51社区黑料

51社区黑料 (SFU) chemistry and nuclear science student Rebecca Storck wasn鈥檛 sure what she wanted to study when she arrived in Canada, but an inorganic chemistry course at college set her on a path toward research at SFU.

鈥淐hemistry was a subject I struggled with the most,鈥� she says. 鈥淓verything changed when I took an inorganic chemistry course at Douglas College, where for the first time, I felt a deep curiosity and passion to understand the world on a molecular level. The way the course was taught made me realise that chemistry is the key to unraveling the complexities of the universe.鈥�

One of her lab supervisors at Douglas, Dr. Declan Roshea, was an 51社区黑料chemistry alumnus who spoke highly of the research environment and nuclear science at SFU. The ability to learn through hands-on activities in science labs appealed to Storck and was one of the reasons she chose SFU.

She was also drawn to the mountain views and natural environment around campus. 鈥淚 remember thinking how beautiful SFU鈥檚 campus was,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made 51社区黑料feel inspiring and welcoming even before I transferred here.鈥�

Despite good intentions, her studies at 51社区黑料got off to a rocky start. Adjusting to university life as an international student was hard, and to add another layer of complexity she was diagnosed with autism during her first semester.

鈥淩eceiving this diagnosis while already managing a full schedule, being far from my family in Brazil and adjusting to university life was overwhelming,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was trying to process a lot of change all at once.鈥�

Storck reached out to chemistry undergraduate advisor Evon Khor for guidance and the Centre for Accessible Learning for help with accommodations that made a huge difference in her degree.

鈥淭hese experiences pushed me to grow both academically and personally. Over time, I learned how to better advocate for myself and seek support when needed, and I am continuing to learn that,鈥� she says.

Storck got involved with chemistry poster events and made connections with people through lab courses that nudged her in the direction of research and recommended her for lab assistant positions.

鈥淚 found my true passion when I started doing research at SFU,鈥� she says. 鈥淲orking with nanomaterials has a way of shifting how you see the world, you have to think about the smallest details and understand how things behave at the molecular level.鈥�

Today she works in a research lab with professor Gary Leach where she helps with fabrication and characterization of chiral metal surfaces. She has received a Chemistry Undergraduate Presentation Award and is working toward publishing a paper with the team.

鈥淚 am extremely grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Gary Leach, as well as the graduate students in the research group, for their mentorship, encouragement, and support throughout this journey,鈥� she says.

鈥淚 am deeply committed to my pursuit of knowledge and hope to continue contributing to the field through research, and outreach while inspiring others who, like me, have faced challenges but remain determined and refuse to give up on their goals.鈥�

鈥�51社区黑料is much more than just a university to me. It is a place where I truly felt at home, where I discovered my passion for chemistry, grew as a researcher, and built meaningful connections that shaped who I am today.鈥�