OUR Path To Research

In this episode of OUR Path to Research, we sit down with Dr. Martin Gibala at the Human Performance Lab at McMaster University to explore the science behind exercise, health, and human potential. From molecular mechanisms in skeletal muscle to real-world applications in athletic performance and chronic disease, Dr. Gibala shares how research in exercise physiology translates into meaningful impac...

Exciting. Fast-paced. Innovative. Jeremie Alexander and Stewart McLellan, PhD students at the Stokes Laboratory, are part of a team of researchers targeting one of the most pressing problems in modern medicine. They are leveraging AI tools to fight antimicrobial resistance. In today’s podcast episode, we learn how AI is used for drug discovery and how this computational work is translated to exper...

In this episode of the OUR Path to Research Podcast, we speak with Dr. Rakesh Sahu and Daniel Sim about research at the intersection of engineering, sustainability, and alternative proteins. They discuss how nanomaterials and biomaterials contribute to innovations in sustainable food systems, what research in this field looks like in practice, and what students can learn from interdisciplinary wor...

Are you considering doing an undergraduate thesis? Today, in our conversation with Thomas Rasmussen (current thesis student in Environmental Science), and Jonathan Goberdhan (master student in Biology) we explore how curiosity, community, and resilience are all essential parts of this journey. Join us to learn how to reach out to supervisors, find a topic you are passionate about, plan for your gr...

In this episode, co-hosts Andy and Cianne welcome undergraduate students Easton and Riya, to learn more about their experience conducting research in Alberta through SCIENCE 2RP3S. Easton, a second-year student in the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program, and Riya, a third-year Honours Life Science student, discuss the transferable skills they developed over the course. Together, they...

In this episode, co-hosts Andy and Cianne welcome Mike Lafleur and Erin Pease from the International and Exchange Student Experience Team within the Student Success Center to share more about the importance of pursing global experiences. Together, they highlight global opportunities and funding avenues available to students, as well as their own insights from working abroad. Whether you are passio...

In this episode, co-hosts Andy and Cianne sit down with Dr. Jonathan Cannon: assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour and head of McMaster’s METRE Lab. Together they dig into the intersection of mathematics, psychology, and neuroscience, and the influence of rhythm perception in our lives. Dr. Cannon reflects on his academic journey to offer insight into ho...

In this episode, co-hosts Andy and Cianne sit down with undergraduate students Andro and Zaynab, to explore how early research experiences can shape academic paths, personal insight, and even career direction. Andro, a second-year student in the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour program, shares his hands-on work with EEG caps, motion capture, and data modelling. Zaynab, a third-year Honours...

In this episode, co-hosts Hussain and Daisy sit down with Dr. Pat Clancy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at McMaster University, to explore the fascinating world of quantum materials, neutron scattering, and the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) Undergraduate Research Experience. Dr. Clancy shares insights on the importance of interdisciplinary research in nuclear...

Ranim Saleem, a PhD student, and her shadowee, Milla Paniza, join us today to discuss their experiences in the graduate shadowing program. Ranim is a PhD student in the Scott Lab who mentored Milla, an undergrad student in Biology research. We'll be discussing the benefits to graduate shadowing and how you can join in!

Dr. Daniel Cameron joins from the LIVELab to discuss the value in volunteering in research and attending seminar sessions. He shares insight on his research, from infants responding to different rhythms to live motion capture and music.

Learn more about McMaster's new 1-unit courses coming this Spring 2025! Our guests this week are Dr. Pat Chow-Fraser, the director of the OUR, and Dr. Rosa da Silva, associate Dean of the faculty of Science. They explain the benefit of taking the new courses, which include allowing students to gain course credit for volunteering in a lab or attending research seminars.

Maya Mahmood, an undergraduate student in the Integrated Science program, and Kevina Chavda, a graduate student in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology program, are working together in Dr. James Inkster’s lab at McMaster University. Their research focuses on the development of novel imaging agents for positron emission tomography (PET) and exploring innovative radiopharmaceutical applications. In th...

Maya Mammon is an undergraduate student in the Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour - Mental Health Specialization program at McMaster University. She has been a research assistant in the McMaster Baby Lab under the supervision of Dr. Gabriel (Naiqi) Xiao since 2023 and now serves as the lab manager. Maya’s research question is two-pronged: whether children prefer to help emotionally consisten...

Matt Renwick is a PhD student at the Human Performance Lab under the supervision of Dr. Martin Gibala. His work examines cardiorespiratory responses following Sprint-interval training. Matt also aims to improve the quality and rigour of his work by implementing strategies to reduce bias and enhance reporting quality. In this week’s episode of OUR Path to Research, Matt will talk about his journey...

In this week's episode of OUR Path to Research, Mahsa Gholiof shares her research journey. Mahsa completed her Bachelors of Science in the Life Sciences program at McMaster and is currently completing her graduate studies in medical science, where she continues to conduct clinical research related to womens health. Mahsa shares the challenges she has faced as a researcher and the tips she has...

In this week’s episode of "OUR Path To Research," Dr. Alexander Hall, a science communication expert in the School of Interdisciplinary Science at McMaster University, delves into his journey towards researching the history of science in popular media, alongside his contributions at the Science and Society Lab. Dr. Hall highlights the significance of effective science communication and o...

In this week's episode of OUR Path to Research, Aileen Shanzeela, an undergraduate student in Medical & Biological Physics shares how getting involved in the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories experience at Chalk River helped direct her towards the field of research she currently specializes in. She also speaks about her experience as a thesis student and some of the tips she has for students l...

What is it like to be an undergraduate researcher? In this week's episode, Parth Arora shares how he got his first research position, his experience as a researcher and the opportunities it has opened up for him. He also shares some of his biggest tips for students who are looking to get involved in research but do not know where to begin.

Dr. Jim Lyons is a professor of Kinesiology and the Director of the Faculty of Science’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) here at McMaster University. In this episode Dr. Lyons shares his  path to research, the history of the OUR and how they are cultivating equity, awareness, and accessibility within research opportunities for undergraduate students.

Welcome to OUR Path to Research, an Office of Undergraduate Research podcast where we explore the vast field of research available to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science at McMaster University. Stay tuned as we follow the paths of different undergraduate students to learn more about their research, how they got to these positions, and the biggest tips they have for students looking to...