I was born and raised in a small town on the outskirts of Zhuhai—literally the “Pearl Sea”—in Guangdong, China. (Yes, I speak both Cantonese and Mandarin!) Whether for cultural or geographical reasons—living in the remote countryside—my family relied on traditional Chinese medicine, so I grew up drinking carefully brewed herbal tonics. As a child, I was always curious about the bitter flavors and pungent smells of those drinks. That curiosity sparked my interest in biology and eventually led me to study plant metabolites at Fudan University in Shanghai.

I later pursued a Ph.D. in Botany at Washington State University. During my postdoctoral research, I shifted my focus to the neurobiology of disease. I studied the mechanisms behind spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a neurodegenerative disorder, as well as a newly identified neurodevelopmental condition called CIC-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

My family and I love living in Edmonton—even the winters! While the winters here are long and cold, the summers are beautiful (though short and mosquito-filled—we keep the bug spray handy!).

I moved from the United Kingdom in 2012 with my family and have lived in Edmonton since. I completed a BSc Honors in Pharmacology here at the University of Alberta. Throughout my time in the Pharmacology undergraduate program, I developed a strong interest in the nervous system and cell signaling, and in my pursuit for graduate studies, I learned about Dr. Tan’s lab and was eager to take on a project studying cell death in the hippocampus!

Outside of research and academics, I have several hobbies including playing video games, spending time with friends and family, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and most importantly, chilling with my cat. I also have been engaged with several initiatives on campus including the Week of Welcome program. I have also worked as a workshop presenter for NeurAlbertaTech Neurotechnologies, teaching people about neuroscience! 

With all that said, I’m very excited to see how my project, as well as my academic and professional skill set, will develop and evolve throughout my time in the Cell Biology graduate program! 

Being born and raised in Cuba, a small country with an aged population and high prevalence of dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease, made me aware of the impact of neurodegenerative diseases on society. As I aspired to comprehend the mechanisms underlying these diseases, I studied Pharmaceutical Sciences, which gave insights into how targeting specific pathways offers therapeutic opportunities. My first professional experience was working as a Neuropharmacology junior researcher at the Cuban Center for Neurosciences (2022-2024), investigating a new therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease. During that time, I performed a research stay at the Neurobiology Institute of the Autonomous University of Mexico to gain knowledge in biochemical approaches to drug discovery.

I love reading, dancing, and spending time with my family and friends. Also, having new experiences is always a yes for me! Thus, studying abroad was a major dream in my life.

In Dr. Tan’s lab, I am researching the expression of an immune ligand in Cajal-Retzius cells and learning new techniques in cellular and molecular biology. I am thrilled to continue this journey and see where it leads.

During my undergraduate program at the University of Manitoba I fell in love with research and have been in a research lab ever since. Following graduation, I worked for a year studying genetic mutations that increase the risk of developing prion disease, this spiked my interest in neurodegenerative disease and the genetics behind similar diseases. I completed my master’s degree in Human Genetics at McGill University, before moving to Toronto to work in a lab which studied the impact of mutations in specific proteins leading to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. After 5 amazing years, I decided to move back West to be closer to my family. I joined Dr. Tan’s lab in Spring 2022 looking to apply and expand my skills in studying neurodevelopment and neurological disease. 

When I’m not in the lab, I can be found binge reading books from the library, binge watching BBC shows or exploring as many parks/green spaces as I can find.