Cidnee Luu
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I did a few research-based co-ops and volunteering positions in my undergraduate degree, and really enjoyed them. From that experience, I decided that I wanted to continue in research. A key takeaway from my experiences was that the people in research with the more stable, longer-term jobs had graduate degrees. This led me to continue my education, so that I could find more stable, permanent positions.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I liked that UBC is a large, world-class university where there are lots of opportunities and experiences. As well, looking through their biomedical engineering program, I found that it suited a lot of my interests. I had also lived in Vancouver before for my co-ops, and found the city a place that I wanted to live in longer-term.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I liked the variety of different courses I could take, and I was also very interested in my supervisor's research; I had done quite a bit wet lab work through my co-ops and wanted to focus more on device development and signal processing.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
At UBC, the best surprise was how beautiful the campus was, and that there are so many things to do and plenty of food options on campus.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
Definitely my co-ops and research volunteer positions have best prepared me for graduate school.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Graduate school is very fast-paced and it can be stressful and demanding, and I think it is important to take some time to relax and recharge.