view . spring2016
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If you’re likemostpeople,yourhighschoolyearswerespent in
thepursuitof friends, funandabitof knowledge.
MelanieGrondinspentaportionof hers in theUniversityof Windsor
laboratoryof cancer researcherDr.LisaPorter,whereshe focusedon
manipulatingstemcells inaneffort tomakemorepeople ideal tissueor
bonemarrowdonors.
Obviously, she’snotyour typical student—highschool orotherwise.
Afirst-classacademic, dedicated researcher, campusvolunteeremergency
services teamcaptain, andyouthhockeycoach,Grondinmakesexcellence
lookeasy.
Theexceptional youngwomanwon theposition inPorter’s lab
through theSonofiBiogeniusCanadacompetition, anadvancedscience
fair that challengeshighschool students tocarryoutgroundbreaking
researchprojects in thefieldof biotechnology.
ForGrondin, the researchopportunitywasaboutmore thanscience.
Itwaspersonal. “My fatherhadcancer, anda lotof people inmy family
havehadcancer, so there isa real, personal connection there,”shesays.
“It isadiseasewhereyourownself iskillingyou. It isdifficult tofigureout.
Thereare lotof intricacies incancer.”
TheSBCcompetitionprovidesstudentswithexpert, scientificmentors
andaccess to real-world laboratories,which ledGrondin toPorter, biology
professoratUWindsorandscientificdirectorof theWindsorCancer
ResearchGroup.
“Dr.Porter isgreatand isa truementor,”shesays. “She isvery
supportiveand treatsher student researchersasequals.”
Afterhighschool, shewasaccepted into theuniversity’sBehaviour,
CognitionandNeuroscienceprogram.Grondin’s topgradesalsoearned
heracovetedspotasanOutstandingScholar, aprogram thatprovides
undergraduateswith theopportunity toworkcloselywith facultyon
research.Thisallowedher tocontinueher researchwithPorter.
Porter saysGrondinbringsagreatdeal of enthusiasmandhard
work toherprojects. “Ithasbeenapleasure tocontinueworkingwith
herduringheruniversityyears.Melanie isabrightandcreativestudent
who isevolving intoaskilled researcher. She is trulyavaluedmember
of our team.”
Grondin transitionedherwork fromcancer to tuberoussclerosis,
anothergrowthdiseasesimilar tocancer.Mutationsof the tuberous
sclerosiscancause tumoursof theskin, retina, heart, kidneyandcentral
nervoussystem.
Now in thirdyear, she isstudying theprotein’sstructure inaneffort
tounderstand thediseasebetter, in thehopesof onedayhelping tofind
acure.Evenat thisearlystageof heracademiccareer, her research is
being integrated intopeer-reviewedarticleswithPorter.
Thoughshe loves the researchsideof science,Grondinplans to
go tomedical school andbecomeadoctor,which iswhyshechose the
Behaviour,CognitionandNeuroscienceprogram,with its jointemphasis
onbiologyandpsychology.
“I thinkbiology ishowanimalsandpeopleworkphysically, and
psychology isabouthow theyworkmentally. So together, theseprograms
giveyouagood ideaof how lifeworks.”
Outsideof the labandclassroom,Grondinundertookayearof
rigorous trainingsoshecouldvolunteerasanemergency responderon
campus.Not surprisingly, sheworkedherwayup tocrewchief.
“It is somuch fun, and you’re helpingpeople inneed,” she says.
“There have been a few scarymoments of people going tohospital,
but it doesn’tmakeme rethinkmy commitment tomedical future.
It reaffirms it.”
Theall-aroundstudentalsocoachesayouthhockey team. Shesays
that, asachild, playingcompetitivegirlshockeyhelpedherovercomeher
ownextremeshyness.
“Being involved inhockeyandothersports leads tobettercamaraderie
and team-buildingabilities,”shesays. “Itgivesanunderstandingof how
otherpeoplework. Itwasso important inmakingmewho Iamasa
person, so I felt Iwanted togiveback to thecommunity.”
Grondinsays thatamedical careerwon’tprecludeher fromseeking
outmore researchopportunities. She relishes the thrill of thatmoment
whenanexperimentworksout toomuch to leave the laboratorybehind.
“Once, Ididaparticularexperimentwhere Ihadn’tworkedall the
kinksout inadvance. Ididn’t think itwouldsucceed.When I saw ithad—
and thatwe’d foundsomethingnew—it sowasexciting.”
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MAKINGEXCELLENCELOOKEASY
MelanieGrondin
STUDENT PROFILE
BYSARAELLIOTT
Opposite:MelanieGrondin, who relishes the thrill of discovery in the lab.
