Erin Aubrey
Masters in Anatomy and Neurobiology
I knew that pursuing graduate studies in this department would allow me to carry out medically applicable neuroscience research and at the same time gain experience teaching anatomy to various student populations.
Supervisor
Why Dal?
While exploring my options for post-secondary education, Dalhousie was the best choice for me because it allowed me to obtain a well-respected undergraduate degree and discover a new province. Originally from Ontario, I fell in love with Halifax. The smaller city and university provided a strong sense of community thus resulting in me staying to pursue my graduate training.
Why medical neuroscience?
My first exposure to the Department of Medical Neuroscience was as an undergraduate student in the neuroanatomy course. The research being done in the department made me want to get involved as it demonstrated how multifaceted neuroscience really is and how much more there was to learn beyond my undergraduate studies. I did this first by volunteering and then by working as an undergraduate in the department before enrolling to pursue graduate studies here.
The Department of Medical Neuroscience is unique in the way that it teaches anatomy to undergraduate students as well as many of the professional schools on campus, in addition to its research-training component. I knew that pursuing graduate studies in this department would allow me to carry out medically applicable neuroscience research and at the same time gain experience teaching anatomy to various student populations.
What inspires you?
Knowing that the basic science research I am doing in the lab everyday has the potential to translate into increasing our understanding of diseases such as the motor neuron disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and in doing so, positively affecting the lives of patients living with ALS. Being involved with the Halifax ALS community through the lab has put names to the face of the disease and emphasizes the importance of the research that our lab does.
Teaching, labs & research groups
- I work in the lab of Dr. Victor Rafuse
- Research Groups/Affiliations: Brain Repair Centre, Atlantic Mobility Project
- I have been a teaching assistant for First-Year Dentistry Neuroanatomy, First-Year Dentistry Head & Neck Anatomy, and Med II Neuroanatomy
- Student Government: Department of Medical Neuroscience Graduate Student Society (President, Vice-President), Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Society (President, Vice-President)
- Integrated Health Research Training Partnership Research Skills Training Program
Awards, honours & conferences
- Anatomy and Neurobiology Graduate Student Leadership Award
- Society for Neuroscience (Poster Presentation—November 2014)
- Integrated Health Research Training Partnership Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Research Day (Poster Presentation—May 2014)
- Annual Brain Repair Center Conference (Poster Presentation—December 2013)
- Conferences attended without presentation: Canadian Spinal cord and Spinal Cord Injury Conference, Atlantic Mobility Project Research Day, The International Motor Neuron Meeting