To say Rubeena (Ruby) Gosal has been busy in an understatement. She is an award-winning student who has earned recognition for her academic prowess.
Known to ask a million questions since childhood, Gosal’s fervent curiosity has fueled her scientific dexterity that has allowed her to succeed in the field of chemistry.
“Chemistry is often referred to as the ‘central science’, with its ability to touch numerous fields with its numerous subdivisions,” shared Gosal.
Ruby is fearless in her pursuit and discovery in science.
Dr. Melanie Martin
It was these infinite possibilities that drew Gosal to pursue her Bachelor of Science, four-year, in chemistry, which she completed this past June. She also earned the gold medal in chemistry for having the highest graduating GPA (in chemistry).
Gosal also recently returned from the Western Canadian Undergraduate Chemistry Conference with a poster win this past June.
Gosal worked with Dr. Doug Craig and Dr. Paul Holloway in the Work Study Program during this last academic year. She won Best Poster in Analytical Chemistry at the Western Canadian Undergraduate Chemistry Conference.
“We sought to understand the efficacy of micro dosing—the consumption of sub-hallucinogenic amounts of a psychedelic drug, such as LSD or psilocybin—in the treatment of depression,” explained Gosal.
This summer, Gosal continues to search for answers in science while working with UWinnipeg physicist Dr. Melanie Martin. Gosal was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC USRA).
“The goal of my NSERC USRA project is to understand what the MRI is measuring in its analysis of the brain using electron microscopy—the gold standard for obtaining accurate axon diameters through postmortem study,” said Gosal.
This work serves as the basis for developing a non-invasive method to help monitor the change in axon size over a person’s lifetime, rather than postmortem. In turn, this would provide a new diagnostic test for diseases that are correlated with the progressive degeneration of axon size, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
“Ruby is fearless in her pursuit and discovery in science,” said Dr. Martin. “She is a beacon of inspiration for those that work with her.”
Gosal will start her Master of Science in Bioscience, Public Policy and Technology at UWinnipeg this September. She will be working with chemist Dr. Tabitha Wood.
“I am beyond delighted to complete my thesis under the supervision of Dr. Wood,” said Gosal, who worked with Dr. Wood in her first Work Study Program. “Her kindness and enthusiasm for teaching opened my eyes and changed my degree trajectory for the better.”
Gosal hopes to obtain an MD-PhD furthering the research in radiopharmaceuticals, and to become a practicing radiologist or nuclear medicine physician.
