I officially started my position in the Rutka lab as a postdoctoral research fellow in October 2025! I started my path in research at the university of Guelph, where I still work as a part-time research animal technician.

I have always found science fascinating and was always my favorite subject growing up (as well as history, but it became more of a hobby of mine by watching historical documentaries or reading history books). I was never really sure what career path I really wanted, I just knew it would be in science. I have thought about medical school, becoming a veterinarian and even thought about going into pharmaceuticals. I found myself drawn to research during my undergraduate degree in neuroscience where I enrolled in a research course and then decided to continue to grad school and study in the same research lab. I am not sure where this will lead me to as of yet, but I find it really exciting and I think it’s a field that’s complex yet an interesting and rewarding path to pursue, which is important to me.

The people! I think our scientific community is great! Everyone is very passionate about their research and love to collaborate on other projects. It is a place that you feel proud to come into work and feel like you are contributing to something bigger.

There are many volunteer opportunities available for those interested in a career in science and starting in a research lab during your undergraduate career would be a great way to gain hands on experience. I also think that science is always evolving, and the ability to learn new skills or to incorporate other insights from different disciplines can help you in your scientific career, so really, stay curious and continue to learn new skills.

I have many hobbies and interests really…I love going to the gym as it is a great way to destress (love spin classes and weight lifting!), but I also enjoy running, hiking with my partner and birdwatching! In fact, we have two pet birds at home, a cockatiel named Merlin and a parakeet named Phoenix. Other hobbies and interests of mine include reading fantasy novels, baking at home and learning new languages (Duolingo and soap operas has helped me become proficient in German and I am currently learning Spanish).

I think Jennifer Lawrence would be a great actor to play me! Mostly I just think she is a terrific actor and has played various roles that you can tell she puts her heart and soul into them.