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Meet Our Vancouver-Victoria Team
The S2BN team in Vancouver and Victoria works collaboratively to host events for students looking to discover new career opportunities and enhance their skillset to prepare themselves for the workforce after graduation.
Contact the Vancouver-Victoria chapter of the S2BN at:
s2bnvancouver@s2bn.org
Manideep Chowdary Pachva
President
PhD Candidate
I am currently in the fourth year of my doctoral studies, pursuing a Ph.D. in the Interdisciplinary Oncology program at the University of British Columbia. The primary focus of my doctoral thesis is centered on disrupting the communication pathways between cancer cells and the surrounding cellular environment, with the ultimate goal of impeding the dissemination of cancer in pediatric patients. Albert Einstein's quote, "If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal; not to people or things," has consistently prompted me to contemplate the potential outcomes when the objective itself is intricately linked to individuals in an objective manner. Could this not signify a collective victory for humanity? A symbiotic relationship where both parties stand to benefit as they progress together?
I maintain a steadfast belief that effective leadership revolves around making a tangible difference. Embracing this principle, I have assumed various leadership roles at UBC, including serving as the chairman of the BIG Research Day Organizing Committee and as the president of the BIG Graduate Student Association. Now, as a member of the S2BN Vancouver-Victoria chapter, I aspire to leverage my previous leadership experience and industry connections to orchestrate collaborative events fostering meaningful connections between students and the industry.
Andy Jia
Marketing Coordinator
MSc Student
I am a first-year UBC Master of Science student in the Interdisciplinary Oncology Program. My clinical research project is conducted at the Vancouver Prostate Centre, where I am investigating novel detection methods for early-stage testicular cancer. Through my experience in research and graduate studies, I have seen first-hand the impact of innovation and the biomedical industry on scientific discovery and how interconnected business and the sciences are. I want to utilize my experiences and passion for research to help my fellow graduate students and medical science researchers find their path in the vast number of opportunities their expertise can bring them.
Qiongqiong (Qyra) Jia
Events Coordinator
PhD student
I am a PhD student in Interdisciplinary Oncology at UBC. With a passion for bridging the gap between scientific research and societal impact, I would like to contribute to S2BN’ V-V chapter as Event coordinator, with a motto to act as a catalyst for academic-industry synergy. My goal via S2BN is to connect grad students with impactful opportunities, shaping science's societal impact.
Communications Coordinator
Nidhi Ghanathe
I'm a human resources professional with a master's degree, and three years of work experience in various organizations and capacities. My main area of expertise is in recruitment. Work aside, I enjoy baking, cycling and hiking. I particularly love working with people and I'm excited to be a part of the S2BN team. I hope the experience I bring to the table will help the mission of S2BN.
Sponsorship Coordinator
Anna Boisjoli
I graduated with a PhD in Chemistry from Carleton University. Under the supervision of Dr. Maria DeRosa, my research focused on advancing medial diagnostics through the development of oligonucleotide-based targeted contrast agents for MRI and CT imaging, particularly for efficient stroke diagnosis. Since then, I have transitioned into developing oligonucleotide therapeutics for rare diseases, such as Rett Syndrome and rare forms of epilepsy. I have had the privilege to work with Dr. Jonathan Watts at UMass Chan Medical School in Boston, MA and Dr. Leszek Lisowski at Children's Medical Research Institute in Sydney, Australia. Beyond my professional pursuits, I maintain an active lifestyle and a love for the outdoors.
Abhishek Soni
Sponsorship Coordinator
I am a postdoctoral research fellow at UBC, Vancouver, specializing in the intersection of chemistry, material science, automation, and machine learning. I enjoy working in areas where I can bring my research into the market with added potential. My Ph.D. was completed at UBC, focusing on the study of water freezing into ice through simulations and machine learning. Additionally, I have participated in the entrepreneurship@UBC program, acquiring skills in building successful scientific startups from scratch. Consequently, my team and I are currently developing CodeLine, a platform aimed at simplifying programming for beginners. I intend to utilize my combined expertise in science and business to mentor graduate students, guiding them toward opportunities where they can create a meaningful impact on the world.
Pinhao Xiang
Events Coordinator
I am a graduate student working on atherosclerosis, one of the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. I also obtained a Master of Management Degree from UBC. I am interested in translating scientific discoveries to improve patient welfare.
Marta Bergamo
Marketing Coordinator
I am a PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC. My research focuses on drug formulation and radiopharmaceutics. As my PhD is coming to an end, I got increasingly interested in exploring potential paths for grad students outside of academia. Therefore, I joined S2BN to support fellow grad student in their career path search. As ex external vice president of the graduate student society of my faculty, I really enjoyed organizing events and work with like-minded people to create a positive and welcoming environment as well as give back to the community.
Thank you to our sponsors
S2BN
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