Here At UCalgary Zain Rizvi

Former guests Chahal Arora, Leah Hohman, and Rai Chaudhuri join me in this special episode where they get to ask me questions about my life at the University of Calgary.

I chat with Cooper Davies, a PhD student in the Computer Science department at the University of Calgary working with Dr. Jörg Denzinger. We discuss how and why Cooper switched from Biological Sciences to Computer Science. We also discuss his MSc research project which focussed on Automatic Machine Learning (AutoML) and helped lay the groundwork for the PhD research project.

I get to chat with Somshukla (Rai) Chaudhuri about her journey as a participant in iGEM as an undergraduate student, which further inspired her to pursue grad school. Rai is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection Diseases Department (Microbiology stream) at the Cummings School of Medicine. Throughout her graduate school career, Rai has been a community leader where she has served as the President for her DGA, organized retreats for her colleagues, CRO for the GSA, and led several other projects.

Leah Hohman, a PhD Candidate in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection Diseases Department (Immunology stream) at the Cummings School of Medicine, joins me remotely (from a blanket fort) and we discuss her experiences from undergrad to grad school. As part of her Co-op experiences, Leah has had the opportunity to work with various labs around the world. Leah also participates in educational outreach programs such as Skype a Scientist, Pint of Science, and Host-Parasite Interactions Program.

I get to chat with Dr. Stephanie Warner, a Career Development Specialist from the University of Calgary Career Services office, working with PhD Students. We discuss the reasons for pursuing a PhD and how to prepare yourself for a career after graduation, both in industry and in academia.

I interview Dana Cramer, an MA Student in the Communication, Media, and Film Department  at the University of Calgary. We discuss her research regarding the sustainability of the increased internet traffic, due to streaming services, for the infrastructure in Alberta. We also discuss her experiences through her Honours BA degree as well as her experiences as a TA.