Kirandeep Bhullar
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
Science has always fascinated me. During my undergraduate studies at McMaster University, I had wonderful, intellectually stimulating research experiences and I decided to pursue a graduate degree to continue with this learning process.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
What brings me to UBC is the strong research community in bacterial pathogenesis research. My MSc background was in the field of antibiotic resistance and while I was doing my MSc, I got really interested in understanding how bacteria make us sick in the first place, before there is a need for antibiotic use. This place (UBC and current research program) seemed to be a good fit with my research interests.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
Water, lots and lots of it! I love the coastline and the beautiful sunsets. Vancouver is a beautiful city and very accessible through public transit.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Work hard, but also take this opportunity to network and make professional connections. Get involved in things and activities you feel passionate about. Grad school is a wonderful opportunity to explore different areas and to meet people from a diverse array of experiences. I strongly believe that these interactions ultimately shape the course of our careers/life after grad school.
Learn more about Kirandeep's research
Enteric pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella are a leading cause of illnesses throughout the world, ranging from diarrhea to gastroenteritis. Even though we have a good understanding of how enteric pathogens interact with the intestinal surface to trigger a disease, our understanding of how these pathogens interact or subvert the mucus barrier is fairly limited. Mucus is found throughout our gut and protects the underlying epithelium from pathogens and other insults such as toxins, therefore acting as a front line defense barrier. The aim of my research is to characterize the interactions between mucus, its components and enteric bacterial pathogens and understand the dynamics of these interactions and their impact on the host using animal models.