Kimberly Seaman
PhD Candidate (graduate student) - University of Toronto
“Don’t be encumbered by the inability of others to see the potential of who you are.” –Kamala Harris
Watch the video below to learn what inspires Kimberly
Read Kimberly’s full profile below
Where did you grow up?
Toronto, Canada
Who was your favorite teacher, and why?
My favorite teacher was Ms. Kristin Carpenter, for firstly being an excellent mentor throughout high school, for being an incredibly engaging Biology teacher, and for encouraging me to pursue challenges that have shaped my career.
What inspired you to pursue a career in STEM/Healthcare?
My mom is a big inspiration as a strong female engineering influence – she introduced me to engineering at the tender age of five. While I wasn’t immediately set on being an engineer, growing up I was always interested in different science topics such as the human body and minerals/crystals, and I always wanted to know what things were made of, and how they worked. In high school I was interested in biology, chemistry, physics, and math and I knew I couldn’t exclude any of these courses going to university. I decided to pursue a degree in chemical engineering (McGill), as this field covers all these sciences and math! The rest is history as I met my mentors in undergrad, Drs. Edmond Young, Chris Moraes, and Meisam Asgari who all fostered my enthusiasm for research.
What do you do in your current role/career?
I am currently a PhD student in Mechanical/Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. My research investigates how osteocytes, unique bone cells that sense mechanical forces, play a role in the progression of prostate cancer bone metastases. To do this, I extract osteocytes directly from mice and put them into microengineered platforms that mimic bone tissue.
What were your moments of fear/challenges in your career?
One of the most challenging times in my career occurred recently during my graduate studies. My supervisor transferred institutions during the second/third year of my PhD and I spent several months waiting in uncertainty as to whether I could finish my degree and continue my research. What I found most challenging about it was that for the first time, my enthusiasm for doing research was diminished. However, as I reflect on what I learned from this experience, it made me more determined to do the science I love, to advocate for myself and others, and to achieve my future career goals.
What are some of the innovations in science that you are most excited about?
A lot of the awesome science in my field of study that I find most intriguing is from researchers within my department, some of whom I have had the privilege of working with! Some of these innovations include engineering soft connective tissues with biomimetic mechanical properties (Dr. Craig Simmons), the design of a microfluidic platform that can grow and release tumours of different shapes (Dr. Edmond Young), and the development of magnetic carbon nanotubes to perform mechanical nanosurgery on glioblastoma (Dr. Yu Sun).
What’s next for you?/What would you like to do when you “grow up’? (retire, etc.)/ what is something you hope to accomplish in the future?
I would love to become a physician-scientist. I love doing research, but am also passionate about mentorship, community, and issues in Canadian healthcare (which I am still learning more about)! One thing I hope to achieve is to eventually have my own research program involving the development of physiologically relevant microenvironments to study dormant disseminated tumour cell behaviours in bone, or for personalized medicine (drug testing)..
Personal style/fashion tip?
I like to wear steel-toed boots in winter because 1) they make me feel like an engineer 2) they are useful for climbing up the snowy hills of Montreal.
Favorite website/blog/”guilty pleasure”/fun?
If I’m not in the lab, I can be found browsing thrift stores on Queen West/Kensington/Ossington in downtown Toronto!
