Chris Phenix

Chris Phenix introduces himself as a professor of chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, focusing on nuclear medicine research. He develops new PET tracers for imaging enzyme activity important for human health. His daily activities involve teaching organic chemistry to a large class (around 180 students) for about 40% of his time, with the majority dedicated to research, including obtaining grants and managing a lab with various levels of researchers.

Phenix explains his research in using nuclear medicine to diagnose diseases and aid in drug discovery. He describes how this technology can help identify patients most likely to respond to specific drugs, addressing the variability in patient biochemistry. Unlike traditional methods that require months to assess treatment effectiveness, nuclear medicine allows doctors to quickly monitor a patient's metabolic response to treatment within days, making drug discovery more efficient.

Beyond teaching and research, Phenix is involved in administrative tasks, including university committees. He highlights his work on digitizing university content and incorporating Indigenous perspectives into science courses. He recounts his upbringing in a farming community in southeast Saskatchewan, losing the family farm, and his initial uncertainty about his career path after high school, which led him to apply for an electrical engineer technician program.

Phenix shares his unexpected entry into university, guided by his high school teacher and father. He initially pursued sports physiotherapy at the University of Regina, which required science courses. To his surprise, he developed a passion for chemistry and biochemistry. He then pursued his PhD at the University of Saskatchewan, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship and a scientist position before returning to the University of Saskatchewan. He reflects on his journey, noting he didn't initially think he would pursue a PhD.

Phenix offers advice to students, emphasizing not limiting oneself and having confidence. He admits he initially doubted his intelligence for university but learned good study habits later. He highlights that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and success comes from effort. He shares a personal anecdote about cousins, many of whom didn’t finish high school, but he and his roommate both earned PhDs, showing that unexpected achievements are possible with dedication and enjoyment of one's work.

He advises students in science to persevere through the initial learning curve, comparing it to learning a new language. While early classes might be challenging as one learns the basics, the subject becomes much more engaging and fun once fundamental concepts are grasped. He encourages students to remember that the most exciting and enjoyable aspects of science come after mastering the preliminary information.