From May to August 2022, researchers funded by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL) hosted students interested in brain and mental health research as part of the Indigenous Mentorship and Paid Research Experience for Summer Students (IMPRESS) initiative, developed by McGill’s Branches community outreach program. The initiative provides Indigenous undergraduates from Quebec post-secondary institutions with paid research opportunities under the supervision of a McGill professor, with support from a graduate-student mentor.
The Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) reports that only 1.6% of respondents to a recent survey of Canadian neuroscience self-identified as Indigenous.2 Furthermore, the Conference Board of Canada reports that while 4% of Canadian adults are Indigenous, only 2% of all professionals working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are.1
“One of the long-term goals of IMPRESS is to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples in academia. It’s especially important for researchers in STEM to participate in programs like IMPRESS because Indigenous Peoples are particularly underrepresented in these fields,” states Amanda Bowie-Edwards, Indigenous Student Ambassador at Branches.
By providing a positive and enriching research experience, connections with peers and local Indigenous communities, and activities that align with the participant’s interests, IMPRESS aims to expose interested students to the possibilities available to them in neuroscience.
The road to research
IMPRESS 2022 participants Dane Malenfant and Charlize Linthorne were both already studying in STEM disciplines at McGill when they applied to work on research projects combining artificial intelligence (AI) and neuroscience in the lab of Dr. Blake Richards.
Richards is an HBHL-supported new faculty recruit, and he also leads HBHL’s Neuroinformatics and Computational Modelling Theme. He is an Assistant Professor at McGill, as well as a Core Faculty Member at Mila. The students spent several weeks working together on two projects in his Learning in Neural Circuits (LiNC) lab.
According to Richards, “Probably the biggest barrier to would-be researchers advancing in higher education is simply the question of expectation—does a young person even think of grad school and research (particularly in STEM) as an option?”
Linthorne—an engineering student drawn to the applied sciences by a desire to better society—wanted to learn more about AI and neuroscience. “I learned a lot despite not having much previous knowledge. After working in the lab, I’d consider working in research in the future,” she explains. “Neuroscience is an interesting field with many applications. I’d greatly encourage any student to learn about it, even if it’s not directly connected to their degree.”
Malenfant, a citizen of Métis Nation—Saskatchewan, started out studying psychology and later switched his major to computer science. This ultimately led to his interest in neuroinformatics. “Working at the LiNC lab in Mila was amazing. I was welcomed in paper discussions that showed state-of-the-art techniques in neuroinformatics,” Malenfant says. “I learned a lot by asking questions about the papers we read and the research projects. This is hard to do in large university classes but rewarding in a lab environment. Neuroscience is a very big and nuanced field so not having any neuro background is okay!”
The sense of community
The students weren’t limited to performing research activities; IMPRESS participants also attended professional development workshops and networking events alongside their peers from other disciplines, as well as their grad-student mentors.
“The mentorship aspect of IMPRESS was very unique compared to other summer research programs. Being able to reach out to an accomplished graduate student really helped my confidence,” says Malenfant. “My mentor was a Métis McCall MacBain Scholar in an epidemiology Master’s program from Winnipeg who speaks Cree. We both have very similar backgrounds and studied computer science as undergraduates. I not only gained meaningful advice on research and graduate school but also made a friend.”
IMPRESS’ social activities and workshops gave the students the opportunity to connect outside the program, as well. “We bonded over many events and meetups,” explains Malenfant. “The orientation meeting at an axe throwing centre was also a really great way to meet members of the lab and a memorable start to the ‘research’ part of the IMPRESS program.”
Bowie-Edwards says, “It was great to see how well the students connected with each other—we saw them doing things together outside of the program and, in the end, there was this real feeling of belonging to a unique group. Our real hope is that we can maintain this sense of community even as the program expands”
The shape of things to come
Branches aims to continue expanding the program, including growing the number of participants, diversifying the projects offered and attracting participants from beyond McGill and the Montreal region—francophones in particular.
“In order to attract francophone Indigenous students, we’re aiming to offer placements with professors who speak or work in French. In the future, we also hope to secure additional funding and expand the program beyond Quebec,” explains Bowie-Edwards.
“Professors and researchers participating in IMPRESS play an important role”, she says, “because they’re not only giving Indigenous students an opportunity to strengthen their research skills but are also exposing them to the possibility of academia as a future path.” The inaugural session was a success on this front; Richards was impressed by the students’ contributions and invited Malenfant to stay on in the lab as a research assistant.
“The IMPRESS program not only introduced me to research but set me up on a path directly towards graduate school. The support I received was phenomenal and I’m very privileged that this opportunity for Indigenous students exists at McGill,” shares Malenfant. “Future students will learn a lot, regardless of what they study, and be able to contribute meaningfully. They’ll also get an active hand in developing cutting-edge research.”
Branches is currently accepting applications from researchers interested in hosting students for IMPRESS 2023. Visit HBHL's program page to learn more about participating and apply.
More to Explore
How to include Indigenous researchers and their knowledge: Researchers from Native American and Indigenous communities explain how colleagues and institutions can help them to battle marginalization. Nature 589, 2021, 315-317.
References
- Cooper, J. Incorporating Indigenous Cultures and Realities in STEM. Ottawa: The Conference Board of Canada, 2020.
- Perreault, M. et al. An Indigenous Lens on Priorities for the Canadian Brain Research Strategy. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques, 2021, 1-3.
