this technically signals the end of summer, Supercrawl is a 3-day festival (held September 8th-10th) bringing a mix of music, art and food to Hamilton. In addition to a number of local Hamilton bands and acts like Basia Bulat, Billy Talent and the Sam Roberts Band will also be performing. Check out this link for more details: http://supercrawl.ca/


Hamilton Fringe Festival: The 14th annual Hamilton Fringe Festival is scheduled to take place July 20th-30th of this year. Over 40 companies are performing musicals, magic shows, dramas and dance/comedy performances in historic buildings all over Hamilton. Click here for more details: www.hamiltonfringe.ca

            

Finally both the Hamilton Greek Fest (www.hamiltongreekfest.com) and Dundas Cactus Festival (www.dundascactusfest.ca/) are scheduled for August 18th to 20th with food, entertainment and other fun events planned for both!

                                                                          Did we miss something? Let us know and we’ll include it in the next edition of BrainWaves for everyone to enjoy!

]]>Tue, 11 Jul 2017 18:50:00 -0400<![CDATA[What's on my Mind as an Incoming MiNDS Student: The Summer Before Starting Grad School]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/what-s-on-my-mind-as-an-incoming-minds-student-the-summer-before-starting-grad-school

AUTHOR: Patricia Al-Salom

Hello Everyone! My name is Patricia Al-Salom, and I am a new graduate student entering the MiNDS program this coming September. I’m starting this little "blog-style" column to share with you my progress during my first year in graduate school and even try to provide you with some tips and tricks I gather along the way. I'm hopeful that these insights will be of value to other incoming students, as well as those who join the program in future years.


Graduate school is fast approaching… find out how I'm preparing for the upcoming year as a new graduate student!

I met with an upper year graduate student in my lab, Lisa, who gave me a bunch of tips and tricks on how to adjust to grad school and what I should expect coming in. I highly recommend doing the same if you are a first year student — another student’s perspective is extremely valuable and different than anything you could read online. For example, Lisa told me about different scholarships (CIHR, OGS and many others) and how/when to apply for them. She also taught me about balancing work and your personal life and how to avoid burnout in grad school by taking some evenings off to do fun things with family and friends so that you are energized for the next day and can continue your research with a positive outlook.


I also picked up a book “57 Ways to Screw up in Grad School” which offers some common mistakes students make and how to avoid them. It is both an informative and hilarious read - I definitely recommend picking it up from Chapters if you get the chance!

                        

Lastly, I would like to thank Daniel D, a fellow graduate student, who recommended the 1010 Bistro which is close to campus. It has delicious food and a great atmosphere!

                        

P.S. Don’t forget that course registration is coming up soon… keep on the lookout for that email! Other than that, enjoy your summer and soak up some sunshine!


- Patricia A.

]]>Tue, 11 Jul 2017 18:48:00 -0400<![CDATA[What's on my Mind as an incoming MiNDS student]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/What-on-my-Mind-as-an-incoming-MiNDS-student

Author: Patricia Al-Salom

Hello Everyone! My name is Patricia Al-Salom, and I am a new graduate student entering the MiNDS program this coming September. I’m starting this little "blog-style" column to share with you my progress during my first year in graduate school and even try to provide you with some tips and tricks I gather along the way. I'm hopeful that these insights will be of value to other incoming students, as well as those who join the program in future years.


First, I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. I am from Windsor and this is the first time I've moved to a new city, since I completed my undergrad in the same city I've lived my entire life.

Tiffany's Falls




Right now, I'm now exploring the best both McMaster and Hamilton have to offer. The first thing I noticed is that McMaster's campus is much bigger than Windsor's- so that will take some getting used to. The city of Hamilton is also quite a bit bigger and I am just getting to know some of the gems #hamont has to offer. Hamilton is known for it's waterfalls, so I took a walk over to Tiffany's Falls to explore, and it's definitely something you do not want to miss. 

However, I'd love to hear some more suggestions from those of you who are living in Hamilton in terms of what you love about this city and things that other students may enjoy! For now I will continue to explore Hamilton and keep in touch with my supervisor. Right now I am feeling both eager and nervous about graduate school! But I will keep you posted...

- Patricia A.

]]>Tue, 07 Feb 2017 22:05:00 -0500<![CDATA[Welcome New Students (September 2016)]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/Welcome-New-Students-September-2016

AUTHOR: Ryan Van Lieshout

This autumn, MiNDS welcomes its latest class of students, a group of very exciting young people with varied backgrounds and interests. Get to know each of them below. And if you see them around, please say hello and offer them a warm welcome to the program!

Melissa Furtado



My name is Melissa Furtado and I'll be entering the newest MiNDS class under the supervision of Dr. Benicio Frey and Dr. Ryan Van Lieshout. I graduated from the Univeristy of Toronto with a Honours Bachelor of Science, in which I achieved a double major in Psychology and Health and Disease, as well as a minor in Biology. I enjoy spending my spare time with my goldendoodle Jackson, reading, going to Jays games, and watching movies and bingeworthy TV shows with family and friends!
Melissa Elgie



I began my undergraduate degree here at McMaster, and completed it at the University of Guelph, in the Psychology and Neuroscience programs. Here in the MiNDS program, under the supervision of Dr. Noam Soreni, I am working with pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and/or Hoarding Disorder patients, investigating cognitive processes that underlie these disorders. As well, I complete fMRI for our studies and the Province of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Disorder (POND). Outside of school, I like spending time with my family and friends, as well as my two labs, Cash and Frank.
Nina Prodribaba




I completed my BSc in biology and psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. My MSc in computational neuroscience will be completed under Dr. Daniel Goldreich’s supervision. Outside of school, I enjoy discovering new music and artists as well as laughing to the latest comedy TV shows and movies.

Aya Dudin



My name is Aya Dudin and I completed an HBSc in Behavior Genetics and Neurobiology at UofT where I developed an interest in the underlying neurobiology of maternal behavior, both typical and atypical. I then worked as a Research Assistant on the collaborative “fMRI Baby Faces” study between McMaster University and the University of Toronto. I am particularly interested in women’s brain activation patterns to infant stimuli and the differential neural correlates underlying postpartum depression and major depression. I am looking forward to starting graduate training in the MiNDS program under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Hall in the Developmental Neuroscience Lab. 

Arman Shekari

Hello, readers, just a few quick words about myself. I completed my undergrad at the University of Toronto, majoring in neuroscience and psychology. I am currently working in Dr. Fahnestock’s lab, studying the influence of neurotrophic factors in Alzheimer’s disease. Aside from the academic side of things, I’m a big basketball fan and I’m pretty big on cars. I also really enjoy fishing. Looking forward to getting to know my classmates and getting the program started in September!

Natalia Lapinskaya

Natalia received her undergraduate degree from University of Toronto, concentrating in the areas of Biology, Physiology, and Linguistics. She then spent three years working at University of Maryland in the US in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language laboratory and the Computational Sensorimotor Systems Lab, using EEG, MEG, and fMRI to investigate speech and language perception in healthy individuals and those afflicted with schizophrenia. While there, she was also extensively involved with science and policy public outreach in Washington, DC, volunteering with University of Maryland, Society for Neuroscience, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. At McMaster, she’ll continue investigating language and broader cognition as a member of Dr. John Connolly’s Language, Memory, and Brain lab. When not scanning brains, Natalia likes to travel with her camera in tow, most recently doing road trips around Alaska and through Death Valley and other deserts in the US Southwest.

Fiza Arshad
I graduated with Honors in Bachelors of Science from the University of Toronto Scarborough in the Neuroscience SpecialistNeuroscience SpecialistNeuroscience SpecialistNeuroscience Specialist
Program, with a minor in Creative Writing. During my time as a MiNDS student, I will study stress, motivation and motivation and motivation and motivation and 
reward-processing with Dr. Iris Balodis. Besides these academic goals, I am a poet who blogs, likes reading, and exploring. reading, and exploring. reading, and exploring. reading, and exploring. 
I have an eclectic taste in music, and cheers to Modern Family!
Sawayra Owais



I completed my neuroscience undergraduate degree from Western University and I am looking forward to joining Dr. Frey’s lab. When my nose is not buried in the latest paper about maternal health, you can catch me watching The Middle or quoting epic moments from The Office. 

Kristie Poole

Greetings! My name is Kristie Poole and I recently finished my Master’s Degree in the Health Research Methodology Program at McMaster University, having completed my undergraduate in the Life Sciences Program prior. I now look forward to combining my interests in clinical epidemiology, psychology, and biology to conduct doctoral work in the MiNDS Program. Under the direction of Drs. Louis Schmidt and Ryan Van Lieshout, I am very excited to examine the origins and correlates of shyness, social anxiety, and selective mutism. Aside from my passion about this fearful (but not feared) work, I am also a lover of terrible jokes, cheap drinks, soccer, crossword puzzles, Wheel of Fortune, and short walks on the beach.

Vanessa Morris





I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in Psychology and am now here, at McMaster, working with Dr. Michael Amlung at the Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research at St. Joseph's Hospital. Outside of neuroscience I like to spend the majority of my time reading, distance running and playing with other people’s pets. 

Omar Shawaf


Hello everyone! My name is Omar Shawaf and I graduated from the Biology and Pharmacology Co-op program at McMaster University. I will be working under the guidance of Dr. Mishra. Aside from academics I enjoy travelling, horseback riding, and feel strongly about the power of mental health services and education. I am a part of an online tutoring club at McMaster for refugees abroad interested in studying in Canada. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you'd like to be a tutor :). I hope to meet you all at the grad events planned for us in the coming year!
Shane Simon


My name is Shane Simon. I received my undergraduate degree in general biology from the University of British Columbia: Okanagan. My undergraduate thesis project was titled, “The effects of neurosteroids on adult neurogenesis on the goldfish, Carassius auratus.” It will be my first year in the MiNDS program & I couldn’t be more excited! My supervisor here at McMaster University is Dr. Deda Gillespie. When I am not doing science in the lab, I am reading about it for leisure; my favourites are Sagan’s Cosmos, Dawkin’s The Selfish Gene, & Goodall’s In the Shadow of Man. Nothing beats getting coffee & talking about big science ideas! But I would say talking about the Blue Jays or Maple Leafs is a close second. Besides that, I tend to stay outside when possible – I am an avid hiker, bicyclist, and runner. I’ll see you on the trails!

Kathryn Reynolds



Kathryn Reynolds will be starting her PhD in the lab of Dr. Laurie Doering. She recently completed her MSc in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Collaborative Neuroscience with Dr. John Vessey at the University of Guelph, where she studied the RNA-binding protein Musashi2 and its ability to promote neuronal formation during brain development. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science with a minor in Neuroscience, also from the University of Guelph. When she’s not in the lab, Kathryn enjoys landscape photography – she’s looking forward to exploring Hamilton’s waterfalls!

Jelena Popov



I completed my undergrad in Molecular Biology and Genetics at McMaster University. Towards the end of my undergrad, I accepted a research position in the Department of Gastroenterology at McMaster Hospital, studying Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Adults and later, Pediatrics. I quickly grew to love this research and shortly thereafter, decided to combine components of IBD research with my interest in neuroscience by eagerly joining the MiNDS Program under the supervision of Dr. Ratcliffe. In her lab, I will be studying the mechanisms by which intestinal microbiota influence the development of the enteric nervous system in in vitro mice models. I am looking forward to the challenges that await in the MiNDS Program!


Steven Mancini




I completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) degree at McMaster University. My graduate supervisor is Dr. Kathryn Murphy. My academic interests include neuroplasticity, synaptic regeneration and neurodevelopmental disorders. I greatly enjoy playing baseball and hockey. I am a huge Toronto Blue Jays and (unfortunately) Maple Leafs fan. My favourite vacation destination is Pescara, Italy. I am a big believer in keeping your hands to yourself, not running with scissors and the notion that everything is better with ice cream.

Rachael Horne






Hello everyone my name is Rachael Horne, and I will be joining the MiNDS program this September! I’ll be working under Dr. Jane Foster, identifying how populations of gut microflora are controlled by host signaling and their effects on behaviour. I graduated this past June from the small but mighty Wilfrid Laurier University, with an Honours BSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology.  While at Laurier I was heavily involved in a student run chemistry association, catering to science students at Laurier through social and academic related events, and I’m a believer in the work hard, play hard mentality.  Outside of academics I’m an avid skier, camper and general outdoorsy girl. Neuroscience has always been a passion of mine, and after a summer off from research I’m very eager to get back to it.

]]>Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:46:00 -0400<![CDATA[Alumni Interview with Christal Gray]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/Alumni-Interview-with-Christal-Gray


Dr. Christal Gray graduated from the MiNDS program in 2013 and is currently a medical liason for Amgen Canada. She completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Ram Mishra and was a stand out student with tremendous success in the MiNDS program. After graduating she worked as a research assistant and medical editor before moving on to the large pharmaceutical giant Amgen. Christal took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions; and she really does take busy to a whole new level (she is constantly on the go covering the whole of Canada as a prominent medical liaison and is also a full time family woman, mother, and wife).

Q. Please explain in some detail what it is that you are currently working on (give us an idea of your ‘job description’).

A. I am currently a Medical Liaison in the Biotechnology industry. My role involves significant travel within Canada to communicate to interested physicians the complexities of our clinical trials and cutting edge literature in the field.

Q. In what ways do you feel that the MiNDS program helped prepare you for your current career?
A. MiNDS was an excellent program that brought together some of the greatest mentors and faculty at McMaster University. Dr. Ram Mishra was an outstanding mentor who taught me effective communication. Our Meeting of the MiNDS journal clubs and regular in-class presentations encouraged the types of thought and discussions that I have on a typical day in my current job.

Q. Could you elaborate on how you went from being a MiNDS student to the position you have today? What steps did you take to launch your career specifically? 
A. Upon completion of my degree, I worked as a Research Assistant for a couple months. Concurrently, I was hired to do some consulting work with a small Biotechnology company. Within three months I was brought on full time as part of their Research and Education Department. Two years after that, I started looking for something new and my current position was advertised. I found it online, submitted an application, attended interviews and was offered the position. Networking is an incredibly valuable tool but for the positions that I have actually worked in I submitted an application and was given the opportunity.

Q. What were some of your fondest memories of being a MiNDS student?
A. My favourite times as a MiNDS student were the morning Timmy’s runs, where we enjoyed our coffees sitting on the floor outside of our lab; late night experiments where we would coordinate our incubating times and then run out for a lab dinner together. I loved being surrounded by some incredibly intelligent people who were also a lot of fun.

Q. Do you have any advice for current MiNDS students who are unsure of how to translate their current research interests into a potential career path?
A. You have developed a unique skill set that is very valuable. When I was getting started several different people told me, spend some time thinking about what you really want to do. Once you start achieving experience in one area/industry, making a switch to a completely new area can be challenging. So figure out if you like numbers, communication, policies or “hands on” science functions. You are trained for all of these things by being in the MiNDS program. Choose what you really like to do and give it your all!

]]>Tue, 13 Sep 2016 21:15:00 -0400<![CDATA[Alumni Interview: Mark Tucci]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/The-MiNDS-of-our-Students-Mark-Tucci

AUTHOR: Elyse Rosa

Mark Tucci was a PhD student in the MiNDS program working with Dr. Henry Szechtman. Mark defended his thesis in 2014. While working with Dr. Szechtman, his PhD work focused on the neurobiological and behavioural correlates of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) using a rat model. Since graduating from the MiNDS program, Mark moved on to a post-doctoral position at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, and more recently began a new line of fascinating work partnered with the Ontario Brain Institute. Mark took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of our questions about how he transitioned from a MiNDS student to his current position.


Q. Please explain in some detail what it is that you are currently working on (give us an idea of your ‘job description’)

A. Presently, I hold the title of 'entrepreneur' and I am funded by the Ontario Brain Institute. My job is to take neurotechnology developed in the laboratory, and make it accessible to potential users by commercializing it. Some of the MiNDS students may be familiar with my co-founder, Dr. John Connolly, as he is a MiNDS faculty member. Each day I may wear a number of different hats. I spend a lot of time testing patients in and out of the laboratory to build our data and validate the technology. I also attend business meetings with potential partners and stakeholders where I try to explain the value of this work to them. I still chase funding opportunities, albeit from a commercial perspective rather than academic. And of course, I still look at stats! Being an entrepreneur is not really something you can prepare yourself for. I know courses exist for it, but it really is about immersing yourself in the business world, and having a solid team of mentors to help you navigate the waters.


Q. In what ways do you feel that the MiNDS program helped prepare you for your current position?

 A.  I was lucky to have an amazing supervisor and mentor in Dr. Henry Szechtman.  Virtually everyday I apply something that I learned from him. The knowledge you gain from your supervisor will help build you both as a researcher and person, and will be invaluable going forward. Additionally, the MiNDS program was very open to non-traditional career options for students. I can recall a number of speakers and events that leaned towards industry rather than academia. This was very important because it opened my eyes to other possible career paths besides academia—which we all know is so hard to get! The MiNDS program was very forward thinking on industrial alternatives and knowledge translation. 

 

Q.  Could you elaborate on how you went from being a MiNDS student to the position you have today?

 A.  As I transitioned out of the MiNDS program, I accepted a combined post-doctoral fellowship and business internship at the Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI). I'll be honest; it was the business internship that I was really interested in. The neat thing about the SRI was that they really pushed commercialization of their research findings. As an intern, I acted as a scientific liaison for one of the start-up companies based out of the SRI. This was a great experience and it gave me a taste of the business world. Around this time, I was talking with Dr. Connolly about his work, which I always found fascinating. He mentioned that he was interested in trying to commercialize his technology. We built a relationship and applied for various grants to start our venture. Currently, we use each day as an opportunity to push the venture forward to become a successful business.   

 

Q.  What were some of your fondest memories of being a MiNDS student?

 A.  One of my fondest memories of being a MiNDS student has to include playing baseball with some of the other students. We always had such a competitive team but just couldn't seem to beat the Phoenix to win a championship. This was a great way for us to all get to know each other outside of the lab, and unwind after a long day of work!


Q.  Do you have any advice for current MiNDS students who are unsure of how to translate their current research interests into a potential career path?

 A. I think the most important thing that I can tell current students is to get out there and network. I was unsure as to what I wanted to do for a career. However, by networking I met many individuals who shared their journey with me and I began to get a picture of what I wanted to do. Your network might start with others in the MiNDS program like mine did. However, you really need to get out and grow as big a network as you can.  You never know what will happen by doing this. I once volunteered at a health technology event where I handed out nametags. This is where I met a contact that led to my position at the Sunnybrook Research Institute. The MiNDS program provides many opportunities to network, but students should get out of Hamilton and attend events elsewhere when possible. A solid network will help you explore your potential career paths and may even help you land your first job!

]]>Tue, 10 May 2016 21:55:00 -0400<![CDATA[Program Feature: MiNDS High School Co-op Program]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/MiNDS-High-School-Co-op-Program1

AUTHOR: Elyse Rosa

This year as a part of the MiNDS Outreach Program also known as “Out of our MiNDS”, a new high school co-op program was launched. The purpose of this initiative was to fill a gap in the current high school curriculum, which has few, if any opportunities for high school students to gain real laboratory experience, leaving these students unaware of what could be gained from an education or career in science. Through this co-op program, students are able to earn high school credit in exchange for working in the lab for a minimum of 15 hours/week during their chosen semester.


The diversity of the MiNDS program allows us to offer a wide range of lab experiences to incoming high school students and thus fosters unique co-op placements for each student. The first round of high school students to participate in this program are currently completing their placements and it has proven to be a great experience for everyone involved. I am currently working on recruiting high school students who will start their placements next fall. If you have any questions about this program or are interested in taking part, please do not hesitate to contact me (rosae@mcmaster.ca).


June 2018 Co-op Program Update: For more information about the program or current positions, please email Lisa & Ashley at mcmastermindscoop@gmail.com.

]]>Tue, 10 Nov 2015 20:36:00 -0500<![CDATA[The MiNDS of our Students]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/The-MiNDS-of-our-Students1

AUTHOR: Jasmine Turna

Melissa is a 4th year PhD student in the MiNDS program working with Dr. Michael Mazurek. Her project focuses on concussions, more specifically, finding a biomarker for concussions. Initially, Melissa began looking at exercise as an enrichment program, but switched to a more clinical project and has since enjoyed working with a variety of athletes including varsity rugby and flag football players at McMaster. Melissa certainly has a very personal connection to her project as she has been a competitive springboard diver for 16 years and attended the Olympic trials in 2012. Although she hasn’t been jumping from any diving boards since learning about her pregnancy, she continues to be involved in the sports world and was named to the PanAm sports committee and will be responsible for field of play supervision for the diving event. 

How was your experience with the 3-minute thesis project?

It was pretty cool actually. I had a great time doing it. Public speaking hasn’t really ever been something I had issues with; I did a lot of speech competitions throughout elementary school. Condensing large amounts of information into a small speech was definitely a challenge. But I just thought about what I would want to know if I were listening to this, like what would I really want to find out about the topic? Hence, I talked about why it’s important–like an outline of a puzzle–so I could later fill in the pieces expressing this idea in a way that people would want to listen. You can throw in something that’s a little funny, or something that people can relate to. You need to make it relatable because when you’re trying to get scientific material across, it can be difficult to connect with people at times. So with my topic, I tried to relate to them whether it was that they had a kid or whether they were an athlete themselves; then people will have a reason to listen a little more intently.

 

What advice do you have for students who are new to the program?

I was new to McMaster, graduated from York University’s Psychology program. I was always interested in psychology, but in third and fourth year I started to take neuroscience courses which got me interested in MiNDS. If I have any advice for students, it would be to make sure that you actually like the project you’re going to be doing. Often students want to be in a graduate program and there’s a tendency to find a supervisor and make your goals fit their description, but considering the amount of time and effort being put in on your part, you want to make sure that you actually enjoy it.

 

Looking back, how was your first year in the MiNDS program? 

I did a one year Master’s and spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what it meant to be a graduate student. No one in my family went to graduate school so I felt like I was stumbling through most of it. I knew I wanted to do research but at the same time didn’t know what to expect with the overall experience.

 

What advice would you give to your first year self if you could? 

Because everyone in the program is so spread out, physically, with some people on the main McMaster campus and others at St. Joe’s, etc., we have a tendency to lose contact with our peers. Neuro 700 is great because you see everyone in your class all the time, but you should really make an effort to stay in touch afterwards. As you progress in graduate school, your peers offer great support and can act as a source of information.

 

What is your favourite memory/event in the program?

The best memories of the program involve the times I went to lunch with the speakers but students usually avoid going to them. It’s hard to go when you don’t really know the speakers; you feel uncomfortable because you don’t know what to say to them. One time, I went to a lunch with a colloquium speaker whose research I was really interested in but I didn’t think I knew it well enough to ask a question. So since he was from Vancouver I asked him about hockey, but turned out he wasn’t a fan. Even though it obviously wasn’t the best question, it broke the ice and helped because it gets the discomfort out of the way. Oftentimes, even if you don’t know what to say, the speakers will always ask you things about your work. These lunches were also how Dr. Sue Becker came to be on my committee.  If students can get over the nervousness they associate with them, the lunches are actually very interesting and can be very useful. 

 

What are your plans for after you complete your degree?

I’m hoping to graduate in the fall/winter after a short maternity leave, and I am looking at some post-doctoral opportunities. I want to work in a concussion clinic because there are still so many unanswered questions about the topic. My supervisor sees a lot of kids with post-concussion syndrome and the parents come in not knowing what’s going to happen; they’re fighting with schools to allow their children time to heal and they have questions about their long-term development, but unfortunately we don’t have any good answers for them. The future of sports and these unanswered questions are important and personal questions for me, because we need to protect an athlete’s best interest. I also really enjoy seeing and talking to patients. There are so many different ways you can help them without realizing you’re doing anything, like giving them comfort and reassurance. It seems like a small thing but it’s really important to them. Ideally, I’d like a role where I can still see and work closely with patients.

 

To view Melissa’s presentation click here.

 

]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2015 10:29:37 -0400<![CDATA[Ask a Senior Student!]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/Ask-a-Senior-Student

AUTHOR : Bill Simpson


Bill Simpson, a 4th year Ph.D. student sheds some light on the Student of MiNDS Association (SOMA) and how to prepare for a Master’s Thesis defence.

Question 1: What is the Students Of MiNDS Association (SOMA)?

 

SOMA is the official student association for the MiNDS program. SOMA’s mandate is to help enhance student life, build connections among MiNDS students and to be a partner in neuroscience outreach. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the program, MiNDS students are spread out across a wide array of faculties and campuses. Back in 2011, 5 senior MiNDS students created SOMA to try and bring together our diverse and spread out student body. This desire to create a strong student community lives on, and today SOMA is made up of a core team of student executive members from many different backgrounds. Be sure to look at SOMA’s new website (somamcmaster.ca) for more information about the association and upcoming events!

 

Question 2: It’s getting close to the end of my Master’s, what do I need to do to prepare for the defence?

 

Your defence is the pivotal moment of your Master’s. All the work that you’ve accomplished over the previous 1.5-2 years is on display. But before the big day can happen (and the process can be initiated), there are a couple of things you need to do. First, make sure to have a committee meeting. Your committee will ultimately decide whether or not you can defend successfully and they want to make sure you are prepared for the challenge. At this meeting, make sure to present a summary of your work and outline what you think the content of your thesis should be. Your committee will help you figure out if you are ready to defend, or if you need to spend some more time collecting/analyzing or writing up your data. Once you have the committee’s approval, download the Master’s thesis guidelines from the School of Graduate Studies’ website. McMaster has very specific formatting guidelines and setting these up right away will help you in the long run. Reviewing them will also help you create an outline to guide your writing. As you write different sections of your thesis, be sure to review them with you supervisor and committee members. Not all members will need to review your thesis piece by piece, but your committee members are an excellent source of feedback. Once your thesis is ready (i.e., you and your supervisor agree), your supervisor will initiate the defense process and help get everything organized. The last step for you is to prepare for your defence by practicing your defence presentation and reading the literature to prepare for questions from your examiners. Doing a mock defence with some of your more senior peers can also be helpful.  


]]>Thu, 28 May 2015 11:05:01 -0400<![CDATA[The MiNDS of our Students]]>https://www.mindsnews.ca/blogs/post/The-MiNDS-of-our-Students

AUTHOR: Crystal Mahadeo

Bill Simpson reflects about his experience in graduate school and gives some helpful advice to new students. He continues,“Grad school is your experience. What you put into it is directly related to what you get out of it.”

Bio:  Bill Simpson is a 4th year PhD candidate in the laboratory of Drs. Meir Steiner and Benicio Frey. Their research focuses on the impact of reproductive cycles on mood disorders in women, and is aimed at promoting women’s mental health across the lifespan. Bill’s work centers on examining the impact of biological rhythm (e.g., sleep) disruption on the risk of postpartum depression. He is a founding member of the Students of MiNDS Association (SOMA) and is the Director of scientific development at MEMOTEXT Corporation, a company that provides e-health solutions for patient medication adherence. In his spare time, Bill enjoys playing softball and taking long walks through farmers’ markets. He also has a love of craft beers and cooking.


In interviewing Bill Simpson, this is what he had to say:


What advice do you have for students who are new to the program?

Never lose sight of your personal goals for grad school. Others may try to pull you in a different direction, but at the end of the day, grad school is your experience. What you put into it is directly related to what you get out of it.


Looking back, how was your first year in the MiNDS program? 

As cheesy as it sounds, it just felt right. I had finally found what I was supposed to be doing. I remember when I was at my undergraduate convocation: I felt pretty apathetic, finishing undergrad kind of felt like my 8th grade graduation. It didn’t feel like it was over and I definitely didn’t feel fulfilled. But my first year of grad school felt like I was on my path to fulfilling my academic aspirations. I was finally in an environment where people shared my passions and interests. 


What advice would you give to your first year self if you could? 

Make sure you keep your priorities #1. Don’t overextend yourself by trying to help everybody, or collaborate on every single project that comes your way. Spreading yourself too thin can hurt you in the long run. Don’t get me wrong, being helpful and collaborative is important, but be aware of what you can handle. Make sure your research goals are at the top of your list. 


What was your favourite conference ever attended? Why?

Well, one I attend every year is the Society for Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) conference.  

In between undergrad and graduate school, I worked as a research assistant, so I love the blending of clinical outcomes with basic science. That’s exactly what SOBP covers and for my field, I don’t think there is a better conference. The researchers who attend are top notch, the networking opportunities are great, the welcome reception is awesome, and all poster sessions are very well attended (and include food and drink!).


What is your favourite memory/event in the program?(that new students shouldn’t miss!) 

Well, I have a few, so let’s go with the top 3. 

My 3 favourite experiences would be:

Playing softball in the summer in the GSA softball league (let me know if you want to join!). It is ‘D’ league.

Lunches with the colloquium speakers! They’re great. I remember going to a talk with Pierre Blier from the University of Ottawa and hearing his incredible story of how a difficult situation with his father’s health inspired his entire research program. It had a big impact on me as a student.

Lastly, MiNDS periodically hosts summer symposia that feature 2hr open-ended talks with a reception afterwards. Some of my most interesting and memorable conversations with other researchers in the field came out of those experiences.


What are your plans for after you complete your degree?

I’d say right now I am 80% private sector and 20% research, that’s how I hope to divide my time. Ideally, it would be 4 days working for MEMOTEXT and 1 day still working as a collaborator in-research so that I can get the best of both worlds. 


 

]]>Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:05:33 -0400