Shannon Lim
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
Curiosity of the unknowns. The human brain is a fascinating and complex organ; our current knowledge of the brain only touches the surface of what the brain is capable of. I believe that we really don't know what we don't know and further research is really needed to explore the capabilities of the brain. The brain is so powerful, it's involved with all our movements, perceptions, and expectations. I want to be a part of unraveling the mysteries of this fascinating organ.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC has some of the top female researchers investing the brain and impairments of the brain. Being mentored by these amazing scientists is inspiring and motivating.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
Being a part of a dual-degree Master of Physical Therapy and Doctoral program provides me with a unique perspective on research from both the clinician and the scientist side. I think both of these perspectives are important to continually consider when designing research projects. It helps you constantly think: What is the importance of this project? Who will the results of this study affect? How the results affect this population? What issues do we need more information about?
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The peer-support and finding many like-minded students and faculty around!
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Having diverse interests. My mentors and people I look up to have always encouraged me to follow my interests and spend equal time exploring all of those interests. I think this diversity has allowed me to view graduate studies with an open mind and bring various experiences into research.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
Outside of research, I like to challenge myself physically. You can typically find me running, rock climbing, or scrambling up a mountain then skiing down the mountain (when the conditions allow).
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Find your passion and your meaning. If you're not passionate about the project or can't see how the project will be meaningful, you'll likely get tired of the project quickly and put less effort into it (i.e. it will take you longer to graduate).
Learn more about Shannon's research
Stroke is a direct injury of the brain that often leaves individuals with impairments on one side of their body. These impairments commonly lead to difficulties with walking and walking rehabilitation is typically at the top of the individual's rehabilitation list. Despite the mechanism of injury being within the brain, brain function is rarely taken into account during the rehab process; this is likely because we do not have a clear understanding of how the brain functions during walking. Further investigation into the brain activation patterns during walking is needed to fully understand how the brain characteristics can be used to inform rehabilitation. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a lightweight, portable device that can be used to measure brain activity during tasks such as walking. Walking within the community also requires complex interactions between the actual act of walking and the ability to walk while attending to simultaneous tasks or distractions (e.g. walking and talking or walking and avoiding obstacles). My projects will focus on determining 1) if this device can reliably measure brain activation during walking across multiple days, 2) determine how changes in walking speed affect brain activation, and 3) determine how the addition of a secondary task may affect brain activity. Results from my studies could help inform rehabilitation and lead to the creation of innovative and individualized treatments to facilitate the recovery of walking after a stroke.
