Marina Mehling
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I want to leave this Earth better than how I found it. I view research as a tangible way to help inch society forward to a more sustainable future. I also know that my strengths and sense of fulfillment lie in teaching, and academia is a place that blends these two passions of mine perfectly together.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
My supervisor, Dr. Orlando Rojas, is the number one reason I chose UBC. He is an outstanding scientist and educator, and is someone who inspires me to work hard. I knew that his mentorship and the resources at the UBC BioProducts Institute would provide everything I needed to succeed in my graduate studies.
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
The culture and work environment at the UBC BioProducts Instititue (BPI) was a huge draw for me. BPI is a cluster of interdisciplinary researchers that all have a focus on sustainable materials. I regularly attend seminars and collaborate with industrial designers, business analysts and researchers from other fields.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I fell in love with Vancouver as soon as I moved here. I can take public transit to go skiing on Grouse then bus back to Kitsilano to play beach volleyball in the sunshine on the same day. There are not many cities in the world that offer such accessibility to both mountains and ocean in addition to walkable neighborhoods.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
From the end of high school through my entire undergraduate degree, I consistently volunteered or worked in research labs across government, academia and industry. These experiences gave me valuable insight into which disciplines, work environments and mentorship styles suited me — and which ones did not. This knowledge gave me confidence when I chose which supervisor and program I wanted for my PhD.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Stay curious and ask questions. You never know when a hallway conversation becomes that "aha" moment you needed for your own work.
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Learn more about Marina's research
I engineer high-performance, sustainable materials using bacteria and industrial waste. Cellulose is my primary building block; this versatile biopolymer is prevalent in forestry and agricultural residues and is a natural by-product of vinegar production. I apply nanomaterial principles to fabricate the cellulose into products such as textiles, water-purification filters and biomedical implants. Lastly, I impart unique properties to these materials using natural extracts such as tannins or proteins produced by genetically engineered bacteria. These functionalization methods avoid harsh chemicals and confer advanced capabilities like catalysis, pollutant capture and biosensing. The result is a new class of materials that not only replace but also outperform plastics.