1. Where do you work, what is your position, and who is your advisor?

I work at the U of A as a Summer Research Student under Dr. Lori West, I’m currently an undergraduate student  entering the last year of my degree.

2. How do you describe your work to people who aren’t in your field?

I mostly tell them it’s a lot of me being hunched over a lab bench! My project is not too incomprehensible, it involves looking at removing type A antigens off heart and blood cells in the hopes that someone of a different blood type could get a mismatch transplant. Most people, even if they aren’t in the field, understand it well.

3. Other than glycomics, what areas of research do you think are important in advancing One Health(i.e. the health of people, animals, and the environment)?

I’m quite interested in the gut-brain axis and how we are discovering that the human microbiota has immense importance on our health across a variety of organ systems. Especially how we are learning how crucial it can be on the development and maintenance of the immune system.

4. What is your favourite aspect of your research?

I love to be in the lab and totally apply myself to the experiment of the day. I find it very calming and fulfilling.

5. What do you do when you are not in the lab?

When I’m not in the lab I love playing DnD with my friends, voraciously reading books, or finding new cafes to test out their chai lattes and pastries.

6. If you had to choose a completely different career path, what would it be?

If I was to choose a completely different career path, I would have loved to become a journalist. I have always been interested in politics and writing, plus I would still have a way to apply myself into solving a mystery, so it’s similar to research in a way. Also I imagine such a fast paced environment has no shortage of excitement.

Short bio

My name is A.J. (she/her), I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, entering the last year of my degree. I am doing a Summer Research Project followed by a year-long independent research project at the West Lab. I am incredibly excited to be doing research! I have always wanted to have a career that focussed on some aspect of blood or blood typing, and I truly feel so lucky to have gotten the placement I did. Outside of school I spend much of my time reading books, listening to podcasts, and playing DnD with my friends.