Stories of WISE

In this conversation, WISE Co-Presidents Eila Farnood and Sarvnaz Ale discuss everything from finding community through extracurriculars to defining career success as an undergraduate. Eila and Sarvnaz share not only important advice for underclassmen, but also details about their personal experiences as they prepare to close out their time in university.

Is grad school really just a backup plan? In our third and final episode of the Industry Series, we sit down with Atefeh Mohammadi, an award-winning graduate researcher, science communicator, and a PHD candidate at the University of Toronto's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. Atefeh shares her journey from an uncertain undergrad to diving into what grad school actually looks like, how to prepare for it, and why communicating your research to the public matters more than ever. We also explore how she balanced research with student leadership, the role of social media in science communication, and why this so-called "backup path" might just be your best one yet.

In this episode, we spotlight industry pathways beyond traditional academic routes. We’re joined by -- Bonnie Wang, a service and biomedical designer based in Toronto who works at the intersection of science, design, and healthcare.

Bonnie shares how she uses visual storytelling and human-centred design to transform complex biomedical ideas into accessible and engaging resources for diverse audiences.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Brianne Helfrich, who has a PhD in bioethics and is the founder of Helfrich Collective. We talk about her path from medicine to bioethics, what Helfrich Collective means to her, struggles in juggling everything, and much more!

In this episode, we launch a new series spotlighting industry pathways, moving beyond the lecture hall and into the real-world impact of scientific training.

Jacquie Fleisig, is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Toronto who began her journey in Engineering Science. Jacquie shares how her love for problem-solving led her through diverse industry and research experience, before ultimately rerouting into medicine.

Throughout the conversation, Jacquie reflects on navigating uncertainty, pivoting career goals, and discusses how working outside of traditional academic pathways shaped her approach to patient care and sparked her interest in health services research.

Today I'm joined by Dr. Ania Harlick, self-proclaimed "accidental physicist". She's an assistant professor of physics at UofT, and in this episode, we talk about her long-winded path to being a physicist and a professor, feeling out of place in STEM, and Dr. Harlick's teaching philosophies.

Today, I'm joined by Alice Lee, a student studying computer science at Northeastern University in Boston! She shares insights into her academic and professional journey, including her experiences at startups and internships, as well as highlighting the impact of student-led organizations on both her career and personal growth.

For our first episode this new year we are excited to share that we are joined by a brilliant guest, Dr. Naomi Levy-Strumpf.
Providing a candid look at her research experience, her transition to teaching and what Life Science students can do make sure they get (or make) a seat at the table, Dr. Levy-Strumpf outlines it all in this episode you don’t want to miss.
Listen now (and take notes) on how to make this year the one in which you find if research is the path for you. Filled with several key pieces of advice to keep in mind along the way, this episode is inspiring, informative and exactly what you’ve been waiting to hear.

Today, we are joined by Dr. Myrto Grigoroglou, assistant professor at UofT! We discuss her unconventional (academic) journey, from studying communications in Greece to linguistics in America. We then talk about her research, her lab, her experience teaching, and end with insightful advice for students.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dr. Alexandra Malinowski! As one of the professors of HMB265: General & Human Genetics, she has taught thousands of Life Sciences students, making her the perfect guest to share advice on how to make the most of your undergrad journey.

Drawing from her own experiences as a student and her perspective as a professor, Dr. Malinowski discusses everything from effective study strategies to maintaining balance and well-being throughout university life.

Tune in to hear her insights on how to succeed academically, grow personally, and truly thrive during your undergrad years!