MSc Candidate Student's Name: Alexandre Martchenko Country of Origin: I came to Canada from Russia in 2001. Pre-MSc/PhD Education: I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto with a Double Major in Physiology and Philosophy as well as a Minor in Molecular Biology.
Recent Research Experience: During my undergraduate studies I conduced in two research laboratories. Firstly, I worked in Dr. Jennifer Mitchell's lab in the Department of Cell and Systems Biology studying regulation of gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells. I then switched focus and joined Dr. Sheena Josselyn's lab at SickKids where I worked on understanding how fear and reward memories get stored in the brain.
Current Research: As a graduate student I joined Dr. Patricia Brubaker's lab where I am currently trying to understand the mechanisms by which our endogenous biological rhythms, circadian rhythms, regulate the secretion of an important intestinal anti-diabetic hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1.
Why Faculty of Medicine? I chose to join the Faculty of Medicine and specifically the Department of Physiology since it is a world leader in the field of endocrinology research.
Future Education Plans and/or Career Goals: I hope that my graduate education as an MSc student prepares me for a transition into a PhD program and a career that is closely tied with scientific research, whether it be in an academic or industry setting.