Name
Bryce Twible
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology
Research Supervisors
Dr. Chris McNeil and Dr. Brian Dalton
Hometown
Nelson, BC, Canada
Awards
NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral
Please list the impact that the award has had or will have on your experience at UBC Okanagan.
I am humbled to receive this award recognizing Canada’s top post-graduate doctoral students. This is not only an honour, but validation that all of the hard work and dedication has been worthwhile. This award will allow me to continue research in health and exercise science, and furthers my opportunity to apply my education in a real-world setting through industry partnerships.
Please describe your research. What inspires you about your research?
My research focuses on sport-related neuromuscular function in elite hockey athletes. Specifically, I am looking at the relationship between neuromuscular function and sport-performance during training and competition. Some of my projects involve investigating mechanisms influencing inter-limb asymmetry, longitudinal analysis of youth athlete development and injury risk, and the impact of sport-specific fatigue. Through my applied research, I am able to translate scientific findings into real-world settings to optimize athletic performance.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I always knew I wanted to continue education after my undergraduate degree, but I wasn’t quite sure of the exact path. I have been involved in sport and athletics my entire life, so when the opportunity came along to combine my passion for sport with further education, I jumped on it. Looking back, it was the best decision I could have made.
Why did you choose to come to UBC Okanagan?
I was born in Kelowna and spent a few years growing up here, so the area was familiar and I loved the city. When I got accepted for my undergraduate degree, I didn’t consider any other options as I knew this was where I wanted to go. After completing my undergraduate degree, master’s degree, and now pursuing my PhD here, it is clear that UBC Okanagan was the right fit for me!
Where do you hope your degree or research will take you next?
I get that question a lot, especially from family and friends, and the honest answer is I’m not too sure! If you asked me the same question 4 years ago, I probably would have said the same thing. I just always try to keep as many doors open as possible, and create as many opportunities for myself as I can. Most importantly, I just try to work hard, have fun, and see where the path takes me. It’s worked out okay so far!
Please share a little bit about yourself.
Most of my favourite things to do involve sport and athletics (shocker), such as golf, baseball, soccer, and, of course, hockey. When I’m not playing sports, I love to hangout with friends and family, travel, camp, and enjoy the Okanagan.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
The best advice I can give is if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, do something else. Graduate school is not easy, but when you enjoy what you are doing it doesn’t feel like school, work, or something that you HAVE to do. Graduate school can be one of the best times of your life, but only if it’s something you really enjoy doing.
what else would you like us to know?
I would not be in the position I am in if I wasn’t for the support from my supervisors (Dr. Chris McNeil and Dr. Brian Dalton), fellow graduate students, and my friends and family. Grad school is a team effort, and I cannot express enough how lucky I am for the team that I have!