The Microbiology & Immunology First-Generation University Student Mentorship Program was established in 2020 by Dr. Michael Gold to support the career and personal development goals of undergraduates and graduate students who are the first in their family to attend university.
Having been a first-generation university student himself, Dr. Gold shares that teaching, training, and mentoring students is one of the great pleasures of being a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology – where he joined in 1993 and served as Department Head from 2009-2019.
“Being a first-generation university student makes one a pioneer in their family, which can come with additional challenges and responsibilities,” shares Dr. Gold. “I would like to provide these students with one-on-one mentoring and with financial support to participate in enhanced learning experiences such as workshops or scientific meetings that will broaden their horizons and expand their opportunities.”
Now in its second year, Dr. Gold hopes the mentorship program can continue mentoring students and contributing to their success - and student mentees from the first year of this program are eager to share their experiences to inspire others to apply.
Tatiana Lau
What are some of your favourite experiences from this mentorship program?
I’ve really enjoyed talking to the people Dr. Gold has connected me with, as well as Dr. Gold himself! As a first-generation university student, it’s been daunting to find mentorship and an academic support system within my circle. Networking has always felt very alien and hollow to me, so this program has been a way more personal and enjoyable way to meet people who have both the expertise and kindness to support me and my goals.
What kinds of connections have you made through this program? How have those interactions been?
Aside from Dr. Gold, I’ve chatted with Dr. Henry Lu, Isobel Mouat, and Kevin Ng. They’ve all given me different perspectives on potential futures in science, and I’ve learned so much. These connections have helped me take important steps in pursuing my future goals, and I feel really grateful for their kindness, knowledge, and support.
How has the program benefitted you (Especially during this year of learning from home)?
I learned a lot about the different things I can do with a Microbiology and Immunology degree. With the pandemic, it’s been really hard to connect with people in the department, especially since this is my first year really “in” the major. Besides the fact that it is just so nice to chat with new people, I think speaking with everyone has helped me discover a lot about myself and my own interests. Although I'm only in my third year right now, Dr. Gold and his colleagues have really inspired me to pursue graduate school and follow in their footsteps. I’m really excited about immunology and I’m so happy that Dr. Gold’s program has provided this opportunity for me!
Nemat Haroon
What are some of your favourite experiences from this mentorship program?
The greatest part for me was knowing we had a great mentor, Dr. Gold, who was always open to discussing ideas and connecting us to others to further pursue what we were interested in. As first-generation students, it is much harder for us to connect to resources and people for career advancement due to our socioeconomic background. The fact that Dr. Gold, who is a very busy faculty member in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, made time for us and communicated with us throughout the year was truly amazing. It was this aspect of the program that made it so enjoyable, especially so during a global pandemic. Another great aspect of the program is that going forward we will help mentor the next cohort of students in this amazing program. The program has truly been worth it, and I'm looking forward to helping Dr. Gold mentor even more amazing students.
What kinds of connections have you made through this program? How have those interactions been?
One of the most valuable aspects of this mentorship program were the diverse connections that Dr. Gold introduced me to. I had the opportunity to meet his former students and a diverse selection of faculty members in a variety of different topics I was interested in. Some of the people I had the opportunity to meet include Dr. Amee Manges, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health. This helped enhance my view of Epidemiology and the type of research associated with the field. I also was informed about the application process for applying to Graduate Programs in Public Health & Epidemiology. Another notable faculty that I’ve been acquainted with is Dr. Kelly Brown who is a rheumatic disease researcher for children at BC Children’s Hospital. With her guidance and help I’ve solidified my choice of pursuing Bioinformatics as a career option. Of all my interactions, the one with Dr. Kelly Brown has stood out as the most helpful and I am very grateful for her advice and guidance, which is ongoing. Nevertheless, it is due to Dr. Gold’s mentorship program that these connections were possible, so I am very thankful for that.
How has the program benefitted you (Especially during this year of learning from home)?
The program has allowed me to gain some understanding about what fields interest me and what I want to pursue down the line. While I have lucked out in terms of the pandemic, since I’ve secured a coop position at the BC Cancer Research Centre, I still struggled with career advice compared to pre-pandemic times. I started off by wanting to explore Epidemiology and Public Health but given my coop experience in cancer research I became interested in bioinformatics, especially in the field of medical research. Through the cumulative advice given through this mentorship program I’ve been able to solidify my choice in pursuing Bioinformatics research as a potential career choice. I am really glad for all the opportunities and advice that I’ve received through this mentorship program, and I especially would like to thank Dr. Gold for all the effort and time he’s put into this program.
Farhang Ahadzadeh
What are some of your favourite experiences from this mentorship program?
Being first in your family to go to university is unique in itself. You are going to make history in your family and be the first one that has had a chance to get higher education in your family, and my goal is to do all my best to make sure I will not be the last. The future generation will look back and reflect at some point, so it is important to do all my best and be a leader of my life and my society. Coming to UBC, I never felt alone. The environment is friendly yet competitive, and this lets you grow day by day. I am really glad that UBC and Dr. Gold in particular provided me an opportunity to be a member of First-Generation Mentorship Program that has allowed me to become a better version of myself. This has been my favourite experience in this program.
What kinds of connections have you made through this program? How have those interactions been?
Connecting and speaking with a current medical student as my mentor, whose academic goals have resembled mine but have gone through different paths to achieve the same goal, has been another favourite experience in this mentorship program. Discussing my ideas from my point of view and providing a listening ear to my mentor allowed me to further develop and gain a much more comprehensive perspective about the Medical School journey. In addition to this, communicating with Dr. Gold and sharing my experiences as a first-generation student further allowed me to appreciate the help and support that is present at The University of British Columbia for students that are the first in their families to attend the university. In short, I would say being exposed to many different ideas from other individuals allows your perspective to grow, and this is indeed amazing.
How has the program benefitted you (Especially during this year of learning from home)?
In my opinion, when it comes to writing, having someone who can critically read, analyze, and provide a genuine feedback to you not only will improve the quality of your writing, but it also allows you to think from another angle that was not previously considered. Not being able to have in-person interactions with others during this time of pandemic, as we all know, imposes many restriction and limitation in our activities. However, I am extremely glad and thankful that my mentor and I have had great and clear communication via online means throughout this program, letting me further explore ways that I can become a better and more effective writer. Words cannot express my appreciations towards Dr. Gold and my mentor for all their help and support throughout this program. Indeed, one of my goals moving forward, is becoming a mentor for future first-generation students to share the help and support that I personally received throughout this program.
Taylor Bootsma
What are some of your favourite experiences from this mentorship program?
In the First-Generation Mentorship Program, I have had the great opportunity to build connections and get advice from a variety of people on different topics, such as grad school, medical school, clinical research, and more.
What kinds of connections have you made through this program? How have those interactions been?
Dr. Gold and the people who I have been put in contact with have all been extremely supportive and helpful, giving me targeted feedback and advice to help me make more informed decisions on my professional development.
How has the program benefitted you (Especially during this year of learning from home)?
Being a first-generation student, I didn't have a lot of knowledge or experience with the opportunities that are available to me after I graduate. This program has allowed me to gain the knowledge and support I needed to be more confident in my decisions and plans to achieve my goals.