We are excited to announce
the 2023 winners of the TC3 x UTCSP Trainee Professional Development Award

I attended the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences Meeting in Calgary, which was made possible by the TC3 travel award. As a neuroimager, I had the opportunity to learn more about pre-clinical work showing specific brain regions that are implicated in both the endocannabinoid system and gonadal hormone receptor-based sex differences such as the hippocampus. I now appreciate more fully the intersection of the sex differences literature and the endocannabinoid modulation of pain and hope to integrate pertinent regions to my neuroimaging work in humans. 

Attending the Biological Psychiatry conference in San Diego proved to be a significant milestone in my professional development and a stepping stone towards achieving my career goals. The opportunity to present my thesis work allowed me to showcase my research to a diverse and esteemed audience, including renowned professors and experts in the field. Engaging in seminars and discussions with these distinguished individuals provided invaluable insights and expanded my knowledge base, allowing me to gain a deeper understanding of the latest advancements and trends in biological psychiatry. Interacting with professionals from across the world offered me a unique networking platform, enabling me to establish connections and foster collaborations that may shape my future endeavors. This conference experience instilled a renewed sense of motivation and inspiration to further contribute to the field of biological psychiatry, fueling my passion and propelling me towards future success as a clinician-scientist.

Thanks to the generous TC3 x UTCSP Professional Development Award, I had the privilege of attending the Canadian Pain Society’s annual scientific meeting in Banff, Alberta. It was an incredible opportunity for me to present our latest findings on the relationship between jaw muscle function and pain at a major conference. Sharing these novel findings with the pain research community and receiving feedback from esteemed researchers in the field was an extraordinary and fruitful experience. Additionally, being part of the conference allowed me to delve deeper into the realm of cutting-edge pain and cannabinoids research, which can inspire our future research endeavors. I extend my gratitude to TC3 and UTCSP for their insightful support of trainees, empowering us to expand our knowledge and make valuable contributions to the field through high-quality research.

TC3’s financial support allowed me to attend the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) scientific meeting held earlier in May. As a senior PhD student the opportunity to attend this conference was invaluable. It allowed me to gain insightful feedback about my project, hear about cutting edge pain research and develop connections and collaborations that are likely to assist me for years to come.  Exposure to the clinical side of pain research and the opportunity to hear from individuals with lived experience also allowed me to think about my research beyond its immediate scope of fundamental research.

Receiving the TC3-UTCSP Professional Development Award enabled me to grow my professional and academic network, learn valuable insight from people with lived experience of pain, and better understand how cannabinoids can be implemented into pain research moving forward. This opportunity introduced me to clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience of pain. I got to connect with them and learn about their work, and, crucially, hear about the perspectives of people who live with pain, the people who our work is trying to help. I made new professional connections with researchers while also reconnecting with familiar faces to strengthen my existing network. I inquired about opportunities to get involved in advocacy work to promote pain research and funding in Canada, something I am considering as a career option.

Attending the Society of Biological Psychiatry's 2023 Conference provided me with the unique opportunity to discuss my field of interest with the scientific figures that are the forefront of progress. The conference brought together global experts in the field of brain stimulation for addictions and allowed me to build meaningful connections with individuals I admire and build my professional network. Its diverse seminar and symposium topics also exposed me to alternate fields in biological psychiatry and ignited my interest in topics that were not directly related to my research. By presenting my first ever poster, I strengthened my presentation skills and was also able to discuss my research with colleagues and mentors. Simultaneously, I learned about brain stimulation projects currently being developed at different institutions and deliberated their alternative approaches. Overall, this conference was both an academically and professionally enriching experience, and I look forward to the next.

I think that attending the CPS conference was an excellent opportunity for my professional development and career goals. I had the chance to give an oral presentation regarding my work on competency-based assessment in pain education. During my presentation, I received a lot of feedback and comments that were very useful in shaping my perspectives on pain assessment and education.  I was able to connect with other researchers who are also interested in assessment in pain education. We discussed the possibility of translating my pain competence assessment tool into the French language. I also learn a lot from all the other presentations and wonderful posters that were included in the conference.

Being at SOBP provided me with many opportunities for development, both personally and professionally. As a student, I was able to develop my presentation and networking skills as I presented my first ever poster, allowing me to connect with others about the research I was conducting. Through seeing other posters, attending symposiums, and plenary sessions, I was able to not only learn more about novel cannabis research, but also explore ongoing research surrounding other psychiatric disorders, allowing me to broaden my knowledge in various fields. Attending other events, such as the Women’s lunch and learn, further led to me being able to discover who I wanted to be like as a researcher and academic. In attending SOBP, I was also able to create connections that will further my career in mental health and addictions research, allowing me to explore potential labs and research opportunities beyond my Master’s degree.