Negin Riazi is graduating from UBC KIN with a PhD this Spring and will be continuing a Post Doctoral Fellowship at Brock University with Dr. Karen Patte. Her research will focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and the related impacts of school closures and reopenings on youth mental health. Negin has been selected as the graduate speaker for the School of Kinesiology Spring 2021 graduation reception.
Negin’s research studies at UBC included two main foci: children’s independent mobility and population-level physical activity initiatives, and policy-level interventions. “I was a collaborator in several research projects that focused on children’s independent mobility, active transportation, and outdoor play in the knowledge translation of the Canadian 24-Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth (5-17 years) and their Early Years (0-4 years).” Negin reflects, “I had the privilege of working with a stellar and supportive supervisor, Dr. Guy Faulkner, who encouraged the knowledge translation of our research. I was involved in the translation of the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (0-4 years) into an animated video, and the creation of a documentary on children’s independent mobility called ‘Running Free.’ We were also able to discuss seven recommendations for increasing children’s independent mobility in an article for the online newsletter, ‘The Conversation’.”
When asked if she had any words of wisdom for students who are thinking about attending grad school, Negin says “Grad school is what you make it. Get involved, collaborate, make connections with people, and push yourself to learn new things. One piece of advice I received was to find something that I loved and was interested in – waking up to go to school and work is much easier when you enjoy what you do!”
Aayush Malhotra completed his BKin at UBC and will now receive his Masters in Kinesiology on June 2nd. Aayush says that during the COVID pandemic, “I was presented with a choice regarding how I wanted to spend what turned out to be quite a long time in isolation. I felt it would be more productive to continue bettering myself and learning more about a topic which I am deeply passionate about. So I applied, and was accepted, into the MKIN program at UBC. Looking back, I am thrilled that I was able to dedicate much of my time during the pandemic to becoming a more well rounded student and professional!”
As with many students, the academic year ended up being rather isolated for Aayush, but he worked collaboratively with students across different faculties for different mental health initiatives, such as the AMS Peer Support. As a result of this particularly challenging year, Aayush advises others, “it’s okay to reach out for help. Life is hard on its own, but especially in a global pandemic it can quickly become overwhelming. This year more than any other, I have leaned heavily on my professors, on my family and on my fellow students. Having done so, I was able to end the semester on a high note and have weathered my own difficulties during the year. I think that the ability to recognize when your personal resources are being exhausted, and to then take the steps to find support, has been the most valuable learning experience that I have derived during the year.”
Aayush hopes to use his MKIN degree as a jumping off point into other physiology-related fields, such as pursuing a PhD in comparative physiology (a subset of zoology) or in medicine where he aims to become a surgeon in the long term. In the meantime, he plans on enjoying himself and making up for lost time due to being quarantined for the better part of a year.
Grant is graduating with a BKin, in the health sciences stream and will start his MKin at UBC in the fall. After he completes his Masters, Grant wishes to pursue a career in medicine. “I hope to specialize as a general practitioner to empower individuals through proactive medical support and intervention.”
Throughout his undergraduate degree, Grant spearheaded a new initiative in the KUS called “Campus KINnections” which pairs upper year students with first year and transfer students in Kinesiology in a year-long partnership. “I also worked as a research assistant in the Indigenous Studies in Kinesiology lab and was a member of the KUS BIPOC committee.”
Outside of Kinesiology, Grant has competed nationally as a water polo athlete, participated as a member of UBC’s University Singers, worked as a Residence Advisor for the past three years, presented a workshop on redefining leadership in the Student Leadership Conference, and was VP Campus Engagement for the Student Alumni Council.
One of Grant’s favourite events in KIN has always been the ‘Dinner for Kinners.’ “I prepare a whole day in advance just to eat as much as possible! My favourite study place on campus is the education library because it is so silent, but actually because it is dangerously close to Tim Hortons.”
“I am incredibly grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities I have had at UBC and the amazing people I have met along the way. UBC truly is a place where if you have an interest or an idea, there are people here that will support you, guide you, and celebrate with you.”
Kirkland has pursued a dual BKin and Masters of Management degree and will graduate from Kinesiology this spring with a BKin in the interdisciplinary stream. She will continue her studies in June to complete her Masters of Management degree with the UBC Sauder School of Business. Once she has finished her Masters degree, Kirkland plans on applying to graduate schools to explore teaching and nursing.
Kirkland has been an active member of the UBC Cheerleading team for the duration of her undergraduate degree. “We won National and International titles, and even qualified for a bid to Worlds this past year, but were unable to attend due to COVID.” She currently volunteers in the UBC Sexual Health Research lab at VGH. “I have volunteered there for the past school year, and plan to continue for as long as I am in BC. I am working on data cleaning and analyzing qualitative data from one of our past trial studies, in order to examine the feasibility of the larger eSense study.”
Kirkland was also active in the KIN community, and participated as a mentee in KIN’s Mentorship Program and served as a Senior Orientation Leader, where she worked closely with KIN’s past Student Engagement Coordinator, Elise Le Brun. “I had the opportunity to work directly with Elise on several projects, and I am so thankful that I did. She really made a difference in my life at UBC.” Of her time in KIN, Kirkland reflects, “Being a part of UBC KIN really makes you realize that there are so many other people who want to help each other succeed, and this is a lesson that I will carry with me beyond finishing my degree.”
When asked about her future goals, Kirkland says “Personally, my main goal is to make a difference, whether that’s on a small or larger scale. I want to be able to wake up in the morning knowing that the work I do is meaningful, and is changing the lives of those around me.”
Allison is graduating from KIN’s interdisciplinary stream and plans to apply to a Master’s program in Australia where she hopes to continue her studies in Marketing and Management in the Sports and Entertainment field. “I want to utilize my dual citizenship with Canada and Australia to combine my undergraduate education with my strong interests and experiences in business and leadership.”
Allison has been an extremely active member of the KIN community. She was heavily involved with the KUS and UBC Recreation Intramurals. During her undergraduate degree, Allison served as a member of the KUS Graduation Committee, Constitution Committee, and as VP Student Life to name just a few. When she thinks back on what she loved about her time in KIN, she says, “I remember my first experience in KIN during Imagine Day and being in awe of the unique energy and spirit that the students and staff had. This component stood out among all of the other faculties on campus as it created an inclusive environment that made me feel welcome and excited for what was to come…. Overall, what drew me to the KIN program is really what made it unique, and it was essentially the community and I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”
Her involvement with UBC Recreation Intramurals included serving as Assistant Directors for the FUSO and Cross Volleyball Leagues and REC Director for the Lawn Sports and Flag Football Leagues. She says, “during my time in these associations and clubs, I developed lifelong friendships and professional networks that I will cherish forever.” Allison and two other keen kinners were selected to lead a team of 20 students to represent the School at the 2021 KIN Games, the largest KIN undergraduate competition in the country. She notes this experience to be very significant to her. “Despite the unconventional format, the UBC team persevered and won overall first place!”
Principle Investigator:
Dr. Bill Sheel
Details:
The primary purpose of the study is to observe the blood pressure and heart rate response to high-intensity respiratory work between healthy older men and women. We are also interested in observing the effect of female reproductive hormones on the blood pressure response; therefore, we will compare age-based differences in women.
You can participate in this study if; You are a healthy man or woman between the ages of 18-35 or 55-75 years, do not smoke, have normal lung function, and have no symptoms of cardiopulmonary disease.
What is involved:
- Measurement of resting blood pressure, heart rate and carotid pulse.
- Resistive breathing exercise
- Women: Self report of menstrual history
Time Commitment:
- Measurement of resting blood pressure, heart rate and carotid pulse.
- The testing session will take approximately 2.5 hours.
- Total time commitment – A total of 2.5 hours over a single visit.
Contact: mick.leahy@ubc.ca
Poster:Download
End date:
09/01/2021
Delon Chan is graduating with a BKin in the health sciences stream. Delon has been selected as the undergraduate speaker for the UBC Spring 2021 graduation ceremonies as a result of his passion and dedication to the KIN community. Upon graduation, Delon will be completing a Masters in Kinesiology at UBC under the supervision of Dr. Darren Warburton. He hopes to study medicine in the future and become either a Public Health and Preventive Medicine specialist or a pediatrician.
Delon says he was drawn to the KIN program due to its community and broad understanding of physical activity and health. “We have classes that focus on the cellular microscopic level of the human body and health but also have classes that discuss the sociology behind physical activity and sport.”
Since joining the KUS in his first year, Delon has served as a KPAC coach in his second year, VP Academic in his third year, and was a KIN camp leader, on the graduation committee and part of the KIN Games Team in his fifth year. He has also incorporated a mental health committee in the KUS, “ I wanted to create dialogue surrounding mental health. We partnered with other organizations and constituencies to host events like QPR Suicide Prevention training, and self-care events that included puppy yoga and succulent planting.
He further engaged in the community by serving as an Senior Orientation Leader in 2020 and a coach for Active Kids, and worked as a research assistant with the UBC Indigenous Studies in Kinesiology for the past three years to support Indigenous scholars. “I have travelled to Indigenous communities such as Lytton, BC where I facilitated the implementation of a community-based, Indigenous-led physical activity and lifestyle behaviour program. I’m currently helping organize the ISPAH congress with my lab in October 2021, which is co-chaired by Dr. Darren Warburton & Dr. Shannon Bredin.”
When asked about the most important aspects he has learned from KIN, Delon states “Taking care of ourselves! From learning about the benefits of physical activity and the importance of holistic health and wellness, I think it is really important that we prioritize our own health and wellbeing in order to function properly and chase our passions.” Outside of KIN, Delon enjoys hiking, biking, and running. He hopes to complete a half-marathon as his next goal!
Congratulations to the faculty members who have won awards in recent external research grant competitions. These include:
SSHRC Insight Grants
- Dr. S. Bredin-PI, Co-I: Drs. D. Warburton, M. Norman, R. Miles
Engaging Indigenous youth through traditional land-based activities
- Dr. P. Crocker-PI, Co-I: Drs. A. Bundon, E. Bennett
Exploring psychological well-being and adaptation processes in Paralympic and Olympic athletes: A critical study of privilege and marginalization in the age of COVID-1
- Dr. B. Wilson Co-I
Wheels of change? Exploring ‘Bicycles for Development’ for women and girls in the (post-)pandemic contexts of Canada, Uganda and Nicaragua
- Dr. A Bundon Co-I
Expanding understanding of motherhood and sport in socio-cultural context: A narrative analysis of stories in the digital landscape
NSERC Discovery Grants & Discovery Launch Supplements
- Dr. C. Mitchell
Understanding the matrix: Regulation of the human muscle extra cellular matrix
NSERC Research Tools and Instruments Grants Program
- Dr. M. Koehle
Upgrade to the UBC environmental physiology laboratory to include ozone exposure capacity
With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to take place this summer in Japan, the School of Kinesiology expects to have significant on-site representation working with Athletics Canada (Canada’s Track & Field athletes).
Dr. Trent Stellingwerff, Adjunct Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Senior Advisor for Innovation & Research at the Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) Pacific, will be working with Athletics Canada in his capacity as Lead of Sports Science & Sports Medicine. Dr. Gareth Sandford, a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in both the School of Kinesiology and the CSI Pacific, will be providing scientific support in his capacity as Physiologist for Athletics Canada. School of Kinesiology Professor Michael Koehle will also be traveling with the team as a Sports Medicine Physician for Athletics Canada.
All three will be on-site providing scientific and medical support to athletes at their acclimatization pre-competition camp in Gifu, Japan. During the Games, Dr. Stellingwerff will be based in Tokyo, while Drs. Sandford and Koehle will be in Sapporo, the site of the marathon and Race Walk competitions. KIN Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Cameron Gee will also travel with the para-Olympians as a Physiologist.
This work is part of a long collaboration between Drs. Stellingwerff and Koehle, who have co-supervised a number of graduate students and trainees through the School.
Congratulations to Darren Warburton, Rosalin Miles, Shannon Bredin, and Jan Hare for successfully receiving CIHR Funding for their project, “Enhancing culturally-safe ways for community wholistic health and wellness aspirations during COVID-19.”
This novel Indigenous-led initiative aims to address and mitigate potential impacts on Indigenous community health and wellbeing.
