Magnus Chan
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
UBC has been a natural extension of my academic journey. I completed my undergraduate degree here, and it was in a fourth-year pharmacology course that I was first introduced to electrophysiology by Dr. David Fedida. He taught us about the intricate processes behind how the heart generates, maintains and regulates electrical activity. This sparked my fascination with understanding how electrical potential is transmitted across the heart through the coordinated actions of ion channels and other membrane proteins — and how even slight defects in these processes can lead to arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation or other ventricular disorders. The Fedida lab is one of the few in the world specializing in patch-clamp techniques, the gold standard for studying excitable cells such as those in the heart, making it a great fit for me to pursue my PhD at UBC. Beyond my personal academic interests, it’s no surprise that UBC offers world-class, award-winning facilities and a research environment that feels like the heartbeat of innovation. I was particularly attracted to its collaborative ecosystem, with access to scientists across disciplines. Even within the Experimental Medicine program, where I am completing my PhD, there is an impressive diversity of work being done to advance human health, ranging from wet lab research to bioinformatics analyses and clinical trials.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
I was born and raised in Richmond, BC and moved to Hong Kong for a decade, where I completed a large part of my elementary and high school education before returning Vancouver for my final two years of high school. I have been in Vancouver ever since, so there hasn’t been much surprise on that front. However, with regard to UBC, this is now my second degree and my seventh year at UBC, and I am still constantly amazed at the multitude of opportunities available here. Nearly anything within your academic interests can be pursued if you seek it out.
What aspect of your graduate program do you enjoy the most or are looking forward to with the greatest curiosity?
Hands down, my absolute favourite part of graduate school is that there’s always something new to do and learn and that the work is never monotonous. I most enjoy the cerebral part of completing a PhD and how it is up to you and your research team to steer the ship since there are no clearly laid out solutions. While it sounds cliché, I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge and I find great value in training myself to be comfortable with being outside my comfort zone. I have been granted incredible learning opportunities from my mentors, Dr. David Fedida and Dr. Marc Pourrier, to learn advanced patch clamp electrophysiology techniques, which allows me to directly study the electrical properties of cardiac ion channels. I would say the intellectual challenge is the aspect I enjoy the most, but of course, seeing your projects through to completion and your publications come to fruition is a pretty sweet feeling as well!
What do you see as your biggest challenge(s) in your future career?
The world is changing at an incredibly rapid pace, and I see the biggest challenge as staying adaptable. It’s about continuously evolving your skillset, staying flexible and being ready to pivot when needed — all while consistently bringing something valuable to the table. While there is no way to accurately predict the challenges of the future, I believe the key is not getting stuck in old ways or mindsets but embracing change and growth with an open perspective.
How do you feel your program is preparing you for those challenges?
Grad school isn’t for everyone, but it teaches you how to problem-solve and, more importantly, how to ask the right questions. As I alluded to in my advice to new graduate students, those who actively seek knowledge and wisdom from those around them are the ones who ultimately gain it themselves. I think it’s also crucial to stay confident yet humble. Completing a PhD reminds you of the importance of maintaining humility, whether through troubleshooting experiments that don’t go as planned, reexamining hypotheses when the data doesn’t align or learning from the expertise and perspectives of others. These tasks can only be done well with an open mind and a genuine focus on learning, rather than being driven by ego. It emphasizes the importance of approaching challenges with curiosity and a willingness to learn from others. These skills — adaptability, humility and the ability to question and rethink — are essential for navigating the career challenges that lie ahead.
What aspects of your life or career before now have best prepared you for your UBC graduate program?
I think the learning I did in undergrad, both inside and, more importantly, outside the classroom, best prepared me for my PhD studies. I always like to say that learning directly from people is the best way to learn. Much of my growth came from the incredible mentorship I received during my undergraduate years, for which I am immensely grateful. Completing a PhD in a scientific field requires not only a strong foundational knowledge, which most undergraduates from a BSc will have, but also scientific curiosity, originality and the ability to think critically. These are not innate skills or something that can be quickly mastered; instead, they take years to develop and refine. Emeritus Professor Dr. Michael Walker was the first to inspire my interest in drug discovery. Beyond his extensive pharmacological expertise in drug development and his role in establishing UBC’s highly regarded Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, he is a caring and thoughtful mentor. Under his guidance, I conducted cardiac research using statistical software like PRISM and NCSS to analyze correlations between coronary artery occlusions and ventricular arrhythmic measures. Now, as a PhD student, he remains actively involved formally as one of my committee members and informally as a mentor providing guidance on both life and career. Dr. Walker continually inspires me to dream big and pursue research directions that align with my own passions, for which I am incredibly thankful. Additionally, Dr. James (Jim) Wright, the Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Hypertension Review Group and a retired physician, has been another exceptional mentor. I first joined Cochrane Hypertension during my undergraduate studies and am now in the revision stages of two systematic reviews examining the effects of amphetamines and oral decongestants on blood pressure. Dr. Wright has taught me everything I know about systematic reviews and meta-analyses. While these scientific skills differ from the basic science research I conduct in my PhD investigating ion channels, having a breadth of scientific knowledge is always a strength for any researcher. Beyond the specific methodologies of review work, his mentorship has helped me cultivate the critical thinking and attention to detail necessary to thrive in my PhD studies.
What do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I admittedly will be leaving grad school with a number more hobbies than I started grad school with. One of my top passions outside of research is flying. I started my private pilot training and gained my private pilot license earlier in 2022 and am now in the process of completing my instrument rating (IFR). Being in control in the cockpit and that feeling of freedom in the skies is unbeatable. Another hobby of mine is learning French. I took my first ever French class in an intro undergrad course but began taking it more seriously in grad school. I passed my DELF B1 exam and have been chipping away at it ever since, although I must say that learning a new language as an adult is challenging! I’ve also started a weekly tradition with my sister where we pick new recipes from different cultures and do the ingredient shopping and cooking together. It’s great quality time, and we’ve even made an Instagram account to share our dishes. While my friends like to joke that none of my hobbies sound particularly relaxing to them, these pastimes are what fill my cup, and I really enjoy working a different part of my brain than what I usually use for my day-to-day work.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Ah, the classic interview question for all grad students! While I’ve heard the whole gamut of advice for incoming trainees when I started years ago, now that I’m on the tail end of completing my PhD, I think one piece of advice reigns true above all. That is, I truly believe your graduate degree is what you make of it, so the most important thing is being open to learning and to never stop asking questions. While much of the learning will be from your supervisors, don’t neglect all the learning that is also done through casual conversation with peers. This is not to say to incessantly ask questions without regard for time or place, but the spirit of this advice is to always maintain your desire to learn from everyone you meet. Many people attracted to research programs start with an open mind and a curiosity to learn but can fall into a slump where they want to reach the finish line or hurriedly tick off the next to-do item. The key to making the process enjoyable throughout and soaking up as much knowledge as possible is to always remain open to learning from others — whether that be from your supervisors, peers or even your mentees that you’ll have the opportunity to train.
