Hello everyone! My name is Julian Stokes; I am a health sciences master’s student specializing in near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a technique which can monitor human brain and muscle metabolism in real time. My current thesis project—supervised by Dr. Luke Harris and Dr. Tammy Klassen-Ross—investigates the influence of meditation on brain activity and pain perception, and I have recently expanded upon my spectroscopy expertise with a research internship at Kobe University in Japan. Engaging with research has been an integral and life-changing part of my educational journey. As a UNBC Research Ambassador, I want to help my fellow students discover the potential of research and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

I was born and raised in New Hazelton, BC. Coming from this beautiful yet small northern community, I originally chose UNBC for my undergraduate degree due to its convenient location, availability of financial support, and well-structured Bachelor of Health Sciences program. Since then, I have been continually amazed by the readily accessible opportunities, mentorship, and sense of community here! After completing an Undergraduate Research Award term in 2020 and an honours thesis in 2021 (both within the Northern BC NIRS Lab) it was a natural choice to further my education with UNBC’s MSc program.

As a returning member of the Research Ambassador Program, I look forward to working with you again this year.

Marleau Brown

Hello UNBC community! My name is Marleau Brown and I am honored to be introducing myself to you from the unceded, ancestral and traditional territory of the Sto:lo people in Abbotsford BC. I am a second year fulltime graduate student in the Master of Education program. I am part of the special education stream, focusing on enhancing outdoor learning opportunities in BC, moving away from mainstream schooling models. I work fulltime in Abbotsford as a secondary school teacher for Indigenous success. My work gives me daily opportunities to examine our education practices from a critical lens, ensuring we are providing equitable opportunities for our Indigenous youth.

My journey to UNBC is a winding narrative rich with stories and experiences that have deeply shaped my life. I began my academic career in the sciences, pursuing medical genetics and lab work. While science will forever hold a place in my heart, my true passion lies in education and systems change work. UNBC has provided opportunities as a remote graduate student that I never imagined possible. As a remote student, I am currently writing my thesis while also working as a research assistant on an outdoor learning research project at UNBC.

The professional relationships I have made at UNBC have been invaluable to my growth as a student. I am hopeful that as a UNBC Research Ambassador my experiences will inspire future and current students to connect to similar opportunities. Aside from my work, I am deeply passionate about connecting to our natural world spending as much time as my schedule allows outdoors experiencing all the beauty BC has to offer. I am eager to connect with my academic community, and share any insight that I can to help others find the depth of professional fulfillment that I have found here at UNBC.

Faten Elshal

Hello everyone! My name is Faten Elshal, and I was born and raised in Egypt. I
moved to Canada in 2023 and transferred to UNBC to continue my undergraduate
studies in Computer Science.

I chose UNBC because of its strong reputation as a top-rated small university with
many opportunities for research, mentorship, and the close-knit sense of community.
Currently, I'm in my final year, I’ve worked on projects that use machine learning and
deep learning models to derive insights from data, fueling my passion for AI
research. I am particularly interested in how AI can solve real-world problems and
create smarter, more efficient systems.

In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to work as a summer camp leader at
UNBC, where I used my computer science experience to teach coding to kids, an
incredibly rewarding experience that further deepened my interest in education and
technology.

As a research ambassador, I hope to inspire other students, particularly in the fields
of AI and computer science, to get involved in research. It can be daunting at first,
but the opportunities and support available at UNBC make it an incredibly rewarding
experience. If you’d like to discuss research or learn more about the opportunities
here, feel free to contact me at elshal@unbc.ca

Ahmad Jalil

Hi everyone! My name is Ahmad Jalil. I graduated with honours in Health Science from UNBC and am now pursuing a Master's of Science in NRES. Under the guidance of Dr. Hossein Kazemian, I studied air quality in Prince George during my undergraduate years. Although my initial research leaned more towards environmental science, I was able to weave in my health science knowledge. I chose UNBC for its tight-knit community and the personalized interactions I had with professors, which was in stark contrast to my experiences at other institutions in BC.

Being involved in research has been a transformative experience for me. Unlike typical lab exercises where there's a predefined answer or outcome, research demands justification for every decision made, which has significantly broadened my perspective.

The supportive environment at UNBC and the myriad opportunities available to students make research involvement invaluable. While it may seem challenging to initiate, I assure you, it's more approachable than it appears. I hope to assist and inspire you as you embark on your own research journey!

Nusrat Panna

Hello everyone! My name is Nusrat Jahan Panna, and I come from Bangladesh. Currently, I’m
pursuing my Master’s in Gender Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia
(UNBC), and I have the privilege of serving as a Research Ambassador for the 2024-2025
academic year. My academic journey, beginning with a Bachelor’s and master’s in philosophy
from the University of Dhaka, has nurtured my deep interest in gender, ethics, and cultural
narratives—perspectives that continue to shape my research focus here in Canada.\

Research, for me, is about more than just quantitative analysis or lab-based experimentation. In
my field, qualitative research takes center stage, allowing us to dive into human experiences,
cultural identities, and ethical dilemmas through interviews, case studies, and deep observation.
These methods give us profound insights into the complexities of society that numbers alone
cannot fully capture. As a Research Ambassador, I am eager to inspire students to consider all
forms of research and embrace the value of diverse methodologies.

UNBC’s intimate academic community is one of its greatest strengths. Here, you are not just a
student—you are a collaborator, a critical thinker, and a key contributor to a vibrant intellectual
environment. Our small class sizes and accessible faculty create ample opportunities for
mentorship and personalized guidance, making it easier to immerse yourself in meaningful
research that aligns with your passions. I am excited to be part of this community and to help
foster connections between students and faculty, encouraging a collaborative research culture.rk together.

Annika Easton

Hello everyone! My name is Annika Easton and I am a Prince George local living and working in the traditional territory of the Lheildi T’enneh. I am in my fifth year of my Bachelor’s of Science degree with honours in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I was drawn to UNBC by its outstanding reputation for meaningful professor-student interactions and opportunities to become involved with research as an undergraduate student. 

During my time at UNBC, I have been lucky enough to have gained two years of experience participating in research projects involving enzyme kinetics, bacterial isolation, and protein chemistry under the guidance of Dr. Andrea Gorrell and Dr. Kalindi Morgan.

I have found my research experience at UNBC to be incredibly rewarding. I have been able to gain hands-on understanding of theoretical concepts I learn in lecture settings, to work and build relationships with other research students from all around the world, and to receive invaluable mentoring from my supervising professors.

My experience with research at UNBC has been academically and personally valuable, and I am very passionate about getting my fellow UNBC students as excited about research as I am! Participating in research is a great way to get the most out of your time at UNBC, and I would love to answer any questions and discuss research at UNBC further. I can be reached at easton@unbc.ca.