Shaping the Future of Cancer Research: GCI’s Annual Graduate Recruitment Event Welcomes Top Canadian Talent

The future is certainly bright for the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI) with this year’s impressive cohort of students participating in the Annual Graduate Recruitment Event. Held on January 23-24, 2025, the Recruitment Event welcomed 15 undergraduate and graduate students from universities across Canada, offering them a unique opportunity to visit the GCI facilities, meet faculty, staff, and trainees, and engage in meaningful discussions about cancer research.

Over the course of two days, students had a chance to tour the GCI, attend presentations by principal investigators (PIs), interact one-on-one with GCI trainees, and take part in interviews with researchers. The chance to have individual interviews with multiple PIs in a single day was described as slightly intimidating but ultimately a rare and valuable experience by many students.

When asked about her impression of the GCI, Erin Friendly from Queen’s University shared: “I am very impressed by the facilities and how easy it is to interact with graduate students at the GCI. Collaboration really seems to be at the heart of scientific discoveries done here.”

Networking was another major highlight of the event. Shruti Rughani, a current McGill student, emphasized the significance of connecting with peers from across the country: “As undergraduate students, we rarely have the chance to interact with students from other universities, especially coming from so far away! Our common interest in cancer research makes this event an exceptional opportunity for networking with future cancer scientists.”

The GCI’s Annual Graduate Recruitment Event attracts top students from leading Canadian universities, including McGill, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia. Since its inception in 2017, the Recruitment Event has helped exceptional students pursue graduate studies in GCI labs and make impactful contributions to the advancement of cancer research. By recruiting such promising young cancer scientists, the GCI reaffirms its commitment to being a global leader in cancer research and fostering the development of a brilliant next generation of researchers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this event possible, especially the student volunteers, organizing and recruitment committee, including Leigh Dickson (Student Affairs Advisor), Heather Melichar, PhD, and Katie Cockburn, PhD.

For more information about next year’s event, visit our website: https://www.goodmancancer.ca/en/recruitment