“I wanted to go to the best school and live in a cool city.”

I’m from Toronto and I wanted to stay in Canada for my graduate studies. I wanted to go to the best school and wanted to live in a cool city. The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) department at U of T has some of the best evolutionary biologists in the world, as well as a diversity of research interests; I knew that in coming to the EEB department I would graduate with a breadth of knowledge and skill set that would make me a highly competitive candidate for a career in academia.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to collaborate with various academic and industry partners. Because my research spans the fields of evolutionary biology, immunology, and even a little bit of public health, I have had a very collaborative learning experience here, working with faculty and staff in several departments at U of T. I also worked with staff in the invertebrate unit at the Toronto Zoo and visited the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Western Australia.

When I graduate I plan to travel. I’ve done so much during my graduate studies and would like to continue doing that. I imagine travelling the world teaching and doing research. I hope to continue this as a professor, similar to a travelling exhibit, except I’ll be a travelling professor.

For prospective students, I would say the most successful PhD students are motivated, dedicated, and persevere in the face of adversity. Your research will dominate your mental, emotional, and physical existence. Your life, for five years, will be your PhD. Pursue a topic that you are passionate about.