My name is Teodora Secara and I graduated in 2021 with an honours BIAS in Biochemistry and a minor in Psychology. As a former Bachelor of Arts and Science Association (BASA) co-president, I look back on my time as an arts and science student with great fondness. Arts and science is a unique program because it doesn’t restrict its students – you are able to construct a degree that is truly reflective of your interests as a learner. The support system provided by both students and professors is also one of the strongest aspects of ArtSci. I was on BASA for all four years of my undergraduate degree, where I met and continue to sustain friendships post-graduation. I maintained an active role on campus and was involved in several student groups including Science Society, Students Offering Support (SOS) and helped with the planning of the Combing 2 Cultures interdisciplinary conference hosted at the University of Windsor in January 2020.
During my time at the University of Windsor, I was highly implicated in undergraduate research. I worked in a medicinal organic chemistry lab, where I completed my fourth-year research project. My thesis was focused on developing therapeutic interventions for drug-resistant breast cancer. I collaborated with two research groups to synthesize novel breast cancer cell inhibitors for an NSERC-funded project. As of 2022, I am a second year MSc Medical Science student in the faculty of medicine at the University of Toronto. I conduct brain imaging research on psychiatric populations with schizophrenia spectrum disorders at the Centre for Addition and Mental Health.
Arts and science helped me develop exceptional critical thinking skills through exposure to a rich selection of courses tailored towards interdisciplinary inquiry. Truly interdisciplinary thinking has allowed me to excel in my current role as a translational researcher. I plan on transferring to my PhD at the beginning of 2023. I hope to continue my research and transition into an industry career where I’m able to advocate for improved mental health resources and patient care while engaging the scientific community through research.