My name is Amy Burke, I am a PhD student
in the Department of Biochemistry at
Western University. I came to Western
because my supervisor actually, I did my
undergraduate thesis project with him,
and so I actually went to interview at
other schools, and I realized how great I
had it here, so I actually decided to stay
for my graduate degree after I finished
undergrad here. I work with two natural
compounds you find in grapefruits or
tangerines, and I'm looking at them as a
therapeutic intervention for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes. So I
think that what makes me successful at
Western is that, I'm actually part of two
programs, so I'm a through the Department
of Biochemistry that's where my graduate
program is, but I'm also a student at
Robarts Research Institute, so
Biochemistry is a diverse program, and I
think that having a different background,
or you having a better background,
helps me with my research project, and
then at Robarts, I think just the
availability of the infrastructure, and
the amazing scientists there, probably
what helps me to succeed. The best thing
about being a Western graduate student
would be the collegiality I guess, I've
heard of other students going to other
schools and it being very competitive in
their graduate program, but the nice
thing about being at Western is that,
I've actually worked with people in
different departments, I've worked with
different people, so
graduate students, as well as other
supervisors, I think that people are very
willing to collaborate within the
University, which is a nice
atmosphere to do my
graduate degree.
