08 May Trainee: Rashmin Hira
Trainee: Rashmin Hira, PhD Candidate, University of Calgary
Question: What is your research on?
Answer: My research involves the assessment of autonomic nervous system function and non-pharmacological interventions in Long-COVID with characterization of the patient experience. Specifically, my project examines the prevalence of autonomic disorders and similarities/differences between post-COVID-19-infection autonomic disorders and non-COVID-related autonomic disorders. My project also explores dietary salt as a non-pharmacological intervention and implements focus groups to better understand the patient experience with Long-COVID.
Q: How did you get to where you are today?
A: As an undergraduate student with a mixed academic background of Biological Sciences and Sociology, I became interested in clinical research to bridge my two interests: scientific inquiry and lived experiences. I began my research journey in 2021 as a research intern working in the Calgary Autonomic Investigation and Research Lab. I learned to perform and interpret tests used to detect autonomic dysfunction, and I worked with patient partners to test protocol tolerability. I became fascinated with cardiovascular autonomic disorders, leading to my decision to pursue a masters and then transfer to a PhD.
Q: What advice do you have for new trainees?
A: Always ask and have fun! Always look for and ask for opportunities. Your supervisors are there to help you, use them! If you don’t advocate for yourself, then who will? If I didn’t ask and ask for opportunities, I wouldn’t be in grad school today! Have fun on your journey, whatever it may be. Any hard task can become less daunting when you make it a little bit more fun. Try to make time in your schedule to do one enjoyable activity every week, and grad school might feel a little easier!
Q: What are your favorite pastimes or hobbies?
A: I love to read! Fantasy and sci fi are my favourite genres. I founded a local book club with my friends, and we have monthly read-a-longs, which really help to beat that Goodreads reading challenge! I also hike… sometimes haha.
Q: What are your favorite foods?
A: Spicy chicken ramen with a side of volcano rolls and gyoza.
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
A: Grenade – Bruno Mars