Shani Leyva-Camacho

Molecular Biology & Biochemistry doctoral student in the Faculty of Science

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

I am a first-year PhD student at the Molecular Biology & Biochemistry department. I am part of the King Lab, and I feel extremely lucky to have found such a passionate science-driven group of people. We’re interested in how CO2 influences adaptation responses across different species and my project focuses on a method to discover CO2-sensing mechanisms at the molecular level. Before joining SFU, I moved from Mexico, my home country, to pursue a MSc degree in Biochemistry at McGill University. The love and support from my family and friends when I decided to move to Canada motivates me every day. This, combined with my desire to make significant contributions to our society through science, are my inspiration to continue learning and developing my scientific skills.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

Ultimately, my interest in the science currently taking place at the MBB department of SFU, especially at the King lab, made me choose SFU to be my new workplace.

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

I would say my research focuses on how bacteria can detect changes on the CO2 of their environment and use it to their advantage!

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

CO2, Proteomics, Bacterial Adaptation.

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

I've learned to open my mind to new perspectives, but mostly, I developed my organizational and teaching skills, as I worked as a Research Assistant training new students and managing multiple projects before starting my PhD degree.

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

Yes, I was recently awarded the Michael Stevenson Graduate Scholarship.

What have been the most valuable lessons you've learned along your graduate student journey (or in becoming a graduate student)?

I've learned that in science you need to be patient in order to see results. For a graduate student in molecular biology, there are probably more “unsuccessful” experiments than successful ones, but each one teaches you something valuable. Being patient and methodical is the best and healthiest way to tackle a project.

How do you approach networking and building connections in and outside of your academic community?

When I first started my graduate student journey, I was very intimidated by this aspect of academia. I found the cure to be exposure to conferences, meetings, project collaborations and even just approaching people to ask about their scientific interests. Building genuine connections and nurturing professional relationships with other researchers can truly become mutually beneficial and influence your career development.

What are some tips for balancing your academic and personal life?

A very difficult aspect of graduate school is the balance between personal and professional life. With time and experience, I found that treating my evenings and weekends with the same respect as I do my time in the lab, helps me find a better balance. Exercising, planning outings with friends or finding other hobbies keeps my mind off work even when I have busy periods of time as a student. Planning a realistic workload in order to meet deadlines is key to keeping the weekends free!

Contact Shani:sleyvaca@sfu.ca

Additional Links

• LinkedIn