Faculty
Faculty of Health and Social Development
Principal Investigators
Dr. Jonathan Little and Dr. Hashim Islam
Hometown
Brampton, Ontario
Awards
UBC Okanagan Postdoctoral Fellowship
Please describe your research.
I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences in the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan. My research focuses on how exercise can be used to reduce the levels of inflammation in our body. I aim to look at the impact of different exercise interventions, and attempt to determine mechanistically how exercise reduces inflammation.
Why did you decide to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship?
I decided to pursue a Postdoctoral Fellowship as I am interested in a career in academia and research. It is commonplace in my field (Exercise Physiology) to complete a two to three year Postdoctoral Fellowship before obtaining a faculty position. I have decided to try and use my Postdoctoral Fellowship as an opportunity to learn new skills and continue to develop as a young investigator and mentor.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan and study?
I decided to pursue a Postdoctoral Fellowship at UBC Okanagan with Dr. Jonathan Little and Dr. Hashim Islam, as I believed it was the best location to continue my training with the ultimate goal of becoming an independent researcher. I did explore opportunities in other labs in Canada, but felt as if working with Dr. Little and Dr. Islam would be mutually beneficial and allow me to continue to develop. Based on my graduate training, I was interested in broadening my biochemical skills, working with clinical populations, and continuing to develop all aspects of my research profile. Coming to work with Dr. Little and Dr. Islam provided a unique opportunity to address all three factors. The Exercise, Metabolism, and Inflammation Lab is unique, as it employs a variety of biochemical techniques to comprehensively address important research questions from the whole body down to the single cell level.
Where do you hope your research will take you next?
I hope that I will secure a position as a faculty member at a Canadian university where I can develop my own independent research program.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time outdoors. I foremost enjoy running, mountain biking, and skiing, and am looking forward to exploring what the Okanagan area has to offer.
What advice do you have for new Postdoctoral Fellows?
As I started my position in January of 2025, I am still new to my role. Based on my experience thus far, I would advise new Postdoctoral Fellows to try to think of a fellowship as an opportunity rather than simply a “stop-gap” between a PhD and an academic position. I would also advise new Postdoctoral Fellows to begin their new role with humility as, in many cases, we are moving from a PhD where we are an expert in a specific area into a new research area where we may not be as familiar with the literature and techniques.