Gillian Savage
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
Through my undergraduate degree and experience in research laboratories I fell in love with immunology and research and always knew I wanted to further pursue these in graduate school. After my undergraduate degree I worked at a small Biotech for a bit but was eventually interested in taking on my own project and furthering the field of immunotherapy in graduate school.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
I completed my undergraduate degree at UBC and found that it provided a great scientific community with world-renowned scientists, cutting edge research and great research facilities. Not to mention it is situated in such a beautiful city!
What is it specifically, that your program offers, that attracted you?
I love the interdisciplinary aspect of my program which allows me to keep up to date on a broader range of cancer research happening at UBC and BC Cancer.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I grew up in Vancouver but I am always still in awe of the beauty of this city and how close you are to the outdoors. I love that Vancouver offers access to both high quality research and institutions as well as outdoor pursuits.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
I really love all the cool research that is ongoing at BC Cancer, where my lab is based out of, and how there are so many opportunities to attend seminars and talks to learn more about cancer research. I think it is nice to be in a bit of a cancer research cluster, where a lot of sharing and collaboration takes place which both challenges me and provides lots of opportunity for feedback and new ideas.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I had previously worked in both academic and industry labs before which not only gave me a bunch of translatable lab skills but also helped me understand how to design and run experiments to help answer my scientific questions. I think the experience in both academia and industry in a variety of different labs also helped me determine what my exact research interests are and were essential in igniting my passion for research.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
When I am not in the lab I can be found in the mountains either on my skis, riding my mountain bike, or out for a trail run or hike.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
It is easy to get sucked in completely to your research but make sure to make time to do fun things too! Having a good work life balance is important to avoid burnout.
