Featured Student: Carly Pistawka

"When I entered first year and applied for a major, the co-op programs were very appealing, because it gives the ability to try out jobs in the field and help inevitably determine what you are, (and aren’t,) interested in."

"For my first co-op term, I applied for a bioinformatics assistant position with limited knowledge on bioinformatics. I ended up really enjoying the work and learned a lot that has been applicable to my classes and other co-op positions."

What is your field of study?

I am in my fourth year in the Honours in Biotechnology program. It is a joint UBC and BCIT program, where you spend two of your five years in a lab-intensive schedule at BCIT. The Biotechnology program includes courses in: microbiology, chemistry, immunology, virology, pharmaceutical development, regulations, process systems, statistics, biochemistry, and animal cell biology. Having experience and education at both BCIT and UBC provides both theoretical and practical learning for a small (22 person) cohort.

Why did you choose to enroll in co-op?

Co-op is one of the reasons why I chose to enter the biotechnology program. As part of the program, I have four co-op terms, totaling to 16 months of co-op experience. When I entered first year and applied for a major, the co-op programs were very appealing, because it gives the ability to try out jobs in the field and help inevitably determine what you are, (and aren’t,) interested in.

Which positions did you work during co-op?

For my first co-op term in 2020, I worked as a bioinformatics research assistant at the Silent Genomes Project Activity 2 through the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. I did a lot of coding, analysis, and pipeline development for the project remotely from home. For my longer, 8-month co-op, I worked as a research assistant under Dr. Caroline MacCallum, where I worked on creating tools for medical cannabis education, such as: Powerpoints, handouts, infographics, and workplace impairment guidance documents. Through this, I was able to work on projects that intersected multiple fields of interest, such as medicine, science, research, politics, public health, patient advocacy, harm reduction, and social justice.

Can you share your favourite experience(s) while in co-op?

One of my favourite co-op experiences with Dr. MacCallum, was going through the process of publishing an academic paper. I learned a lot during the process, got to know my co-authors, and it was very satisfying to see the final product after working for months on brainstorming, researching, editing, creating figures, and revisions. I also got to present in Las Vegas at PAINWeek, one of the world’s largest pain research conferences, which was an amazing experience.

What advice would you offer to future co-op students?

I would suggest that, if co-op students have the opportunity to pursue multiple placements, they try something new! Co-op is a great way to be able to try something you may be interested in, but know very little about. For my first co-op term, I applied for a bioinformatics assistant position with limited knowledge on bioinformatics. I ended up really enjoying the work and learned a lot that has been applicable to my classes and other co-op positions.

I also would advise future co-op students to ask and listen about the experiences of the people they meet during co-op, including your coworkers, supervisor, and their network. It is a great way to get insight into the field if you are interested in it.

What are you looking forward to after graduation?

While I do love sitting in on lectures, I am excited to work for a few years after graduation before attending any more school. I am planning on applying to the Masters in Genetic Counseling program at UBC after taking a year or two off of school. Through my co-op experiences, I have learned that I would like to pursue clinical work with patients.

Read more on past winners of our Student of the Year Award here.

Published: March 2021