I have various experiences working as research assistants, science communicators, science outreach volunteers, and eductors in both academia and industry.
Academic Experiences
Graduate Student Researcher, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Sep 2023 - Present
- Supervisors: Dr. Gregory W. Schwartz, Scientist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Research; Dr.
Chris McIntosh, Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research
- Project: Repeatable gene expression inferences from live-cell phase contrast microscopy images using
machine learning
- Developing machine learning models using PyTorch to infer molecular information from cellular morphology
- Deploying methods as PyPI packages and Docker images for use by the scientific community.
- Related GitHub Repos:
- SPAGHETTI: A method for phase-contrast microscopy images pre-processing so that you can use your favourite H&E model on them through this domain adaptation method built with style transfer networks.
Medical Physics Researcher, Grand River Hospital
Aug 2022 - Apr 2023
- Supervisor: Dr. Ernest Osei, Director, Department of Medical Physics and Radiation Safety
- Project: Mathematical simulation of glioblastoma growth dynamics through an agent based model
- Used CompCell3D and ordinary and partial differential equations to model the growth dynamics of glioblastoma and identifying novel targets for treatment.
Undergraduate Thesis Student, University of Waterloo
May 2022 - Dec 2022
- Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Doxey, Associate Professor, Department of Biology
- Project: Investigating novel hosts and reservoirs of Yersinia pestis through metagenomic analysis of Sequence Read Archive
Undergraduate Researcher, University of Waterloo
Jan 2022 - Apr 2022 ; Jan 2023 - Apr 2023
- Supervisors: Dr. Brian Ingalls and Dr. Chris Bauch, Professor, Department of Applied Mathematics
- Projects: Mathematical modelling of SARS-CoV-2 host-virus dynamics and effects of antiviral therapies using ordinary differential equations; Mathematical modelling of COVID-19 disease dynamics in the Region of Waterloo
- Written and run mathematical simulations of the SARS-CoV-2 in-host growth dynamics and COVID-19 diseases dynamics with ordinary differential equations using Python and R
- Related GitHub Repos:
Research Associate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Jan 2021 - Aug 2021
- Supervisor: Dr. Xin Zhao, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Project: Investigating novel bio-mimicking materials and structures for bone regeneration and long-term prevention of hypertrophic scars
- Conducted in vitro experiments to test the effect of a 3D-printed scaffold for bone regeneration
- Conducted in vivo animal experiments to test the effect of bio-mimicking materials for the long-term prevention of hypertrophic scars
- Written manuscripts to present findings in both review and research manuscripts
Outreach Experiences
Podcast Speaker, Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School Alumni Network
Feb 2024
Editor-in-Chief, NG LAB Science Briefing
Jan 2020 - Apr 2022
- Managed a social media account and composed science educational articles for the public
- Held meetings with recruited authors to check writing progress and assigned topics to authors for publication
Professional Experiences
Guest Lecturer, University of Waterloo
Jul 2024
- Guest lecturer for PHYS 383: Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
- Presented a lecture on graduate life in medical physics and application of machine learning in medical physics
- Contributed to the design of the final exam questions
Teaching Assistant, University of Waterloo
Sep 2022 - Apr 2023
- Teaching assistant for BIOL 239: Genetics and BIOL 130L: Introductory Cell Biology Laboratory
- Held weekly labs for first-year students and assisted students in completing laboratory procedures
- Held weekly tutorials for first-year and second-year students regarding solving genetic related problems
- Marked lab report and tutorial activities and held office hours to answer students’ questions
Head of Science Division, University of Waterloo Easy Education
Sep 2019 - Dec 2021
- Delivered presentations regarding life as a University of Waterloo science undergraduate student to
incoming students in welcome seminars
- Planned course materials for first-year science courses (MATH 127 – Calculus I, MATH 128 – Calculus
II, CHEM 120/121 – General Chemistry I, and CHEM 123/125 – General Chemistry II)
- Prepared and taught review seminars and 1-on-1 sessions for students in first year chemistry and calculus
courses
Medical Editor, U-Link Business Solution
Jan 2020 - Apr 2020
- Researched articles from journal databases and government websites to compile a feasibility report for
a new drug entering the Chinese market
- Presented findings for clients through weekly meetings
- Led the team in creating a series of lung cancer prevention videos
ESL Instructor, Me-to-We Cultural Organization
Sept 2018 - Sept 2019
- Prepared and taught ESL level C, D, and E students through weekly lectures
- Organized and led activities like Tea Party to get students involved in fun activities to practise their
conversational English