BioMed Discovery Day a valuable step for those considering graduate studies at the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine continues to be at the forefront of exciting biomedical research. On Thursday, November 21, students visited Roger Guindon Hall for BioMed Graduate Discovery Day to find out how the Faculty of Medicine can prepare them for a successful career in biomedical sciences.

BioMed Graduate Discovery Day gives candidates the opportunity to learn more about graduate studies in the Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology (BMI) and Cellular Molecular Medicine (CMM) at the Faculty of Medicine.

The one-day event provided information about the Faculty of Medicine’s graduate program in biomedical sciences, from proteomics, genetics, metabolomics, virology, cancer and cardiovascular research to bioengineering, molecular imaging and more.

Students met current graduate students and their future professors, learned how they can make meaningful contributions to cutting-edge biomedical research, and discovered how the Faculty of Medicine and uOttawa can prepare them for success in diverse careers.

We chatted with David Jacobs, PhD student in microbiology and immunology in Dr. Marceline Côté’s lab, about the role Discovery Day played in his own journey to the Faculty.

What attracted you to the uOttawa Faculty of Medicine?
Dr. Côté’s lab was conducting research in my field of interest and, after having briefly corresponded with her prior to Discovery Day, I knew I wanted to visit and learn more about the work her lab was doing.

What excites you about your research in Dr. Côté's lab?
First off, Dr. Côté responded very positively to my ideas for projects that we could attempt in her laboratory, even going so far as to acquire new reagents that we would need to carry out experiments! It was amazing sharing an idea and hearing her say, “Hmm, we don't do this yet, but we could and I look forward to trying it.” That aside, I am excited to learn new techniques and push the boundaries of our understanding on how Ebola changes cellular metabolism—and whether there is any difference between various strains of Ebola in these metabolic changes.

Do you have any advice for students considering participating in a future Discovery Day?
The most important part of the day was the lunch with faculty—if you have an idea of the topics you're interested in, visit those tables and speak with those faculty members. Ask questions! People love to talk about their work. Also, be sure to go to the Discovery Day grad student-hosted events later in the day—it’s a great chance to learn more from grad students about what their life is like, both in and outside of the lab.