Tabitha Hui
Competition between marine mammals and fisheries
Dr Andrew Trites
Singapore
Singapore
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
Career wise, I need postgraduate qualifications if I'm going to set up my own lab one day. But personally, I have an inquisitive nature and enjoy conducting research.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
Mainly because I can do the kind of research I want to do here (fisheries impacts on marine mammals). The Zoology Department here also has a long history of outstanding research. Oh, and the campus setting and city of Vancouver are beautiful to boot!
What do you hope to accomplish with your research?
I hope that my research will enable government departments, fisheries managers and wildlife conservationists make better decisions regarding the protection of endangered species (specifically pinnipeds), so that conflicts between fisheries and marine mammals can be minimised.
What are your future career goals?
I plan to do a PhD on South American marsupials and set up a research lab focussing on the conservation of Southeast Asian wildlife after that.
What has been your most memorable Vancouver experience so far?
Cycling along the seawall from Kitsilano Beach to Coal Harbour and hiking the Baden-Powell Trail from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. I got to feel the laid-back lifestyle here in the former and see wildlife up close in the latter.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
It's cooollllddd in winter, but the plus side is that the skiing and snowboarding are excellent. There aren't many Singaporean eateries here, so you might want to learn how to make all those hawker centre favourites before coming over. Just come here with an open mind and be willing to try out new things.
Personal Interests / Hobbies
Flying, diving and hiking