Junior Neuroscience Mentorship Program @ UCalgary 

Hiiiiii! I’m Marina. I’m an Honours Neuroscience student at the University of Calgary, and I absolutely love learning about how the brain works and how it shapes who we are. I started university early (in Grade 11!), which taught me a lot about believing in myself even when things felt intimidating.

One of the highlights of my journey so far was completing a competitive summer research term where I studied how hormonal changes during perimenopause affect brain health and cognition. I conducted cognitive testing, worked closely with researchers, and received a prestigious $8,500 research award for my work. I’m currently involved in research at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, where I help study how hormonal changes relate to mental health in adolescents and work on educational materials for a hormone-monitoring device.

Outside of research, I love giving back to my community. I volunteer in the hospital, help supervise clients with disabilities in a physical rehabilitation program focused on brain and body wellness, and spend a lot of time working with kids through babysitting and youth programs. Mentorship is something I really care about, and I love helping younger students feel confident asking questions and exploring their interests.

In my free time, I enjoy staying active by doing hot yoga, spending time outdoors, knitting, playing chess, and learning about science outside of the brain. I am also a very big reader when I have the time and I tend to navigate towards science fiction and self-help genres. I am very passionate about group fitness, and I currently work at Sportball where I lead parented sports classes for young children. I would love to one day pursue my yoga teacher training! I also love having big conversations; about the brain, emotions, health, and how we can all take care of ourselves and each other.

I’m looking forward to becoming your mentor!

Hi! I’m Lucy, a first year neuroscience student at the University of Calgary. I love photography, listening to music, and tennis (though I just started, so I’m still learning to get better at it). 

In high school I completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which really encouraged me to engage with and stay curious about the world around me! I worked at Kumon for over a year, helping students with their math and English, and I currently work with Countrice Education to tutor kids in a wide range of subjects. I hope to make learning something exciting and approachable for kids, and I wish to inspire them to explore new areas of learning! I also spent several summers volunteering with the City of Calgary’s day camp programs. 

In the future, I hope to travel around Europe and collect a magnet from every capital city. I’ve always been fascinated by marine animals, so if I could visit a coastal city with an aquarium, that’s where I would go first.

Hi, my name is Praveer, and I am a Neuroscience Honours student at the University of Calgary. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing the electric guitar and staying active through sports such as soccer and football, which I played throughout high school. My interest in neuroscience became more personal after seeing people close to me affected by stroke, leading me to begin stroke-related research last year. I also enjoy writing about medical pathologies on a blog called Let’s Get Proof, where I focus on explaining medical conditions in a clear and accessible way. Through mentorship, I hope to share both academic guidance and insight into studying neuroscience while encouraging students to explore their own interests in brain science.

Hello! My name is William McGonigle but you can call me Will. I’m from Northern Saskatchewan, and I moved to Calgary this year to pursue a degree in neuroscience and ski. Some of my favourite things are cross country skiing, running, playing board games, exploring new places, and eating good food. I’m excited to chat about balancing school, sports, and anything else life throws in your way. As a full-time athlete, I’ve learned that one of the most important parts of success in school is learning how to balance your priorities. Thank you for being part of this program, we can’t wait to meet you!

Hi! My name is Alyssa. Growing up, I did competitive dance until I graduated. Through dance, I was able to grow not only as an individual artist but I learned what it meant to be a part of a team. One of my most memorable experiences was performing for Disney through the “Lightning Elite” program. Throughout my dancing career, I assisted children’s dance classes and recitals which I have continued to do presently. Besides dance, I have a great passion for drawing and the arts. Ever since I was little, I was infatuated with the convergence between science and creative expression, leading me towards neuroscience. Within neuroscience, I am particularly interested in the neural mechanisms and pathways underlying mental health and wellness. Outside of school, I love staying active through walks, yoga and several other activities. I can’t wait to meet you and support your journey!

My passion for neuroscience comes from experiences that shaped how I see the world. Growing up with epilepsy and losing close friends to neurological trauma and cancer made the brain feel deeply personal to me. Instead of letting those moments discourage me, they pushed me to learn more about how the brain works and to turn empathy into action. These experiences are why I hope to pursue pediatric neurology and why I’ve committed so much of my time to volunteering and fundraising for children’s health and neuroscience-related causes. I’ve organized bake sales in honour of my friends, created a charity marathon team supporting the Ronald McDonald House, and volunteer with the Children’s Hospital Foundation and also the Matteo Shafer Legacy foundation.

Beyond academics, I grew up as a competitive dancer and completed my RAD Advanced 2 ballet certification. I also love learning languages! I’m bilingual in English and French and tutor younger students, including neurodivergent learners. I also love to travel, especially my time in Italy, which helped me connect to my roots. Through mentorship, I hope to inspire younger students to see that their experiences can fuel meaningful passions, just like mine led me to neuroscience!

Hello, my name is Martin! I am a first-year Neuroscience student at the University of Calgary. I’m originally from Chile and I speak English, Spanish, and a bit of French. I’ve lived most of my life in Brandon, MB until recently where I live in Calgary for university. I like playing many sports including, soccer, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and more. Some of my hobbies include going to the gym, playing trumpet and recently learning to play guitar, and playing chess (which I’ve played in tournaments all over Canada and won chess nationals for my age group in 2023). I’ve also volunteered for my local soccer club being a referee for their games and volunteered for my local chess club organizing chess lessons for the kids in the club. After graduating high school, I’ve received five awards. Three awards from my high school and two entrance awards from the University of Calgary for outstanding performance and leadership. Overall, I am a very friendly and out going person who loves to try new things!

Hi! my name’s Dominique. I love to read and write. I’ve read over 100 books and written 4 fiction ones myself. I’ve been in french immersion my whole life, and I received an official language proficiency certificate called the DELF. In my twelfth year I was in the french club where we organized a graduation ceremony for people who finished the french program. I worked at Calaway park for a summer where I got an award for my enthusiasm and was trained on to multiple teams where I learned more rides. Camping has always been important to me because it’s a tradition for my family and me. Every year we tend to travel to Radium and camp in a tent there. Skiing will always be my favourite sport, even though it’s always been casual for me, because nothing beats the speed of it. I have been interested in mental health for a long time now, both because of growing awareness and personal experience, so I want to try my best to learn the most I can about the brain to help those in need. I'd love to mentor someone who’s curious about neuroscience, because I think it’s a really important field that I wish I had known more about sooner. Thanks!

Hey! I'm Aarez. I was co-secretary general for my high school’s model UN conference (top position) which saw success as the first large scale iteration of EMHSMUN in the schools history. In this position I learned management and essential leadership skills by overseeing a large operation. Attending conferences I have won numerous awards throughout my two years in Model UN.

I’m an environmental artist and architect, currently create artwork for a video game project alongside an indie team.  My hobbies are singing, I really enjoy performing to others, piano, reading, history, studying religion, astrophysics, and of course neuroscience. I also love anime and manga.

Hi! My name is Sean, and I am a 1st year Neuroscience student at the University of Calgary! I have lived in Calgary my whole life, and I have actually attended high school in the heart of the city at Western Canada High School. This would then lead to my decision to stay at this University as a premed, but also to explore research areas that interest me, like the science of learning, or neurodegenerative illnesses like dementia.

Over high school, I have made many commitments, one example being my involvement in Western Canada’s prestigious band program as an Euphonium player. Each semester, we would go to playing camps and have biweekly morning practices in preparation for concerts at the Jack Singer Hall. In fact, it was actually there where I had the opportunity to play a number of different solos and receive a “Best Brass Award” for my dedication. I have also received a certificate of Scholastic Excellence by finishing Physics 30-1 at the very top of my class!

​My interests are also very vast, ranging from other instruments like the acoustic and electric guitar, and piano! One of my goals is to become significantly better at playing the electric guitar while juggling all my other responsibilities this school year, which has been a struggle but has also been very rewarding. I also like travelling a decent bit, and I have been to South Korea a couple of times, and I hope to go back and explore when I’m a little older!

Otherwise, I hope to get to know you better as your mentor!

Hi! My name is Sophia Ledingham, and I’m a first-year neuroscience student at the University of Calgary. I’m originally from Vancouver Island, BC, and I’ve always loved spending time outdoors, painting, and staying active. Over the years, I’ve played volleyball, basketball, cross-country running, and downhill skiing, and I also competed as a swimmer for 10 years. Before moving to Calgary, I lived in the Okanagan, where I trained full-time at a Nordic National Training Centre for biathlon (cross-country skiing and rifle shooting), competing both nationally and internationally while representing Canada. After my final races at nationals, I spent four months working as a wildland firefighter in BC. Looking ahead, one of my personal goals is to earn my pilot’s license and one day fly my own hobby plane.

Hi! My name is Leah, and I’m an Honours Neuroscience student at the University of Calgary. I’m currently in my first year and am especially interested in learning more about concussion health in athletes and mental health. I love learning new things, challenging myself, and sharing that enthusiasm with others.

In my spare time, I enjoy staying active and being involved in sports. I’m a member of the Dinos rugby team and spend much of my free time training or at the gym. I also enjoy playing basketball, snowboarding, curling, and swimming. When I’m taking a break from being active, I love reading fantasy and mystery novels and baking sweet treats like cookies and brownies.

Outside of school, I work as a swim instructor and lifeguard during the summer. I really enjoy working with kids to help them build confidence, develop new skills, and have fun in a safe and supportive environment. I’m excited to transfer these skills into mentorship and give back to the community.

One of my favorite things to do is travel and experience new cultures. In Grade 10, I spent three months in Belgium on a reciprocal exchange program, where I improved my French-speaking abilities and gained valuable independence. I would love to study abroad again and continue learning new languages in the future.

I’m really excited about the opportunities this program offers and can’t wait to meet you!

Hi! My name is Emma! I’m currently a first year undergraduate at the University of Calgary for Bachelors in Neuroscience.

Throughout high school I participated in many clubs and extracurriculars! Such as yearbook, students voice and students union. In these clubs we prepared events such as bake sales and themed days.

Outside of school I enjoy art, travelling and taking care of animals. I’ve always loved animals and enjoy horse riding, walking dogs, and carrying around treats for any animals I encounter. This summer I went to Hawaii where I learned to surf, and pet many wild cats!

I’ve also had experience with tutoring kids between the ages of 13-17, in subjects ranging from math to chemistry and biology!

Hey, I’m Elliott! I’m a simple guy who loves to laugh and has way too many hobbies.

Among some of my favourite hobbies is animating, playing video games, dancing, and playing piano. In terms of animating, I like to draw cool fight scenes and super powers. I’m even working on my own series! In terms of video games, I like co-op games the most (I live in a big family). Dancing is a newer one for me, and I do it occasionally, but when I do I have so much fun, especially when I dance to good music. I also love piano, mainly to play random catchy songs I hear every once in a while.

I love sports as well. My top 3 is badminton, basketball, and soccer. I played badminton in high school, which is why it’s my favourite. My second favourite is basketball, cause the sport is so fun! I might not be that awesome at it, but I do love talking about the NBA (MJs the goat, prove me otherwise). I also really like soccer cause that sport is also fun!

Extra fun facts: Green and blue are my favourite colours, I really like sour stuff (dare me to eat a lemon or a lime, I WILL do it), favourite candy is Skittles, and I still can’t decide what my favourite food is (there’s too many good ones!)

I’m Kat! I am an animal lover, mental health and psychiatry enthusiast and a massive nerd. Some of my hobbies include fish, coral and reptile keeping (as you can see my beautiful girl Lynx in the photo with me) and tabletop games such as Magic The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer. 

I do a lot of conservation focused projects such as research into coral breeding as well as the preservation and captive breeding of endangered wild betta species. I used to volunteer at the Calgary Humane Society as part of their youth education outreach program where I worked with and taught kids about the amazing natural world. One of my favorite projects was a presentation about corals, and I allowed kids to directly interact with one of my hardy corals I brought from home. 

As for the neuroscience side, what brought me into the neuroscience major to begin with was mental health. Specifically psychotic disorders. I am in the midst of creating and running a psychosis peer support club/program here at the University of Calgary and I am part of the Mental Health Trainee Community of Practice Committee. I will also be doing research with the PaCT lab group this summer who are conducting research into psychedelic and cannabinoid substances for medical use.

I’m excited to be your mentor!!! 

Hi! I’m Madina, a university student who loves science, creativity, and community. I recently moved to Canada from Saudi Arabia although I did live here for majority of my childhood. I speak three languages, English, Russian, and Azeri, due to originally being from Azerbaijan, which helps me connect with people from many different backgrounds.

What stands out most about me is my community experience working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Over several summers I volunteered at an inclusive facility where I helped with communication, planned engaging activities, and supported campers to enjoy new opportunities. Being part of that community taught me patience, empathy, and how to make everyone feel welcome.

I enjoy reading, trying new study methods, exploring coffee shops, and working on small creative projects like homemade hair-care products and digital art. In high school I was proud to have won awards at science fairs and academic competitions, experiences that shaped my curiosity and problem-solving skills that I still use in uni life today.

I like staying active with friends, playing volleyball, going to board game cafes, and I love traveling and experiencing new cultures. As a mentor, I’m excited to help you feel supported, confident, and comfortable being yourself.