The 15-week 平特五不中 Biomedical Research Accelerator (MBRA) program is a funded opportunity for undergraduate students to work with world-renowned biomedical researchers and gain experience in professional laboratories and facilities in the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS), the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI), the Research institute of the 平特五不中 Health Centre (RI-MUHC), or another affiliate research centre. This summer, it welcomed 17 students from across Canada.听
We spoke to Grace Hoffman, a pharmacology student at the University of Alberta and a member of this year鈥檚 MBRA cohort, about their experience of the program.听听
Grace, who wants to pursue a career in clinical research, knew that she wanted to gain lab experience before considering her options for graduate school.听听
鈥淭丑别 MBRA program was advertised as something you didn鈥檛 need experience in a research lab for, and that鈥檚 what made me look into it more,鈥� she recalls. 鈥溒教匚宀恢�, as an institution, is highly academic and is focused on the future of biomedical research. I knew they would be doing some really advanced techniques.鈥�听
鈥淚 also saw it was in Montreal, which was really cool,鈥� she adds. 鈥淏eing from Alberta, this is a totally new part of Canada for me.鈥�听
Becoming a trusted member of the lab team听
During her time at 平特五不中, Grace worked under the supervision of Martin Schmeing, PhD, James 平特五不中 Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the School of Biomedical Sciences, and PhD student Timothy Ho. In their lab, which focuses on structural biology, Grace was exposed to techniques and approaches that she can later apply in her pharmacology studies.听听听
鈥淲e鈥檝e learned tons of different biochemical assays and techniques on different pieces of equipment,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淏eing very hands on and trying out new pieces of equipment all the time has been valuable, because then you have to problem-solve.鈥�听
From the outset, Grace felt like a trusted member of the team. She was given the opportunity to try new laboratory machines herself but knew that she could always ask for help.听听
鈥淢artin is a really fantastic P.I.,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e was in the lab all the time, and we can go to his office anytime, which I really liked. Having that back and forth was really helpful.鈥�听
Leigh Dickson, MSc, MEd, Administrator at the SBMS, notes that the program also has networking benefits for supervisors and learners.听听
鈥淧rincipal investigators get to work with the students and see if there is potential for them to supervise them during their graduate studies,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f it works out and a student returns, they can work with the same P.I. and hit the ground running when their graduate studies start.鈥�听
Outside of the lab, Grace also made the most of living in a new city. At the very beginning of the program, she and her fellow learners started a group chat to organize activities together.听
鈥淭his was my first time living by myself, so I really wanted to branch out and meet other people,鈥� she says.听听
Throughout the program, they regularly met up for dinners, drinks and days out. For Grace, meeting other young people who are also exploring Montreal for the first time was another standout experience of her summer at 平特五不中.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really nice to know I鈥檓 not doing this by myself, and that people from other provinces also moved here not knowing anyone,鈥� Grace says. 鈥淲e all just wanted to get together and explore the city.鈥�听
Finding applications for her passion听
As Grace enters the final year of her undergraduate degree, she feels assured in her chosen career path of pharmacology.听听
鈥淓ventually, I want to work with people, and that would be more clinical research,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to branch into the pharmacology and the clinical trial area, but there鈥檚 still tons of overlap with what I鈥檝e learned in the program. I know the machines we鈥檙e using here can also be used in a pharmacology research lab. It鈥檚 been really good.鈥�听
鈥淎 big bonus with the MBRA program is the fact this program introduced鈥痬e to lots of different areas of research,鈥� she adds. 鈥淲e were able to interact with many graduate students and principal investigators, so it is a wonderful opportunity to network!鈥�听