Frank Cao- B.Sc Pharmacology, CIHR Award Recipient
Frank is a U3 Pharmacology student at McGill. His talent in research has been evident as he won the prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) summer award. He also won the Barbara Esplin Memorial Undergraduate Prize at Pharmacology Undergraduate Research Expo (PURE) for Best Poster Presentation.
Tell us about what you studied at McGill.
Major in pharmacology, minor in economics (U3)
What are you planning to do after graduation?
Masters in pharmacology at McGill, followed by a PhD somewhere else
What are pros and cons about your program?
Pros:
The pharmacology program is one of the few awesome programs at McGill that actively highlights course material on what’s most relevant, both academically and industry-wise.
Simply put: if you’re interested in research and/or drug development, this is the major for you.
Cons: Large program. Lots of people. Lots of competition. Hard to engage with professors.
This translates to more hours at the library if you want to be above average. People here are pretty smart.
What were some valuable involvements at school that taught about yourself and oriented your goals?
Research. At the end of my third year,
I was fortunate enough to get funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to conduct research on the Prostaglandin F receptor.
My project was then extended into a PHAR599 research project, where you basically conduct research for grades and credits.
This exposure to research was actually what led me to realize that I really enjoy how scientific research is all about connecting the dots from your data and building an intricate story.
Most regretful thing you’ve done at McGill
Should have started research earlier on and done a 396 project.
If you’re entering your second or third year in science, you should definitely look into this if you want a taste of what research is all about.
For more information about 396 research courses, please visit: http://www.mcgill.ca/science/research/ours/396
What advice would you give to younglings at McGill?
I definitely encourage you to think about what it is that you want out of your undergraduate education before deciding on a major.
Did you find the first year science courses manageable? (They only get harder) Do you want to explore different disciplines in science? Do you want to get exposed to research? Are you just here to get good grades and end up in med school? These are probably the most basic things you should consider before choosing your major (in science at least). After knowing what you want and where you want to go after graduation (which is probably the hardest part, and the part you’ll have to figure out alone)
the most important thing to do, from my experience, is to set short-term goals and be proactive.
By short-term goals, I mean waking up every morning and drafting objectives for the day — things that need to be done by the time the sun goes down.
Embody this: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” — Walt Disney
