Anisha Hundal wins Roy Ivor Memorial Award and the Alan F Coventry Part 1 Memorial Scholarship

Anisha Hundal is a third year Molecular Biology student in the Department of Biology. She was recently selected as the 2018-2019 recipient of the Roy Ivor Memorial Award and the Alan F. Coventry Part I Memorial Scholarship. Both awards are granted to second year with high academic achievements in their second year biology courses.

Why biology?

Studying biology provides me with an understanding of the processes and interactions that occur to sustain life at a scale as large as the biosphere right down to cells that compose living beings. The knowledge I obtain from studying biology has incredibly vast and important applications that provide insights on challenges and solutions to significant problems that humanity faces. For example, in BIO205 (Ecology), we learned about how we can address climate change and biodiversity loss is a way that integrates human activity and interests. In BIO210 (Human Anatomy and Physiology), we connected the anatomy of physiology of systems to disease and public health, such as learning about the importance of herd immunity. In BIO370 (Microbiology), we learned about viruses and this content was adapted to the current COVID-19 pandemic. We learned about the structure and replication of SARS-CoV-2, the epidemiology of pandemic, how COVID-19 tests work, potential treatments for COVID-19 and the major targets for vaccine development. These are just examples of courses that have taught me valuable information that I take home and share with my friends and family. Biology has enriched my perspective of the world and I am glad I chose this field of study.

What does winning these awards mean to you?

Winning the Roy Ivor Memorial Award and Alan F. Coventry Memorial Scholarships are a reflection of my interest in what I learn. Sometimes things can seem overwhelming when lab reports pile up and there are multiple midterms in a week. However, taking a step back and looking at the potential applications of what I learn is what keeps me motivated. I have also had the pleasure of learning from inspiring professors, friends and colleagues at UTM. My academic success is a result of the amazing support and encouragement I have received from the UTM community.