What do you consider your hometown, and how has it shaped who you are today?
I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. I feel very lucky to have grown up in a multicultural city with access to so many musical, theatrical, and literary events, great restaurants, and also reasonably easy access to nature. I think this was instrumental in turning me into the book/theatre/movie/winter sports/outdoors-loving person that I am today.
Can you tell us about your current research at Dartmouth and what excites you most about it?
I study the brain cells that make myelin. Myelin is a membrane wrapped around neurons that acts as an insulator and is critical to allow electrical signals to travel as far (from our brain to our toes!) and as fast as they do. In neurodegenerative disorders like Multiple Sclerosis, myelin and the cells that make it are destroyed, causing both motor and cognitive symptoms. In some cases, myelin can be repaired, but we don't know much about how or why. We do know that with aging, this repair fails. So in the Hill lab, I study how myelin is initially formed during development, how myelin repair happens, and what changes happen with aging to see if we can reverse them and promote myelin repair in aging too.
What is your academic background? Where did you complete your graduate studies, and what led you to pursue a postdoc?
During the last year of my undergraduate degree in neuroscience at McGill University, I had to write a paper about a new and exciting research topic in neuroscience. I went through the most recent issue of Science and found a publication that suggested that the addition of new myelin in the adult brain was important for learning. I got really interested and excited by this, as it was evidence of a new way that the brain could encode information. I decided I wanted to study this in graduate school. I looked at different labs that were investigating this, and moved to the UK to undertake my PhD at the University of Cambridge. I have wanted to be an academic researcher since I was ten, so a postdoc was the next logical step after completing my PhD. I continue to be passionate about the role of myelin in learning and how we can promote myelin repair in neurodegenerative disorders, so I decided to stay in the same field as my PhD, but pick a lab where I could learn new methods.
What inspired you to pursue a postdoc position at Dartmouth?
At the end of my PhD, I attended a conference with many leaders in the myelin field to try and decide which lab I might be interested in joining. Dr. Hill's talk stood out to me, and I was really interested in and impressed by his lab's research so I decided that I wanted to join his lab. Luckily he was looking for a postdoc!
As a member of the Dartmouth Postdoc Association's executive board, what motivated you to get involved, and what do you hope to accomplish in this role?
It can be tricky to meet people when moving somewhere new, and I think this is especially true with postdocs at Dartmouth, as there are relatively few of us. I really enjoy all the events that the DPA puts together, and the chance to meet new people, so I'm hoping that I can contribute to that as a board member.
What advice would you give to those currently pursuing their PhDs about making the most of their time at Dartmouth?
Probably to try and strike a good work/life balance. That's something I learned the hard way during my PhD. It's great to be really passionate about your work, and there are definitely times where work has to be the priority, and schedules can be crazy, but I think the key is that in between those stretches, it's important to have other hobbies and not keep finding reasons to come into the lab at all hours. The outdoors is so great here, so that's definitely a good non-work option.
What are some key skills or experiences you've gained during your postdoc that you think will be valuable in your next career step?
I learned new lab techniques which I am hoping to combine with my previous technical skills to conduct research in my own lab. I have also gained significantly more experience in mentoring in the lab, and I think this will be critical as a future lab leader.
What are your career goals after your postdoc?
After my postdoc, I am hoping to get a faculty position and start my own lab studying the role of myelin in learning and how we can promote myelin repair in neurodegenerative disorders like Multiple Sclerosis.
Which resources, career support programs, or professional development opportunities at Dartmouth have been most valuable to you, and how have they impacted your experience?
DCAL has been great. I have taken part in two workshop series that they organize, the mentoring and faculty application series, and both have been really helpful.
Beyond research, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in the Upper Valley?
I love winter sports. When not in the lab, I can usually be found on a ski slope, Nordic skiing in the middle of a forest, or on an ice rink.
