Biology was my first love. I have always loved nature and science. As a small child growing up in Bosnia & Herzegovina, I distinctly remember trying to find bugs and earthworms to see how they worked, dissecting them out of curiosity. Once I picked up a bee sitting on a flower. The bee stung me of course, and I learned my lesson not to do that again! In school, I had inspiring teachers who taught me to dig deeper into the inner workings of cells and all living things. Now, I have a daughter with a disease where drugs and controlling the disease progression are imperative for living a normal life. As more and more children get diagnosed earlier with chronic diseases, I know that this is a great career to be in. I am proud to work for STEMCELL, helping find cures for various diseases.

Alma Cunjalo, BSc, Senior Manufacturing Operations Associate, Documentation

Growing up, I had an aptitude for math and science, and always enjoyed learning new things and broadening my perspective on the world. I was also keen to help others, and had a specific interest in the healthcare industry. Studying Biomedical Engineering at university was the perfect fit for me. It was there that I first encountered the magic of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). I specifically remember reading a journal article about patient-specific iPSC models for Parkinson's Disease. As my grandpa was currently suffering from Parkinson’s, and my uncle previously suffered from it, I was in awe at the widespread implications this type of research could have. Ever since, I have been fascinated by the scientific method and am reinspired on a daily basis when I hear about the life-changing scientific research going on around me!

Tia Sojonky, BEng, Bioprocess Engineer, Research & Development

I have had a passion for science ever since I can remember. Growing up, I had this intense curiosity about the natural world we live in. My father was a big influence on building and encouraging that curiosity. I remember going to bookstores with him to get different science books, and reading about the human digestive system. At the time I thought, this is amazing, and I wanted to learn more about it!

Bora Faulkner, PhD, Scientific Sales Representative, Cell Culture Products

I have always been interested in science and, thanks to mentors that I met along the way, I ended up pursuing a degree in biotechnology. I distinctly remember a moment during my co-op term where I realized how much I enjoyed working in the lab. My co-op project was to differentiate cells to the myogenic lineage and I was testing different media formulations. As I was observing my cultures under the microscope, I noticed that the cells had formed multinucleated myotubes and were contracting! It was such a magical moment for me and I still remember the excitement to this day.

Crystal Chau, BSc, Senior Research Associate, Research & Development

My parents supported my curiosities as a child, which is what really inspired me to get into science. They gave me exposure to scientific media and literature from a young age, encouraging me to watch “The Magic School Bus” or purchasing children’s books for me about planets and insects. It was the foundation that gave me a really positive perspective on science for the rest of my life.

Rachel Chang, BSc, Manufacturing Technologist, Labs

My biggest inspiration was my mother, who is a clinical biochemist. I used to volunteer in her lab when I was in high school and learned about different clinical biochemistry tests and assays. When I was about 16 I decided to do my undergraduate degree in genetics after watching a documentary by Dr. David Suzuki on genetics and molecular biology. I wanted to cure cancer! Well, that didn't quite happen, but my love for science brought me here to STEMCELL and I'm very content with my Scientists Helping Scientists lifestyle!

Sharmin Esmailzadeh, PhD, Account Manager, Cell Separation Products

I have loved and been fascinated by science for as long as I can remember; cell and molecular biology in particular. This, combined with deep curiosity and the thrill of learning new things and solving problems, led me to where I am and what I do today. Also, I was and am very fortunate to share this exciting journey with quite a few exceptional peers and role models. They keep inspiring me and always make me feel that I belong. The ones who inspired me most are the ones who became close friends.

Sanja Sekulovic, PhD, MBA, Senior Director, R&D Operations, Research & Development

I got into science because the opportunities to make a positive impact were endless. I find it exciting when science leads us to new and unexpected discoveries. More often than not, it leads to what we think are dead ends, but the challenge keeps me motivated and even the smallest achievements are so rewarding. Either way, we learn something new which will have a contribution down the road.

Stephanie Lam, BSc, Technical Scientist, Research & Development