Carly Olafson - Graduate Student in Chemistry

Carly Olafson, a graduate student in chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan, introduces herself and her academic journey. She explains that she pursued various science courses at the University of Alberta Augustana campus after high school, where she discovered her love for chemistry, inspired by two professors.

Carly details her academic progression, including completing a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and three summers of undergraduate research. This experience prepared her for her Master's degree. She also mentions the extensive safety training, including WHMIS and basic lab safety, required for her graduate studies at U of S.

Carly compares the academic structure at different levels: high school with mandatory classes, undergraduate studies with more flexibility in course selection and scheduling, and graduate school, where most time is dedicated to lab research, with fewer courses. Graduate studies also involve significant theoretical preparation through literature research.

Carly's graduate project focuses on developing new diagnostic methods for cancer, specifically targeting an enzyme found in tumors. Her work involves radiochemistry, where she learns to incorporate radioactive isotopes into compounds for these diagnostic techniques. This also entails additional safety training and ethical considerations for animal testing in her research.

Carly shares her future aspirations, emphasizing her desire to continue scientific research, even without a clear career path yet. She highlights the flexibility of a scientific education, allowing individuals to discover their interests as they progress and contribute to a better understanding of the world.