Summer Students

Maya Quinn is an undergraduate kinesiology student at Western University in London, Ontario. Last summer, she contributed to a project focused on improving hereditary breast cancer care and screening guidelines and also helped develop the Sapphire app. She truly valued her experience with the SPHERE team and was grateful for the opportunity to be part of such meaningful work.

This summer, Maya is contributing to Benjamin Darby's project, which aims to assess the implementation of a magnetic localization technique in breast cancer care. She’s excited to stay involved with SPHERE and continue supporting the team’s initiatives.

Madeleine holds a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology and is currently pursuing her medical degree at the University of Limerick in Ireland. As part of the SPHERE team, she is actively contributing to the GeneScreen project, which focuses on developing provincial guidelines for the screening and prevention of hereditary cancer syndromes. These include hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Lynch syndrome—all of which significantly elevate an individual's lifetime cancer risk. Once established, the project will introduce a virtual nurse navigator-led clinic to implement these guidelines and streamline care for affected individuals. 

Asha Swamy is a medical student at the University of Ottawa. She is currently conducting research on factors influencing surgical decision-making in young women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and associated psychosocial outcomes.. Through her research, Asha aims to empower young women with DCIS by providing them with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions about their care. She is passionate about research and aspires to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist.

Isabella Davenport is an undergraduate student in nursing at the University of Calgary. This summer, she started working on her own research project through the Alberta Innovates studentship program. Isabella’s project aims to assess the online informational needs of young women with breast cancer. With her project, Isabella hopes to aid future resource development to better suit the needs of young women. She is excited to work with the SPHERE team this summer and learn more about the research process. 

Tina is a medical student at the University of Limerick. She previously earned a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. With a strong foundation in both engineering principles and clinical science, she is passionate about leveraging technology to advance healthcare. She is currently involved in research as part of the SPHERE team, where she is contributing to an innovative project focused on integrating robotic-assisted ultrasound into breast cancer diagnostics. Tina is excited to be part of a multidisciplinary team, and she looks forward to contributing meaningfully to research that drives clinical innovation and leads to better patient outcomes.

Tala is a high school student, entering grade 12 at Renert School. She has a deep interest in the life sciences and contributing to the evolving field of medicine. She is currently examining the availability of online resources for very young women with breast cancer and evaluating the types of content posted about breast cancer across various social media platforms. Through her project, she aspires to drive progress in health research and positively impact the quality of life for individuals with breast cancer. Tala is excited about joining the team this summer to learn more about what it means to be a researcher in pursuit of helping others.

Zainab is a high school student entering her grade 12 year at Lester B. Pearson High School. Her current project focuses on evaluating online resources for very young women living with and beyond breast cancer and analyzing how breast cancer is portrayed through content across social media platforms. Through this experience, Zainab is excited to explore what it truly means to be a researcher by critically analyzing information and contributing to work that addresses real-world challenges. She’s especially passionate about the field of medicine and is eager to make a positive impact on the quality of life for those affected by breast cancer. Zainab is excited to be a part of the SPHERE team this summer and looks forward to learning, growing, and contributing to meaningful health research.