Talk to your professors and even more so, your teaching assistants about the research they are doing. People are VERY passionate about what they study.

Once I started the Human Kinetics program at the University of Windsor, I immediately applied to get into the Co-Op stream so I could gain work experience while I studied. I was always a hard worker, and felt that I did a great job of understanding concepts – but I needed to see things in action before it all clicked. I worked primarily with athletic therapy and ergonomics, so had a good variety of experience. 

By the time I got to my fourth year, I was ready to head into the working world. I left school and worked in ergonomics consulting for the better part of 2 years – but I found everyone I worked for had a Master’s degree. I decided to return to Windsor for my Masters. A unique part of the Windsor program was the internship component – and because of my working experience, I felt this was the best choice for me. In my internship, I had to complete work experiences, but at the same time do a research project that tied academics back to the workplace. During this process, I learned just how much I loved conducting research. 

While I worked, I conducted close to 600 office ergonomic assessments – a process that didn’t have much in the way of standardisation or quantification of risk. During my internship, I created an office ergonomics assessment tool to give ergonomists a better idea of how much risk there was in an office. This paper eventually was published in a prestigious ergonomics journal, and was in the top 10 of most downloaded papers of the year. More importantly, this was what told me that research was what I wanted to do for my career. I immediately enrolled in the thesis component of the University of Windsor MHK degree, continuing to work on this office ergonomics assessment method, before applying and being accepted into the PhD program at McMaster University. 

My research has always been applied in nature – my PhD was funded by the automotive industry – but I was able to do both field and lab research to work on my degree and solve problems related to muscle fatigue. All the while, I felt that conducting research and viewing problems in a systematic manner helped me succeed as a student, but also as a teacher. While I didn’t have the opportunity to get involved in research as an undergraduate student, getting involved in a lab, or doing an undergraduate thesis can be such a helpful way to understand why things happen, and more importantly, how to answer that question of why. Constantly pursuing why has led me from ergonomics, to workplace organisation, all the way to baseball. 

My advice:

Talk to your professors and even more so, your teaching assistants about the research they are doing. People are VERY passionate about what they study, and you can get some great ideas as to why they feel so strongly about their field. That extra bit of passion can help you with understanding course topics and how to better comprehend problems.

Many scientists are inspired by events that occurr to them during their daily life! Make sure your existence is meaningful to you, and the right path will fall into place.

Gurleen started her academic journey with a degree in Honours Physics from McMaster University in 2022. She then continued onwards to do a dual MSc. focusing on Chemistry and Materials Science in both France and Germany. She was able to do this through the AMIR (Advanced Materials Innovative Recycling) program offered by the European Institute of Technology.

Pursuing this field of study was important to her because she always wanted a way to combine her passions for both physics and the environment. Through this program, Gurleen is learning about and conducting research on the design and recycling of lithium-ion batteries. She garnered interest on this topic in 2021, when she completed a USRA supported summer research project with Dr. Alannah Hallas at the University of British Columbia. There she was able to first learn about the research behind batteries and completed her project on how to create a phase pure sample of LiNiO2, a potential cathode material. Through the guidance provided by her mentor Alannah, Gurleen was able to identify a specific field where she could use her physics knowledge, along with working towards sustainability – battery research.

In the past year Gurleen completed a project on the recycling of lithium from black mass (the crushed end-product of batteries) and was able to learn about the upcoming importance of this research as millions of batteries from electric cars will need to be revaluated for their performance as the battery degrades and needs to be replaced. She is now focused on finding more projects related to this subject, and thoroughly enjoys her study!

Although this isn’t a typical path for students who study physics, it is definitely suited for them. The field of solid-state physics is one where you can learn about materials and branch out into this particular field Gurleen studies. Most of the characterization, data analysis, and principles of study are based on concepts learned during her bachelor, so it is a place where the perspective and logic of physicists is valuable. By having the courage and initiative to seek out where you belong is how Gurleen is doing what she loves now.

Advice:

Gurleen says to truly find what you are passionate about, take time to self-reflect. Observe how you think and feel about certain subjects, how you like to spend your time (perhaps you like cooking, or playing sports), and learn about yourself first. Many scientists are inspired by events that occurr to them during their daily life! Make sure your existence is meaningful to you, and the right path will fall into place.

The experiences you gain [doing research] can be applied to other aspects of your life or future careers as well, whether that be in research, industry, teaching...

Lyons started his academic journey with a degree in Honours Biology (Physiology Specialization) and a minor in Psychology. He then entered the MSc program in McMaster, and later transferred and completed his PhD in Biology in 2022.

He became interested in how research was performed to solve complex questions after a course in. physiology. This motivated him to volunteer in a lab to gain research experience and he ended up completing a 4th year thesis project with Dr. Graham Scott, solidifying my passion for research.  

Once he completed his 4th-year thesis project, he realized his passion for a research career in the field of energy metabolism. He took the initiative to explore professors from various universities who aligned with his interests. By reaching out to them, he inquired about their research projects and lab techniques. Among them, Dr. Grant McClelland’s research stood out the most, and together, they devised an exciting research project. Through this journey, he found himself in an enjoyable lab environment with incredible colleagues and mentors. The opportunity to present his research to both local and international audiences added to his excitement. These experiences solidified his desire to pursue an academic career, leading him to transition from the Master’s program to the PhD program.

After earning his PhD, Sulayman sought research opportunities in a different field, specifically biomedical, to explore new challenges beyond his undergraduate and graduate studies. He discovered Dr. Jacqueline Beaudry, his current postdoctoral fellowship (PDF) supervisor at the University of Toronto, by reading about her research. He took the initiative to email her to inquire about job openings, and luckily, she granted him an interview. Sulayman also had the chance to visit Dr. Beaudry’s lab and meet her students, which allowed him to get a sense of the lab environment – an experience he thoroughly enjoyed!

Advice: 

Sulayman’s advice to undergraduates interested in research is to read up on topics they find intriguing, seek out professors with similar research interests, and inquire about opportunities to get involved. Additionally, he encourages using support systems, including hobbies, to cope with overwhelming feelings and maintain focus.

Entering the workforce was eye-opening simply because the world of research you thought you knew was more profound in terms of impact and applications than I had previously imagined.

Taylor Brooks is a 2017 Mount Allison University graduate. During his time at university, he was not in an Honours program, but did conduct three separate independant research projects. He was able to establish fundamental lab skills and a better understanding of basic research by conducting small scope research projects for course credits. His research was in fields related to synthetic chemistry, microbiology, and physiology.

During his time doing research, he found the study of biochemical adaptation to stressors intriguing and gradually realized that he was acquiring valuable skills and knowledge applicable to the industry. Combining his interest in business with his scientific background, Taylor ventured into the commercial side of pharmaceutical manufacturing. He focused on mammalian cell culture products, including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, viral vectors, and even lab-grown meat. His prior experience with mammalian cultures enabled him to excel in this field with bioprocess enabling technologies.

Taylor believes his undergraduate research experience opened up various opportunities, including potential paths for graduate studies. He discovered the growing trend of biomanufacturing for biologically-derived therapeutics and materials, particularly in North America, something he noticed occurring in McMaster Innovation Park.

Through his career journey, he honed essential skills in time management, project management, resourcefulness, and effective scientific communication. He also networked with alumni, enriching his understanding of research’s real-world impact.

Advice: 

Taylor says “not everything you touch will lead to success but perseverance and a belief in yourself will take you far”. 

Taylor believes the way we spend our days is the way we spend our life. He encourages students to enjoy their time and the people around them, saying that “the people I met at McMaster are some of the best friends I ever met.”