Celine Said
Meet Celine Said:
About Celine
Celine Said is a 3rd year Bachelor of Science Honours, Animal Biology student at #UofG and is set to graduate in 2024. She worked as a Research Assistant for the Clinical Studies department in the Ontario Veterinary College in the summer and has continued this role in a part-time capacity throughout the semester.
In this role, Celine directly assists veterinary students and faculty in the ongoing research looking at the effects of IV fluid therapy on critically ill canine patients. Celine tells us about her role within OVC, the impact it has had on her, and how it all relates to the PCDR (Professional and Career Development Record. Watch this video to see Celine’s work in action.
Tell us about your role at OVC. Are you still working there since your full-time role in the summer?
“I am a Research Assistant for the Clinical Studies department in the OVC. I am still working as a Research Assistant but my position is part-time through the semester.”
What is the impact of your role in your industry?
“I directly assisted veterinary students and faculty in the ongoing research looking at the effects of IV fluid therapy on critically ill canine patients. I consulted with the staff regarding patient inclusion and discussed with clients for ethical approval as well. This position gave me hands-on experience working with critically ill animals.”
What is the impact of your role on you, personally, academically, and for your career?
“I can use the experience I learned in this position towards further work in the animal field as a Veterinary Assistant as well in knowledge integration within my university courses.”
“I do a lot of data analysis and patient handling in this position. Working with animals to get blood samples, and processing the samples in the lab as well. I learned a lot about patient data analysis and inclusion criteria for different studies similar to this one. The tasks I had are applicable to the other research I help conduct at the university, including small ruminant genetic research and studies in veterinarian well-being.”
What other Experiential Learning have you been a part of?
“This was the first paid position that I have had the opportunity to experience. I also take courses like UNIV 2100: Career Ready to help prepare myself for the workforce after university.”
Would you recommend on-campus research to other students? Why or why not?
“I would definitely recommend it!! It is a great way to network, get to know others with similar interests and get a better understanding of what the world of research has to offer. The University of Guelph has great opportunities for students to build their research experience while having the chance to find long-term laboratory opportunities.”
Your experiences can be officially recognized on U of G’s PCDR (Professional and Career Development Record) What do you think the benefits of the PCDR can be?
“The PCDR is a great way to display your experiences in a validated way. Future employers and mentors can glance at the record and be confident that the experiences on it are valid and can be traced back to the supervisor and lab. It makes the student look confident and professional while displaying their experiences efficiently and neatly.”
What does "Experiential Learning" mean to you?
“Taking the opportunity to dive into a position within the field of interest or gain experience in a constructive way. Experiential Learning gives students the ability to use their skills and gain industry knowledge while getting validated experience.”
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
“I learned so much from my position at OVC and recommend experiential learning to anyone who is interested in building their experiences while getting the opportunity to network within their field of interest.”