Profiling Ryan Gillespie:

How did you end up where you are today?

I ended up here in a roundabout manner.  I did my undergrad at the University of Waterloo in Biochemistry Biotech Option Co-op.  For my Co-op I work at Petro-Canada R&D, Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), and Ministry of the Environment.  After graduation I headed to France to work at a summer camp teaching English to French children (4 months) until I started teacher’s college at U of T/OISE to teach high school chemistry and environmental science.  I went back to France for another 5 months after graduation.  I returned to Canada after the school year had started so I applied to be substitute teacher... I didn’t hear anything so I started applying to science jobs, to which I found myself more interested.  Finally I came across a posting on an obscure webpage stating, “work/research in science, teach science, get paid, and get a degree”... That sounded perfect to me!!!  The day I received my acceptance to the grad program here the school board called me for an interview, I told them they missed their chance ;) I completed my masters in Phys/Pharm and then changed labs into the Beier Lab to work on my PhD, where I am currently.

What type of research are you doing?

I am currently researching the effects of the glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3B) on skeletal development.  I’ve used ex vivo tibia organ culture and two in vivo mouse models, cartilage and bone specific GSK-3B knockouts to investigate GSK-3b role.  The Beier lab is a large and productive lab with a great supervisor Dr Frank Beier.  I’ve presented my data at several national and international conferences.  I’m completing my second manuscript now and my first two papers will be submitted together shortly, so stay tuned for some great papers ;)

Skill testing questions:

1) Where did you grow up?

Everything I do is roundabout... I was born in Oakville but my elementary years were in Edmonton, Alberta (during 4 of the 5 Stanley Cup years) but moved back to Ontario (Mississauga) in grade 8 and went to high school at Meadowvale Secondary (a life time ago).

2) Do you have any hobbies?

I play a lot of soccer!!! Usually 3-4 times a week with my London men’s team and sometimes 2 intramural teams (co-ed and mens).  I also enjoy and do a lot of work (painting, flooring, gardening,...) on my little tiny house which I purchased 3yrs ago.

3) What was the last movie you saw?

Inception in theatre which was awesome... if you haven’t seen it go see it!!!  Last rental was Hot Tub Time Machine which also rocked... but only rent if you remember the 80s.  My labmates are much younger, don’t remember the 80s and hated it.

4) Where would you like your next vacation to be?

I would like to go back to Paris with my wife.  We met in France (helped her off a train) and I purposed under the fake Eiffel Tower in Vegas but we have never actually been to Paris together.  So that is next on the list... when we get money!!

5) What is your idea of the perfect lazy day?

Watching football (with proline), Beer, Swiss Chalet, Catan (best board game ever) with friends and families, eating mangoes, add some Palasad bowling thrown in... all with my wife (maybe not football) sounds perfect to me.

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