Josie Tuong

master's student in the Faculty of Health Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

With my previous exposure to research, I have been interested in the research journey, which entails endless opportunities to learn and discover new knowledge about nature and how to apply the knowledge to human health. At some point towards the end of my undergraduate degree, I was introduced to the bioinformatics field - using computational power to experiment and answer biological questions. I have been captivated by the power and potential of bioinformatics. I decided to stay on that journey since then.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I'm impressed by the idea of interdisciplinary which SFU has been promoting and implementing well. I believe a cooperative environment is important for collaboration, which especially should happen often in biomedical research. My first impression of SFU is just that, from the many open areas and linkages between buildings to the integrative graduate class I took.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

We always hear that exercise is good for your immune system. However, how exactly exercise regulates the immune cells is not too clear. My team and I wish to study the epigenetic changes (the modifications on a cell's DNA, which change the cells' behaviour without changing its DNA) in immune cells after individuals (mice and humans) are exposed to exercise.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

Innate cell epigenetic response, chronic exercise exposure, translational research.

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

Coming from a more biomedical focus, immersing in well-integrated SFU graduate classes gave me a chance to be exposed to and engage in conversations outside of my focus, which expand my perspective as a researcher. With my experience with TA-ship, I am more appreciative of the instructor teams in making sure knowledge is transferred in the most engaging and creating the best experience for students to express their knowledge.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

With a lot of help from my supervisor and team members for the application, I am honoured to be a CIHR Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master’s (CGS-M) recipient. The confidence boost is intermediate and impactful, strengthening my belief in carrying the research I believe is important. In addition, the award lifts off the financial burden which otherwise would have challenged my productivity in working on my research. Last but not least, being a CGS-M recipient opens more opportunities for me to advance my knowledge in the field in a way that I couldn’t imagine. One such opportunity is being eligible for the Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement, which allows me to go abroad to study and advance my knowledge.

Contact Josie:josie_tuong@sfu.ca