Biology

It’s 3,300 kilometres from the University of Waterloo to the Caribbean’s Saba University School of Medicine but this year’s Faculty of Science Valedictorian, Justen Wilmot, BSc, Biomedical Science (medical physiology minor) is looking forward to the long trek to fulfil his dream of pursuing a career in medicine.

The Faculty of Science is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Outstanding Performance Award. The winners span across all departments and professional schools and we are delighted to celebrate their teaching excellence. 

The Faculty of Science is saddened to share that Anne Innis Dagg, a groundbreaking Canadian zoologist, feminist and environmentalist, passed away on April 1, 2024. She studied and worked at the University of Waterloo from the 1960s through 2013, pursuing a wide range of research interests.

Milena Gojsevic (she/her) is the Co-op Student of the Year for the Faculty of Science. During her work term at Sunnybrook Hospital, she displayed commitment and curiosity towards scientific research. Milena delves into the details of her impressive journey as a clinical research assistant.

The whooping crane is the tallest bird in North America and is named for its distinctive “whooping” calls that can carry for several kilometres. Yet, you have likely never seen or heard one before as fewer than 600 of these birds remain in the wild.

At the Faculty of Science, we are constantly inspired by the remarkable women in our faculty and their determination to make a difference through science. Continue reading to learn more about their stories, what inspiring inclusion means to them, and their advice for emerging young scientists. 

Professor Dale Martin's research lab is a recipient of a $125,000 ALS Canada-Brain Canada 2023 Discovery Grant. This grant program, dedicated to advancing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research, encourages out-of-the-box ideas in the field.  

In our classrooms, we are fortunate to have Black student leaders who excel in their academic pursuits and serve as role models for the rest of our UW community. These individuals selflessly donate their time and energy to guide and support first-year students, paving the way for future generations of Black students in science.

Around the world, our Faculty of Science alumni are excelling in their chosen fields. They make significant contributions to their respective industries and their local communities. Their dedication and commitment are nothing short of inspiring.

Fatima Abrar’s research focuses on how protein mislocalization affects autophagy in Huntington disease (HD). Autophagy is the process of removing and recycling old and damaged cell parts—you can think of it as quality control for cells. It is an essential process that helps maintain cellular health and optimizes cell performance by removing toxic and non-functional parts in the cell.