My name is Kenzie and my pronouns are she/they! I grew up all across North America, exploring the varied landscapes in both Canada and the US. In 2014, I moved to the UK and shortly after started my BSc in Chemical Engineering at the University of Manchester. My head was turned quite quickly by a few inspiring professors in the Plant Science Department and I switched my degree to Biochemistry, spending my free time volunteering in different labs around campus. I then applied for a MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh and was lucky find a place in a lab exploring drought stress and lignin morphology in chickpea plants.
I’m now in my final stretch as a MSc Botany student in Dr. Lacey Samuels’ lab at UBC where I study xylan, the secondary cell wall, and Golgi dynamics in Arabidopsis. I was thrilled at the opportunity to get more experience working with plants, learn new cloning techniques, and finally get my hands on the giant microscopes I’d only heard of in lectures before.
I’m currently a lead TA in BIOL201 (Introduction to Biochemistry) and in Term 1, I’m part of the BIOL200 (Fundamentals of Cell Biology) TA team.
What do you most enjoy about being a TA?
At the end of the day, I enjoy being a TA for the same reasons most TAs do. I love watching a student’s face light up when a concept finally clicks. I love engaging with the students. Every term, my students teach me something new as they each bring their own creativity, insights, and wild questions to the class. They also teach me how to be a better TA. I’m most proud of the steady improvement from year to year that I’ve seen in TA feedback forms. My growth and betterment have been a direct result of my students and their honesty.
What has been an interesting outcome of your TA experience?
I have found incredibly kind, patient, and fun people in my fellow TAs. I’ve been able to make genuine connections with the TAs I’ve worked with, and it’s turned into lifelong friends. Since everyone is spread over lots of departments, I don’t think we ever would have bumped into each other if not for the TA positions.
What opportunities relating to teaching and learning have you been a part of?
I am very grateful to be a recent Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award Recipient.
What is something you are currently doing at UBC that you are excited about?
I am a co-chair and Student Ally for the BGSA, a co-coordinator for the BUDR program, and a part of the Sex and Gender Inclusivity in Biology working group. All of these avenues have been a wonderful way for me to help improve both graduate and undergraduate student experiences at UBC.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I’m an avid tennis player, camper, hiker, and photographer! Vancouver really is the place for me. Not only can I play tennis all year round, but I also get to spend my weekends camping and taking pictures of the unforgettable BC landscapes. Before COVID, I was an avid traveller and had a special skill for finding the cheapest ways to see as many corners of the globe as possible.
What are your plans following graduation?
I have no idea! My last year has been a whirlwind of new roles and experiences from EDI to advocacy and policy to student outreach to project management. It’s hard to find something that combines all my interests, but even harder to choose just one or two to carry on with. For now, I’m just enjoying my last few semesters as a grad student.