Student of the Year Award: Maya Tong (Microbiology & Immunology)

Maya began her co-op career with us much like any other student. She attended workshops and applied to jobs in hopes of landing her first placement. What separates Maya from others is how much effort she put into her co-op experience. In a word, she was persistent. She didn’t try to take the easy route or ever settle for what was convenient and modified her goals along the way to ensure she continued to challenge herself.

Her initial goal when she started co-op was to have an opportunity to conduct independent research. She was hired at Stemcell Technologies, which was the top ranked biotechnology company in Vancouver in 2009. At this placement, she helped develop novel research technologies, such as immunomagnetic separation of blood cells and xeno-free media for the growth and differentiation of Mesenchymal stem cells. Her next placement with the Downtown Infectious Disease Clinic allowed her to combine her love of science with community service. The work incorporated research outside of a laboratory setting with clinical practice for patients in the Downtown Eastside who had infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis and HIV. This experience completely changed her perspective on modern medicine and has inspired her to pursue medicine after graduation.

Having worked in industry and in a clinic, Maya now wanted to work in an academic lab but also work internationally for her last co-op placement. She contacted a researcher in Australia and secured a placement with the Haemotology divison of South Australia Pathology using mouse models of multiple myeloma to analyze changes in stromal stem cells over the course of the disease. Relocating can be an adjustment and moving over 12,000 km from home was definitely daunting, however Maya took on this challenge and experienced great personal rewards from this placement.

In her spare time, Maya enjoys staying active in her community. She has taught skating lessons for over ten years, and currently teaches both figure skating and hockey lessons around the lower mainland. She has also volunteered at both preschools and elementary schools promoting science and encouraging these children to be curious about science. At UBC, Maya is an executive of the Science Co-op Students Club and was instrumental in founding this club in 2008. She also has held a number of roles with Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) and served as a liaison for SUS and the Microbiology and Immunology Department faculty and students last year.

Maya has transitioned from a person who believed in taking opportunities to a person who now believes in making opportunities. She is an example of how all students should utilize and apply their experience while in co-op which is why Maya Tong is our co-recipient of the 2010 Student of the Year award. We know that Maya will go on to be very successful in her future endeavours and will make a positive contribution to our community.