Congratulations to our current Graduate Program in Neuroscience (GPN) students who have received awards through the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral program from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
Adam Sunavsky
Adam completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, and then his Master’s degree in Medical Neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Currently, he is in his fourth year of a seven-year MD/PhD program at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez.
His research investigates how repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) alters brain aging patterns and large-scale neural dynamics in individuals with treatment-resistant depression.
“I chose neuroscience research because despite advances in our understanding of the brain, in many ways it remains a mystery,” Adam says. “Our most complex organ is incredibly intricate, and I find it rewarding to uncover how neural patterns influence thought, emotion, and behaviour.”
Outside of research, Adam loves exploring Vancouver’s natural playground – whether that’s playing soccer, snowboarding in the mountains, hiking scenic trails or enjoying beachside sports. He also enjoys creating educational content on YouTube in his spare time!
Regan Campbell
Regan received her honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, studying Neuroscience and Applied Statistics. During this time, she completed her thesis on the role of the hippocampus in temporal memory and motivational conflict with Dr. Rutsuko Ito.
Currently, Regan is a third year Neuroscience PhD Candidate in Dr. Mark Cembrowski’s lab, where she studies the subiculum, a brain region that routes signals from the hippocampus important for learning, memory and navigation. Her research focuses on how different types of subiculum neurons are structured, how that structure influences their function, and how their coordinated activity helps organize hippocampal output.
“I’m captivated by how individual neurons work together to create our experience of the world,” Regan says. “The idea that something so tiny can give rise to memory and perception has always been an incredibly exciting mystery to me.”
Anjana Rajendran
Anjana completed her BSc in Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in English Literature at UBC, and went on to earn her Master’s in Neuroscience under the supervision of Dr. Lara Boyd. Now a PhD student, she continues to study the stroke-affected brain, investigating how differences in motor cortex communication could help predict responses to brain stimulation for motor rehabilitation.
Her line of research brings together clinicians, anatomists, imaging experts, and people with lived experience to help translate neuroscience into better rehabilitation.
“Working alongside these incredible scientists and stroke survivors who share their stories and enthusiasm for research every day keeps me extremely motivated,” Anjana says. “I get to pursue the ‘why’ behind how the stroke-affected brain generates movement, but also gain insight into clinical trials, health care policy, and lived experience in Canada. It’s really inspirational and motivating to see how my work can have an impact!”
Harjeev Sudan
Harjeev completed her Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience at UBC. She is currently in the 2nd year of her PhD in Neuroscience co-supervised by Dr. Judy Illes and Dr. Myp Sekhon. Her thesis project focuses on critical care after opioid toxicity-related brain injury. In particular, her project will examine the clinical practices and ethical considerations in neurological outcome prediction after toxicity.
Amid an ongoing opioid toxicity crisis, Harjeev is interested in using knowledge and research at the intersection of neuroscience, health care, and policy to contribute to efforts toward improving care for vulnerable patients.
“I chose the neuroscience program for my graduate studies, because it embraces interdisciplinarity and allows me to learn and apply a wide range of knowledge from the cellular and behavioural to the structural and sociocultural,” Harjeev says. “I think for complex and layered issues like the opioid toxicity crisis, a comprehensive and holistic approach informed by interdisciplinarity is necessary.”
Margarita Kapustina
Margarita completed her BSc at UBC before joining Dr. Mark Cembrowski’s lab for her Master in Neuroscience. After discovering her passion for the techniques she was using, she was motivated to continue into a PhD in the same lab.
Early on, she became passionate about finding efficient and creative ways to analyze big data. Along the way, she also developed a strong interest in open science, especially through building open-source tools to support her lab and the broader research community.
Currently, her research focuses on identifying subtypes of the deepest excitatory neurons in the mouse cortex using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. She also aims to manipulate a specific subtype involved in wakefulness, with the goal of identifying a cell-type-specific switch for alertness in the brain.
“What continues to excite me is the opportunity to take ownership of an overarching research question and see it through to completion,” Margarita reflects. “It’s the combination of pursuing my interests, building new skillsets, and contributing to meaningful research that keeps me motivated today.”
Ryan McCallum
Ryan is finishing his second year of the Neuroscience PhD program at UBC, supervised by Dr. Mahmoud Pouladi. He holds a BSc in Neuroscience and an MSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph.
Pursuing a career which directly helps others has always been a central component of Ryan’s professional aspirations. When he was in high school, he witnessed the destructive nature of Alzheimer’s Disease firsthand in his grandmother, leading to his decision to study the human nervous system.
“Within the first few years of my studies, I decided that research would be my way of helping others,” Ryan remarks. “This critical decision continues to motivate me to this day.”
Ryan’s research focuses on rare genetic mutations linked to neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. Using isogenic and patient-derived stem cells, his lab models brain development to understand disease progression and identify potential treatments. He employs live cell imaging, electrophysiology, and biochemical analyses to uncover underlying molecular and genetic mechanisms.
Outside of the lab, Ryan is often found skiing, leading backpacking trips, biking up the North Shore mountains, swimming at Kits Beach, or capturing Vancouver through his camera lens.
“One day I can be working in the hood growing neurons and the next I’m skiing off a cliff in Whistler, endangering my ability to pipette on Monday,” he jokes. “In another life I’m a tugboat driver moving logs on the Howe sound.”
Jérôme Plumier
Jérôme is completing his third year of a PhD in Neuroscience at UBC, supervised by Dr. Kiran Soma in the Department of Psychology.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the Université de Liège in Belgium, where he worked in the GIGA Neurosciences Neuroendocrinology lab under Dr. Charlotte Cornil. During this time, they published a paper on the photoperiodic control of singing behaviour and reproductive physiology in male canaries.
Jérôme’s thesis investigates steroid fatty acid esters as a potential regulatory mechanism for steroid hormones. He aims to investigate whether these esters influence aggressive behaviour in wild song sparrows and how this relationship changes seasonally.
He was drawn to behavioural neuroendocrinology by his fascination with how small molecules subtly regulate diverse functions, shaping how organisms interact with and adapt to their environments.
“These molecules are not hands overtly tipping the scales, but rather subtle calibrators, quietly but constantly shifting the balance and influencing the thresholds of behaviour and the living experience as a whole,” Jérôme says.
