My experiences in Co-op have informed my decision to pursue graduate school and work towards a senior scientist position in a government research lab.

My name is Sami, and I am an undergraduate student in the Honours Chemical Biology Co-op program. I chose to study Chemical Biology because of its unique inter-disciplinary focus. As a Chemical Biology student, I have worked in research laboratories spanning the fields of computational chemistry, molecular biology, and chemical engineering.

I chose the Life Sciences Gateway program in the Faculty of Science at McMaster because of the flexibility in the first-year coursework. I am grateful that I had a full academic year to explore my options and make an informed decision about program specializations. My enjoyment of the introductory chemistry courses guided my decision to specialize in Chemical Biology in my second year.

The Honours Chemical Biology program has enhanced my understanding of what it means to be a scientist. Through the Co-op program, I have worked alongside individuals from the government, industry, and academic sectors. They have taught me that science is about working with real-world problems and making a difference through innovation. My experiences in Co-op have informed my decision to pursue graduate school and work towards a senior scientist position in a government research lab.

One piece of advice I would give a student interested in the Faculty of Science program is to be open-minded. The first year enables you to dabble in a range of subjects. I encourage you to take that opportunity to reflect on your experiences in each course. Those experiences are important in guiding you to make an informed decision about program specializations.

Best of luck with your journey at McMaster University and beyond!

Part of the reason I chose Mac was because of how many options the Life Sciences Gateway gave me.

I chose McMaster because it felt right. I had heard great things about the Faculty of Science before visiting the school, but it was when I came to Mac and walked around campus, I started to envision myself there.

Part of the reason I chose Mac was because of how many options the Life Sciences Gateway gave me. When it came time to choose a specialization, I wanted to continue exploring my options as a science student. I applied to Honours Biology and PNB, to get the most out of two disciplines I love: Biology and Psychology. I also loved the idea of getting hands-on research experience through the PNB Department.

I’ve had the opportunity to try out a number of research positions and in-lab experiences through my program. While I’m still not sure what my next steps are, I’ve been able to learn about what kind of work I enjoy, apply my coursework to hands-on experience, and make valuable connections with faculty and other experts in the field.