Shawn Liu
Graduated from SFU in 2021
Major: Kinesiology
Degrees Received: BSc
Shawn is currently a Master of Bioengineering Student at UCLA.
Biography
My name is Shawn Liu and I am a MS bioengineering student at UCLA. My undergraduate research experiences at SFU have stimulated my interests in the biotechnology field, and I am eager to apply my knowledge to advance the development of technologies in medicine.
QUESTIONS
1) What is your current position? What does a typical work day look like for you?
As a graduate student at UCLA, I juggle between course work, teaching assistant duties, and research. Each day is quite fast paced, and I need to schedule effectively to keep up with my commitments. There is no set "work schedule" as a graduate student, but I try my best to schedule at least one day to recharge (and do nothing) every week.
This summer, I will be working as an Oncology R&D intern at Cepheid in Sunnyvale, CA. I am excited to learn about the cancer screening development process in the biotechnology industry.
2) Who in BPK had an impact on you and why?
My research experience in Dr. Tom Claydon's lab have inspired me to pursue an internship at biotech company where I can apply my PCR troubleshooting skills to optimize cancer screening diagnostic protocols. My research experience in Dr. Dave Clarke's lab served as my primary motivation to pursue a thesis project in the field of computational systems biology. Both my research experiences have demonstrated the large scale impact that knowledge discovery can have on healthcare and society. This is what inspired my decision to pursue a career in the biotech industry.
3) What is your favourite memory of your time at SFU as an undergraduate?
My exchange experience at National Taiwan University was definitely my favorite memory during my time as an undergraduate student at SFU. Interacting with individuals across different cultures, developing independence, learning life skills, traveling, eating amazing food, and forming lifelong relationships through a 4.5 month exchange made this experience extremely worthwhile!
4) What advice would you give to today’s BPK student?
Explore opportunities as much as possible!