TEAM

Hello world! Third year IMS PhD student here, working with Dr Sharmistha Mishra at St Michael's Hospital. In my research, I simulate HIV epidemics in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of helping to inform intervention priorities, especially for key populations like sex workers and young women. I'm mainly interested in the influence of modelling assumptions on simulation results. These days I also help support COVID modelling. I'm super excited to be working with the amazing Raw Talk Team to explore leading biomedical science research and highlight important issues in health. Outside the lab, I like to go backcountry camping, convince you to try LaTeX, and tweet at politicians about the climate crisis.

Hi! I'm Noor, a 1st year master's student at the Institute of Medical Sciences. I work with Dr. Dmitry Rozenberg at the GoodHope EDS clinic at Toronto General Hospital, and my research is focused on characterizing respiratory issues and their association with physical functioning and quality of life in people with Ehler's Danlos Syndrome. I'm really excited to work with the team to bring you episodes spanning topics in biomedical sciences, health equity and more! Outside of the hospital, I dabble in some photography and digital art.

Hi listeners! I'm a 6th year PhD student in the Department of Medical Biophysics and my research is focused on understanding the genetics of metastasis in Neuroblastoma and whether they can be targeted to make new drugs. I am incredibly excited to continue with Raw Talk for my 3rd season and I'm looking forward to sharing all the exciting episodes we have coming up! Outside of the lab, I enjoy biking around the city, cooking, keeping my plants alive, and playing video games. I'm also a huge soccer and Man Utd fan so you can always catch me playing pickup somewhere downtown on the weekends.

Hello hello! Melissa here. I’m currently a first year medical student at U of T, and just recently finished my PhD in the Institute of Medical Science studying cancer genetics at SickKids. I've been with Raw Talk since Season 1 doing everything from hosting to communications! It's been exciting for me to watch the show grow and evolve. We have so many unique perspectives on diverse topics in medicine, all inspired by work being done in our own backyard. Other interests: Coffee, sleeping, soccer, cooking, coffee, yoga, rock climbing, comedy, coffee, napping, reading, and writing.

Hi Listeners! I'm a 5th year PhD student in the Institute of Medical Science. I use structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain circuitry and heterogeneity across children and adolescents experiencing mental illnesses. I've been a part of Raw Talk since season one, and enjoyed tremendously being an Executive Producer for the past two seasons. I can't wait for all the great stories and science we're going to share with you this year, and to work with such a fantastic team again!

Hi listeners! My name is Zeynep and I'm a Scientific Communications Specialist at Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. I got my M.Sc. from Western University in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, as well as a collaborative degree in Developmental Biology. I'm thrilled to join the Raw Talk Podcast team for season 6! It will be my 3rd season as a Show Host and Content Creator! I'm a big advocate for science literacy and making it accessible for everyone in a way that is accurate and fun! In my spare time, I enjoy windsurfing, kickboxing and reviewing restaurants in the city with amateur expertise.

Heyo Raw Talk fam! 😊 My name is Swapna and I'm currently in the MD/PhD program doing my research on concussion policy and also on concussion in hockey. I'm aiming to become a clinician scientist with a clinical focus in sport medicine. Alongside academia, I have a passion for translating science into policy at multiple levels of government, and I also love to play hockey and the violin and sitar, learn languages, and I am attempting to cook my way around the world (emphasis on attempting 😆). I am also very passionate about science communication, and I do scicomm and outreach with youth through classrooms & multimedia including TV, YouTube, and social media! I am super excited to be returning for another season of Raw Talk Podcast as a show host to create some interesting content with the team and share incredible science stories with all of you! I am constantly inspired by the talented team that I get to work with and the amazing guests whose stories we get to share, so I can't wait for what this season has in store! 😊

Hi there! I'm Stephania, and I am a PhD student at the Department of Medical Biophysics, studying cardiac and brain abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is my fourth Season at Raw Talk, and I am a show host and content creator. Our goal is to bring to you the most exciting science stories in the best possible way! Tune in because some amazing stuff is in store for season 6. Until then, keep it raw!

Hey listeners! I’m Seth, and this is my second year with RawTalk! I’m currently a third year medical student at the University of Toronto, as well as a part-time researcher at Princess Margaret Hospital where I’m studying how we can use the immune system to fight cancer. Outside of school, I spend my time watching basketball, playing guitar, and trying to find the city’s best restaurants.

Hey everyone! I'm Jenna, a Master's student in the Department of Medical Biophysics. I'm currently located at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning (PGCRL) at SickKids, where my research is focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind neuroblastoma metastasis. Specifically, I look at signaling pathways that enable this cancer to spread to specific areas such as the bone and the brain. Outside of research, my other passions include scientific communication, exploring the city, trying new foods, playing sports, and discovering bomb playlists on Spotify.

Hi everyone! My name is Jason and I’m a show host for Season 6 of Raw Talk Podcast! I’m a fourth year PhD student at the Institute of Medical Science investigating how stigma impacts the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV. I’m passionate about scientific communication and I listen to a variety of audiobooks and podcasts of course! I’m super excited to be working with the team this year and look forward to sharing interesting science research with you!

Hi all! I'm Daniel and I'm a 2nd year MSc student with the Institute of Medical Sciences researching the immunological effects of a novel COVID-19 treatment at the Feld Lab. I'm looking forward to being a show host for Season 6! I spend a lot of my free time either making music, listening to music, or cooking. So if I'm not in the lab or at school, I'll probably be at home listening to music while trying out a new recipe!

Hey Listeners! My name is Braeden and I'm currently a second year MSc student at the Institute of Medical Science studying the impact of caregiver burden within informal caregivers when traditional short-stay inpatient surgeries, like total hip and knee replacements, are shifted to outpatient pathways. Outside of school, I often spend my time watching sports, trying to brainstorm the perfect Maple Leafs lineup to end the 54-year drought, and as a coffee enthusiast I'm always up for the classic Starbucks vs. Timmies debate. I am super excited to be joining the Raw Talk Podcast team as a show host this season! Looking forward to the amazing stories in store for Season 6.

Hey listeners! My name's Kayvan, and I'm in the second year of my Master of Science at the Institute of Medical Science where I'm completing an epidemiology project on maternal mortality in partnership with the Ontario Coroner. My research interests include substance misuse and addiction, especially among youth and pregnant individuals, and refugee health. Outside of Raw Talk, I'm co-president of IMS Students Association (IMSSA). For fun, I like to fly planes and learn about ancient history. When I'm not at St. Michael's Hospital, you can find me backcountry camping or practicing my photography somewhere in a provincial park!

Hey everyone! My name is Dennis, I am a fourth Biomedical Engineering student at Ryerson University and currently researching differing pulse wave modulation use cases. I am coming into Rawtalk as a host for the coming season and am excited to delve into science/medicine specific issues regarding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Aside from school, research and the show, I am a lover of food, travel and all things coffee. So, if you're in the know of some delicious roasts or cool cafes, please reach out!

Hey Raw Talk Listeners! I'm Frank and I'm very excited to be back as a Show Host for Season 6 and to share my passion for the stories of science and medicine with the U of T community and the world. When I'm not podcasting or doing other science advocacy work, I'm a graduate student studying cancer predisposition at the Hospital for Sick Children. Outside of science, I'm an avid baker and cook - I love trying new foods from around the world and doing my best to recreate them (sometimes with mixed results).

Hi All! I'm Steph, a Registered Dietitian and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain investigating the relationship and impact of nutrition on cardiometabolic and cognitive health. My goal as a clinical researcher and educator involved in chronic disease prevention from a nutritional perspective, is to advance evidence-based practice and knowledge dissemination with the ultimate aim of being a part of informing public health policy and nutrition guidelines. Along with research, nutritional sciences, and making credible scientific information accessible and engaging, I am currently attempting to learn Spanish, as well I enjoy cooking, playing volleyball, and am always looking for new things to discover! I am excited to be returning to the podcast team for a third season, this year as an Advisor. It is great working with this team and meeting so many knowledgeable guests as I find each episode continues to inspire and inform - so stay tuned for what this season has in store!

Hello everyone! I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Medical Biophysics at University of Toronto. With my project, I am trying to understand how the brain facilitates its memory function and emotion regulation. I am a new Content Creator and Host for the Season 5, and I cannot wait to share informative and thought-provoking stories in Scinences with you all! When I am not wearing my scientist's hat on, I am usually found playing the violin, dancing like nobody's watching in Zumba classes, or watching movies at home.

Hey I'm Claire - a Content Creator for Raw Talk and a 1st year medical student at UofT. I am passionate about health and wellness, particularly women's health, and mental health. Some things I can't go without - breakfast with an XL coffee and Colleen Ballinger's vlogs. This is my second year working as a content creator for Raw Talk and I can't wait to dive into some super cool topics this season!

Hi there, I'm Larkin. I completed a Masters of Public Health at Queen's University in 2019 and am entering my final year of the accelerated nursing program at UofT. I am really interested in the health system and how we can make it more efficient, ultimately, to make sure every patient and person accessing our health system gets the best care! In addition to school I work part time in two research areas: knowledge translation/implementation sciences and nurse-industry relations/corporate influences on health. Aside from school, I love to be outside running, biking and hiking, and to eat (sometimes attempt to cook) delicious food. This is my second year with the podcast and I am looking forward to taking a deep dive into new topics and sharing our work with you!

Hello, I am Adrine, I am an international student from Brazil, currently in the 4th year of my Ph.D. studies. I am part of the Department of Molecular Genetics at the Faculty of Medicine working with the variant interpretation of two genes using functional genomics technics. I am an enthusiast of science outreach and education, that is why I created the podcast "42 semanas" and a youtube channel with my partner, both in Portuguese. When I am not volunteering or working in the lab I run, bike and do trails around the city with my puppy Ellie.

Hey listeners! My name is Prisca and I am a first-year MSc student studying motor disorders related to pediatric stroke at the Institute of Medical Sciences. I recently completed my BSc in Neurosciences at Western University and my honors thesis focused on music perception and production abilities in Parkinson's Disease patients. Outside of the lab, I am a classically-trained pianist, an avid tea-drinker and a skin care enthusiast!

Hey Raw Talk listeners - Sumi here! I'm a first-year LMP MSc student studying the role of B cells in lung transplant rejection. It's my very first season on Raw Talk and I can't wait to dig deep researching and contributing ideas behind the scenes for our upcoming episodes! Apart from being an immunology and podcast nerd, I'm also a big fan of art, philosophy, skillfully avoiding getting hit by a car while riding my bicycle on the busy streets of Toronto, and coffee. In fact, on select mornings, you can catch me pulling espresso shots at Balzac's on Market Street (still working on the Raw Talk logo latte art, however).

Hi I’m Elizabeth and one of the Science Writers for Raw Talk! I am a second-year master student in the Institute of Medical Science program. My research focuses on understanding the determinants of the temporal patterns of hemodynamic responses during exercise patients with pulmonary hypertension. Outside of research and Raw Talk, I enjoy martial arts and am currently a fourth-degree black belt. I am very excited to be a part of the team and to explore cool medical science topics!

Hey everyone! My name is Junayd, and I am an incoming Master's student in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa. I got my BSc from Western University in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, with my undergraduate paper focused on sleep and alcohol use in adolescents. I am stoked to take on this new role as Science Writer at Raw Talk Podcast for Season 6! I am super interested in the role of patients and patient families in their care, and how their conversations with providers can influence their care. In my spare time, I enjoy running, exploring the city, reading, and testing my patience over LEGO sets and challenging video games.

Hi everyone, my name is Veena! I'm currently a second year Masters student at the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. My research involves understanding pain coping in chronic pain patients, and behavioural representations of pain and attention brain mechanism interactions. I'm going to be joining the Raw Talk Podcast team this year as a Science Writer. Aside from my research, I absolutely love going out for runs and drawing in my free time!

Hey there! I'm Alex, a sixth year PhD student in the department of Psychology. My research is focused on emotional memories and the basic mechanisms that control how they're formed. This is my second year with Raw Talk, and I'm excited to help bring you fascinating science stories! As an audio engineer, my job is to make our guests and hosts sound their best. So if you're ever listening to an interview and feel self conscious because our guests never stumble over their words or say "um" or "like", don't worry! They had a little help 😉

Hey there! I'm Helen, a MSc student in the Institute of Medical Science. My graduate work focuses on the physical function and supportive care for caregivers and older adults with advanced prostate cancer. I am also passionate about health equity, wellness, the Raptors, and food. (Please send any recipe recommendations my way!) Raw Talk has long been a source of information and inspiration for me. I am incredibly excited to help share more amazing stories and dialogue this year. Stay tuned!

Hey Raw Talk listeners, I'm Esther, one of the audio engineer team members! This is my second season with Raw Talk and I'm so excited to continue to make the magic behind this podcast happen! At U of T, I'm a master's student at the Institute of Medical Science where I'm studying deep brain stimulation as a novel therapy for treatment resistant depression. When I'm not at my lab or mixing sounds for the podcast I love to travel, cook and watch movies. Happy listening!

Hello, everyone! I'm Anukrati, a Ph.D. student and my research project involves the integration of multi-modal data in neurological diseases. As an engineer by heart and a scientist by profession, I joined the Raw Talk Podcast team as an Audio Engineer last season. Delving into the podcast world, I realized the need for accessibility for the diverse audience. Hence, I took the additional role of a transcriber this season. Outside academia, I love going to music concerts, doing art and yarn-based crafts, playing musical instruments, going on walks, and travelling. I hope you enjoy listening to the Raw Talk Podcast as much as we love putting it together for you!

Hey! My name is Atefeh and I'm a first year MSc student in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology studying neonatal lung disease. I am so thrilled to be joining Raw Talk Podcast for a third season since I love working with our incredible team to create and promote content that is educational, engaging and accessible for our listeners. In my free time, I enjoy staying active by practicing karate and venturing the city in search of ice cream. Don't forget to keep in touch by following us on our social media platforms @rawtalkpodcast!

Hi! I’m Eman and I’m an incoming PhD candidate in the Department of Physiology and Collaborative Program in Neuroscience. My research uses brain imaging techniques to study underlying microstructural changes in the developing brain following a mild traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, and how these changes may influence cognitive outcomes in children and youth. I’m super excited for another year on Raw Talk as part of the Social Media and Promotions team. Social media is a strong tool in making science communication accessible and I can’t wait to work with the team to share the best content!

Hi, I’m Stephanie! I'm a 4th year PhD Candidate in the Institute of Medical Science. I study balance in Parkinson’s disease using virtual reality, brain stimulation, and motion analysis. Outside the lab, I love biking, being outdoors with my dog, and trying new food. Science communication is my passion so I am excited to return for a second season of Raw Talk. This year, I am working on content creation and promo. Can’t wait to share our Season 6 with you all!

I'm a Clinical Research Coordinator at Toronto General Hospital working on studies in lung transplant measuring health outcomes and quality of life in patients. I've always been passionate about bringing science stories out of the lab and into daily life. That's why I'm pumped to be on the RawTalk team to share exciting content and make it accessible to our listeners (give us a shout @rawtalkpodcast). When I'm not in the lab you can catch me rolling through the Six on my bike, perfecting my biryani recipe in the kitchen, and working hard to keep my plants alive!

Hello! I'm Janine, and I'm the graphic designer for Raw Talk Podcast! I am a recent graduate of the University of Toronto, where I did my Masters in the Department of Molecular Genetics. This is my second season with the podcast, and I'm excited to learn interesting new things and share them with you! Outside of the lab and the podcast, you'll find me cycling around the city or exploring new restaurants.

Hi! I'm Jan a PhD student in the Department of Biochemistry in Dr. Justin Nodwell's lab. There I study the processes guiding cell division and antibiotic production in bacteria. This is my second season with Raw Talk, acting as a lead for sponsorships and funding. When I am not staring at colonies on agar plates I like to read, sleep and eat!

Hey everyone! I’m an IMS alum and currently a first year MA student in the Clinical & Counselling Psychology Program at UofT. Aside from school, I love to cook and travel, and of course, be a part of Raw Talk! This has been such a unique opportunity to promote science (and the amazing people behind it) and to highlight stories of lived experience in a thoughtful and engaging way. I've been a part of the podcast since the beginning and it's been incredible to see how much we've evolved and grown over the years. I'm excited for you to continue listening as Season 6 unfolds!

Hey listeners, my name is Hanna and I'm a PhD candidate in the department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. In my PhD, I'm trying to understand the mechanism behind haemolytic disease of the foetus and newborn and identify ways to replace the current treatment. This is my third year with Raw Talk and I'm really excited about all the interesting science we'll be sharing with you this year. Outside of the lab, I love to travel and have visited 27 countries so far and lived on 4 different continents.

Hey Listeners! My name is Nathan, and I wear a couple of hats for Raw Talk Podcast! Most of the time, I take photos - giving the voices you hear faces to see. That said, you might hear me host segments from time to time, and I'm also your point-of-contact for any issues regarding Raw Talk Podcast that you don't feel comfortable raising with our Executive Producers. I completed my M.Sc. in neuroscience at the Institute of Medical Science in the University of Toronto, where I partnered with clinician scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to study the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and apathy through brain imaging and high-performance computing models.

Hey podcasters - I'm CJ, and I'm a consultant photographer for Raw Talk Podcast! As a photographer to the RTP team, I look forward to capturing essential shots that either convey the atmosphere of the episode, or help put faces to names! Currently, I'm finishing up my Master's in LMP, studying the effects of specialized lipid mediator molecules on in vitro glaucoma models! If not in the lab, you'll catch me bouldering in Niagara Falls, taking tons of photos of dogs, or going on morning runs along the lake!