Dr. Jessica Rosin
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, UBC
Dr. Rosin actually stumbled upon a career in neuroscience. While working on her undergraduate honours project, studying enhancer expression in limb development, she noticed that the same enhancers (and the gene itself) were also active in the brain. Intrigued, she approached her supervisor, Dr. John Cobb, and asked if she could explore this connection further. This curiosity led her to pursue a PhD, focusing on the role of these regulatory regions in both limb and brain development. Along the way, Drs. Deborah Kurrasch and Carol Schuurmans became key mentors, offering invaluable guidance.
Today, Dr. Rosin thrives on the creativity her work allows, where there are no limits to the questions she can ask. As an Assistant Professor, her lab focuses on immune regulation in developmental programs and examines how gestational factors, like maternal stress, impact fetal development. She loves seeing her trainees light up when they make new discoveries. Live-cell imaging, where she observes neural cells interact in real-time, is one of her favorite aspects of research.
For young women in science, Dr. Rosin offers this advice:
“Across your life, you’re constantly going to receive other people’s advice, whether you ask for it or not. People will tell you why you should or shouldn’t pursue something based on money, prestige, or difficulty. But you only have one life to live, and I believe that the most important thing to consider when pursuing a career path is whether it brings you happiness. Follow your passion and dream big!”
Bryna Lesyk
Research Coordinator, Borgland Family Brain Tissue & DNA Bank
Bryna has always loved science and discovering new knowledge. During her Bachelor of science, she realized the vast possibilities within the world of research and how it’s critical for furthering medical advancements. This led her to pursue a Master of Public Health, exploring the ways we can improve health outcomes and deepening her passion for helping others.
“I have a personal connection to dementia, so starting my professional life in dementia research felt like a perfect fit,” she reflects. Starting her professional career at the UBC Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, Bryna now also oversees operations at the Borgland Biobank at the DMCBH. This new role has broadened her perspective on brain diseases and disorders, and she finds it incredibly rewarding to be part of a project with the potential to impact neuroscience advancements.
Bryna credits her success to an incredible support system, both within and outside of the scientific community, that has always pushed her to challenge herself. “As a woman in science, I was never told I couldn’t keep pursuing,” she shares, highlighting the importance of that encouragement.
One of her favorite aspects of her work is the balance between behind-the-scenes tasks and patient-facing experiences. She values the connections she makes with research participants and the people she works with.
For women and girls considering a career in science, Bryna’s advice is simple:
“Explore opportunities available to you and network within those experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and explore different options!”
Dr. Hee-Yeon Im
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, UBC
Dr. Hee-Yeon Im’s interest in neuroscience goes way back. As a child in Korea, she spent hours poring over “Magic Eye” and “Where’s Waldo” books, which were very popular back then. Later, in a Cognitive Psychology course in college, she was fascinated by how cognitive psychologists explained perceptual experiences, such as depth perception and attention, using those books as examples. This sparked her desire to pursue a master’s degree in cognitive science, focusing on visual perception and attention.
“My interest in neuroscience goes way back,” Dr. Im says. “I wanted to explore how the brain controls our experiences of the world—our thoughts, emotions, and memories—and shapes who we are.” During her master’s training, she came across The Quest for Consciousness by Christof Koch, which introduced her to the neurobiological foundations of consciousness.
“This book was eye-opening to me,” she recalls, “revealing a whole new field dedicated to studying conscious experiences and their neurobiological foundations, all originating from the small but incredibly complex organ: the brain.”
Dr. Im credits her master’s advisor, Sang Chul Chong, for teaching her essential skills, including scientific writing, computer programming, and presenting at international conferences. “I feel incredibly lucky to have learned from him in such a hands-on way,” she says. “Being part of his new lab gave me a unique opportunity to observe and learn.”
In her current role, Dr. Im thrives on the collaboration and constant evolution of her work. “I love the steady process where, as a team, we exchange thoughts and ideas to improve outcomes each time,” she says.
For women and girls in science, Dr. Im’s advice is clear:
“Surround yourself with supportive colleagues, embrace challenges, and most of all, I hope you fully enjoy the journey.”
Chanel Ghesquiere
Research Technician, Borgland Family Brain Tissue & DNA Bank
Chanel’s interest in science began early, inspired by her parents, both of whom work in healthcare. Her first experience in a research lab came as a first-year undergraduate at BC Cancer in Victoria, where a postdoc mentored her and encouraged exploration. This experience played a crucial role in her decision to pursue a co-op program in her undergrad and later an MSc in Experimental Medicine.
Working at the Borgland Biobank offered Chanel a unique insight into various areas of neuroscience—an area she had limited knowledge of before—all with a strong clinical focus. Being involved in studies with a direct clinical translation component was very important to her.
One of Chanel’s favorite aspects of her research, especially in immunology, is that answering one question often leads to even more questions.
“It can feel frustrating sometimes, but acknowledging that you’ll never know everything, but still pursuing answers anyways is one of my favorite things about science,” she says. In her current role at the Biobank, she values being part of diverse studies, each offering a unique perspective.
For women and girls in science, Chanel’s advice is to explore different fields, be okay with not loving all the things you initially pursue and have the grit to carry on after setbacks.
“Surrounding yourself with a supportive community, like Women in Science clubs or peer support programs, can make all the difference.”
